The critical shortage of affordable housing makes the purchase or rental of a home by the majority of Maui’s working residents extremely difficult. As a result, the resident workforce is leaving Maui in search of affordable housing and any incoming replacements are dissuaded by Hawaii’s high cost of living. Residential Workforce Housing (“RWH”) was established by the Maui County Council under Chapter 2.96, Maui County Code (“MCC”). The purpose for creating RWH is to maintain a sufficient resident workforce in all fields of employment, and to ensure the public safety and general welfare of the residents of Maui. RWH Units are generally units or lots to be sold or rented first to Maui County residents within certain income groups, as set forth in Chapter 2.96, MCC.
Located just one block from Kalama Park, the new Kalama Kai condominium community is intended to provide housing for Maui’s workforce. The project under construction by Armstrong Development will feature 39 three-bedroom units and one one-bedroom unit.
Kalama Kai is located in Kīhei, Maui at 45 Kanani Road. Three-bedroom units are approximately 844 square feet with two bathrooms, an open living/dining area and a 63-square-foot lānai. The one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit is 560 square feet. Many units have ocean views.
Fee simple units start in the $300,000s according to the project’s website, which the developer tags as “100 percent affordable” under the RWH program.
Among the project’s amenities are landscaped grounds and a recreation area with a swimming pool, sundeck, barbecue area and poolside covered trellis pavilion. The trellis and several freestanding carports will also host an array of photovoltaic panels, which have been incorporated into the project to harness Maui’s sun and offset common area energy costs.
Kalama Kai is expected to be complete in April 2019.
