Presales quietly opened this week on 396 below-market homes at Kahuina, the two-tower project climbing into the Kakaʻako skyline and pitched as a way to get more reserved housing into the hands of local buyers. The development sets aside units under the state's HHFDC reserved-housing program and mixes owner-occupied condos with live/work lofts stacked over a sizable retail podium. A limited DEP pilot layers in early access for workers in shortage fields such as teaching and health care, while market-rate units are on a separate timeline.
According to Pacific Business News, presales opened on Friday and give HHFDC-qualified buyers a pathway to apply through the developer's online portal and the project's sales gallery. The outlet reports that developer Stanford Carr is overseeing the application and selection process for the HHFDC homes.
Where Kahuina sits and what it includes
Kahuina takes up the Cooke/Auahi block next to Mother Waldron Park in Our Kakaʻako and is organized into two towers, with Lamakū planned at about 43 stories and Māmalu at about 32 stories. The project includes live/work townhomes, roughly 35,000 to 42,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and a multi-level parking garage, according to Hawaii Life.
Who gets priority under the DEP pilot
Per My Kahuina, the DEP pilot reserves a slice of units for healthcare workers, educators, law enforcement officers, agricultural field workers, and several Honolulu County roles designated as shortage professions. Applicants have to submit a completed, notarized DEP affidavit along with their HHFDC application to be considered. The DEP materials also note that any DEP-designated units still unsold may be released back into the general HHFDC pool after February 20, at 5 p.m.
Why this matters
Dropping nearly 400 HHFDC homeownership units into Kakaʻako is a notable shift in a neighborhood where for-sale inventory has largely leaned toward market-rate towers. Recent reporting has pointed out that state workforce housing awards and subsidies have been crucial to getting projects like this off the ground. Civil Beat reported last year that these funding tools help move developments forward, but that Oʻahu still needs more overall supply to ease price pressure.
Prices, eligibility and how to apply
According to My Kahuina, HHFDC-priced units at Kahuina start in the high $500,000s for one-bedrooms, with two- and three-bedrooms listed at higher price points. Buyers are required to put down $1,000 at contract signing and follow a 5% down payment schedule. The HHFDC guidance confirms that eligible buyers must be Hawaiʻi residents, plan to owner-occupy the home and have household income at or below 140% of area median income. The same materials outline the steps to apply, including using the project portal, securing lender prequalification and uploading required documents. The sales gallery at 1100 Alakea Street, Suite 102 is handling tours and appointment scheduling for prospective buyers.
