Hawai'i Community Development Authority

Island News

Kakaako leasehold affordable housing to replace Obama mural

By Kristen Consillio / Dec 5, 2024

HONOLULU (Island News) — Denise Fiddler’s family-run business that started in 1955 has been in Kakaako for decades, moving to different locations along with the redevelopment of the area.

And soon, they’ll have to relocate again.

“We’ve been with Victoria Ward and Howard Hughes for over 40 years and they’ve been a very good landlord,” Fiddler said. “It’s very important to be centrally located because the contractors, the realtors, the customers, our customer base know where we are.”

Fiddler’s sells decorative hardware and plumbing in an office building next to Jack in the Box.

The state’s purchasing the Jack in the Box at the corner of Kapiolani Boulevard and Ward Avenue and this office building to build more affordable housing.

The plan is to build affordable leasehold residential units.

“In Urban Honolulu, land costs are extremely high and leasehold is one way to make housing affordable by removing the land costs,” said Hawaii Community Development Authority (HDCA) Board Member Sterling Higa.

And it’s an ideal site for more of the workforce to move into Kakaako near major transit lines and within walking distance of Downtown Honolulu.

“44% of our state’s population live either in poverty or one accident, one job loss away from entering poverty,” Higa added. “So we desperately need to bring down the cost of housing to make it easier for families that are struggling.”

The HCDA is acquiring the land from Victoria Ward and Howard Hughes for the pilot project, which could be a model for more housing projects across the state.

“If this works this is another way that the state can address the housing shortage,” said HCDA Executive Director Craig Nakamoto. “This is not housing for investment sake. This housing is for housing sake because you have to be an owner occupant.”