The $135 million Hale O Pi’ikea development in Kihei began with a groundbreaking ceremony. 223 reasonably priced rental units will take the place of a planned movie theater and commercial space. In light of the thousands of people who have been affected by recent wildfires in Lahaina, the project, headed by ‘Ikenakea Development, aims to accommodate housing demands. The project, which will have one to three-bedroom apartments in each of its three phases, is anticipated to be finished by the end of 2025. The designs were changed in 2022 to favor affordable housing based on input from the community. The original Kihei Downtown Project included a movie theater and commercial space. The project’s affordability is intended to help those whose earnings are at or below 60% of the area median income, with rentals determined by federal regulations and Maui County. In addition, Hale O Pi’ikea will have features like a fitness facility, community gardens, and a resource center for the community, all of which will help to achieve the larger objective of creating a welcoming neighborhood.

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