Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Wednesday, October 8, 2025
First Homeless Kauhale Opening on Maui
By News Release @ 12:20 AM :: 115 Views :: Maui County, Homelessness

GOVERNOR GREEN LAUNCHES KĪPŪOLA KAUHALE: MAUI’S FIRST KAUHALE VILLAGE, TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC MOBILITY

News Release from Office of the Governor, October 6, 2025

HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green today announced the upcoming opening of Kīpūola Kauhale, the state’s first and largest kauhale village on a neighbor island, marking a major step forward in Hawai‘i’s innovative approach to deeply affordable housing and expanding the successful kauhale model to the neighbor islands.

Built from the ground up on Maui, Kīpūola – meaning “to enfold oneself with life, health, and well-being” – will provide 64 tiny homes and a new path to economic mobility for wildfire survivors and individuals experiencing homelessness. The name was gifted by Maui cultural practitioner Kumu Pueo Pata, symbolizing healing, community and renewal.

“The kauhale initiative has proven to be one of Hawai‘i’s most innovative and effective solutions to homelessness,” said Governor Green. “Kīpūola kauhale not only provides homes – it provides dignity, stability and opportunity. It’s how we honor Maui’s resilience and commitment to rebuilding stronger, together.”

“For decades, homeless housing solutions relied on voucher programs leaving many waiting more than a year for help while also competing with non-homeless families for the same units,” said Jun Yang, the Governor’s homelessness coordinator. “Kīpūola introduces a new model and fills a gap in Hawaiʻi’s housing continuum, providing a program that couples deep affordability and support in program-based housing, with nominal fees for participants earning 30% or below the Area Median Income.”

The 64 homes are grouped into four clusters, each with shared kitchens, showers and flex spaces designed for privacy and connection. The site also includes a community center, laundry facility, offices for community management and service providers, and a dedicated dog park for residents to remain with their pets.

Residents will participate in workforce development programs with local businesses in fields such as landscaping, security, janitorial work and community operations, building employment skills and self-sufficiency. Supportive services include health care, counseling, case management and cultural programming, helping residents move from crisis to stability.

“Kīpūola will demonstrate where housing meets healthcare and redefines supportive housing by helping residents access homes immediately while building income, stability and upward mobility,” said HomeAid Hawai‘i Chief Executive Officer Kimo Carvalho, the project’s developer. “Through the launch of our Kauhale Management Services division, we will ensure cost-effective operations transform and empower people to achieve their full potential.”

Kīpūola’s total development cost was projected at $15.3 million. Through a public-private partnership between the state and HomeAid Hawai‘i; taxpayers saved $5.25 million using vacant state land, grants, volunteerism and builder discounts, resulting in $10 million in public funding supporting infrastructure and site work. Private funding included grants from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Nareit Foundation.

(DO THE MATH:  $10M / 64 = $156,250 per unit)

Each upgraded tiny home costs approximately $20,500, reflecting higher-quality materials designed to withstand Maui’s strong environmental and surrounding conditions. The project advances the state’s commitment to modular innovation and skilled labor, delivering emergency housing solutions, while ensuring local workers earn a living wage.

(DO THE MATH:  $156,250 - $20,500 = $135,750 per unit spent on non-housing functions.)

Construction of the village is expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by October 20, 2025. A public volunteer day and site tours will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, hosted by HomeAid Hawai‘i. Details are available at www.homeaidhawaii.org/workday.

Photo assets courtesy of HomeAid Hawai‘i are available here.

 # # #

MN: Gov. Green launches Kīpūola Kauhale, Maui’s first Kauhale Village, to advance economic mobility : Maui Now

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

Whole Life Hawaii