The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa opened its second public-private partnership student housing facility, Hale Haukani, on Monday. The $170 million complex includes 316 units with 558 beds, offering options from studios to four-bedroom apartments, as reported by Spectrum Local News.
UH Mānoa’s Hale Haukani development will include a childcare center, retail space, and study rooms. To keep rents below market rates, the Collegiate Housing Foundation will use rental income and a $2 million annual contribution from UH. This plan may also help free up off-campus housing in Honolulu. UH President Wendy Hensel said, “This is more than just a housing project, it’s an investment in our community and for the benefit of our students and faculty.” Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos said, “Hale Haukani strengthens our ability to recruit and retain top graduate students who contribute to the cutting-edge research and teaching that make UH Mānoa one of the best universities in the world,” according to UH News.
The UH Mānoa Children’s Center will move to Hale Haukani, increasing its capacity from 90 to about 130 children. The facility will partner with the UH Mānoa College of Education to help train pre-K educators and supports the state’s goal of providing universal preschool by 2032, according to Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke. The project is being built by Greystar Development Services, LLC and Swinerton Builders. UH is also planning future projects, including the redevelopment of Hale Kāwili Apartments. More than 4,000 UH students are expected to use facilities on or near campus, as mentioned by Spectrum Local News.
