Aloha,

This week Governor Josh Green 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 Hawaii’s innovative approach to affordable housing and the expansion of 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 kauhale initiative has proven to be one of Hawaii’s most innovative and effective solutions to homelessness,” Governor Green said. “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.”

The 64 homes are grouped into four clusters, each with shared kitchens, showers, and flex spaces designed for privacy and connection — with the site also including 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 — with supportive services including health care, counseling, case management, and cultural programming, helping residents move from crisis to stability.

Kīpūola’s was funded through a public-private partnership between the state and HomeAid Hawaii, with taxpayers saving $5.25 million by using vacant state land, grants, volunteerism, and builder discounts out of an initially projected cost of $15.3 million — for a total public expenditure of $10 million in infrastructure and site work.

Private funding included grants from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and the Nareit Foundation.

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

Construction of the village is expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by Monday, October 20 — with a public volunteer day and site tours hosted by HomeAid Hawaii on Saturday, October 18.

More details are available at https://www.homeaidhawaii.org/workday.

If you support Josh’s efforts to reduce homelessness statewide, please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Mahalo,

Team Green