Honolulu is handing the long-quiet Dee Lite Bakery site a second act, picking nonprofit EAH Housing to turn the shuttered Kalihi property into transit-ready affordable rentals, city officials said this week. The city-owned parcels sit directly across from the future Mokauea (Kalihi) Skyline station and could bring more than 150 affordable units to a neighborhood already feeling the squeeze of rising rents.
According to Pacific Business News, EAH emerged from the city's request-for-qualifications process as the preferred negotiating partner for the project. That status gives the nonprofit an exclusive window to hammer out a pre-development agreement and long-term ground lease, sketch out design concepts and financing, and shape a community engagement strategy before anything lands at the Honolulu City Council for sign off.
The parcels at 1930 Dillingham Blvd. and 1907 Eluwene St. cost the city about $8.4 million in 2019, and early analysis suggests the roughly 2.25 acre site could hold more than 150 affordable rentals, according to Aloha State Daily. Mayor Rick Blangiardi has called the property "a tremendous opportunity" to line up housing with transportation, a sentiment he shared in comments reported by Hawaii News Now.
Kalihi's Transit Advantage
The site hits a lot of the city's transit-oriented development wish-list. It sits directly across from the planned Mokauea station and within easy walking distance of Honolulu Community College and nearby public schools. The redevelopment is flagged as a priority in the city's TOD housing strategy, which focuses on turning underused public parcels into affordable homes near rail and bus hubs, as outlined by Honolulu.gov.
Next Steps And Community Review
With EAH now in the driver's seat, the project moves into an exclusive negotiation phase to lock in financing, lease terms and the overall design concept before it goes into formal public review. The developer will have to carry out extensive community outreach and work with local neighborhood boards throughout design and permitting, Hawaii News Now reported.
EAH's Hawaii Track Record
EAH Housing is not new to the islands. The nonprofit recently opened the Aloha Ia Halewiliko senior community in Aiea and has experience stacking city, state and federal funding to deliver deeply affordable units. Its project materials highlight local partnerships and financing models that the group says help move developments from early concept to move-in day, according to EAH Housing.
What Neighbors Will Watch For
Kalihi residents and nearby small business owners, already worn down by years of Dillingham construction, are expected to keep a close eye on how outreach and affordability commitments play out. Local coverage has documented how rail work has snarled pedestrian access and cut into foot traffic along Dillingham Boulevard, a headache city leaders say they need to factor in as this redevelopment advances, as reported by Civil Beat.
