A long-awaited affordable housing project for Maui's older residents is finally ready to take applications. Līloa Hale, a 117-unit senior rental community at 1745 Liloa Drive in Kīhei, will open its application window on Nov. 16, offering 101 one-bedroom units and 16 two-bedroom units to households where the head or co-head is at least 55 years old.
The application period runs from Nov. 16 through Dec. 4, 2026, with forms available Monday through Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to Maui Now. For initial tenant selection, completed original applications must reach the Hale Mahaolu Central Office no later than 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, 2026. Anyone who misses that window isn't shut out entirely — late applications will simply be placed on the regular waiting list in first-come, first-served order, the outlet reports.
Eligibility hinges on more than just age. Income limits apply, and households must meet requirements tied to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program as well as Hale Mahaolu's own tenant selection criteria, per the same report. Meeting a preference category does not by itself establish eligibility for housing, the nonprofit has clarified. Former Hale Mahaolu tenants from Lahaina, along with Kula and Lahaina wildfire survivors, are specifically encouraged to apply.
What the Building Will Offer
Līloa Hale is designed as a three-story senior housing community, with private lānai, a multipurpose area, laundry facilities, a manager's office, mailroom and on-site parking built into the plan. The project sits on land purchased from neighboring Hope Chapel, making Hope Chapel one of the collaborators behind the development alongside Hale Mahaolu and Highridge Costa Development Co., according to the same Maui Now report.
Hale Mahaolu will serve as Līloa Hale's management agent, overseeing both the property's day-to-day operations and the tenant selection process. The organization has served Maui County, including Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi, since 1967, and in addition to developing, owning and managing affordable housing for seniors and families, it also provides meals, personal care, respite services and housing counseling, per the outlet's reporting.
Leaders Point to a Persistent Need
“There is a tremendous need for quality, affordable senior housing on Maui,” said Anders Lyons, executive director of Hale Mahaolu, as reported by Maui Now. Lyons framed the 117 new homes as both housing and a way for kūpuna to remain connected to their community.
Moe Mohanna, president of Highridge Costa, said resident move-ins are now commencing and called the project the first collaboration between Highridge Costa and Hale Mahaolu. Highridge Costa has described a long-term commitment to creating high-quality affordable housing opportunities on Maui, and the company thanked the State of Hawaiʻi, the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, and the County of Maui for their partnership, according to the same account.
Construction on Līloa Hale began with a traditional ʻōʻō ground blessing ceremony in 2024, a milestone documented by Highridge Costa. The project has also been described as a 100% affordable senior housing development, according to project materials from mhplanning.net.
A Slice of a Much Bigger Shortage
Līloa Hale's 117 units are a modest dent in Maui County's broader housing gap. A statewide housing study estimated the county would need nearly 15,000 additional housing units, a figure identified as predating the 2023 Maui wildfires, according to the Hawaii Housing Planning Study. Against that backdrop, Hale Mahaolu's track record includes smaller projects like Ewalu II in Pukalani, which added 22 one-bedroom units in 2020 after accepting applications under a random lottery system for initial occupancy interviews, with eligibility then set at age 62 and older.
How to Apply
Applications can be picked up and dropped off at the Hale Mahaolu Central Office at 200 Hina Ave. in Kahului during the Nov. 16 through Dec. 4 window. The current target move-in date for Līloa Hale is Feb. 1, 2027. Those with questions can reach the Central Office directly at 808-872-4117.
