City lands support kupuna housing as EAH Housing begins lease-up
Members of the Department of Housing and Land Management (DHLM) joined EAH Housing on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 for a site tour of Aloha Ia Halewiliko, a new senior affordable rental community located on land that once housed the former ʻAiea Sugar Mill. Staff from DHLM’s Development, Finance, and Land Transactions divisions toured the site with EAH Housing, seeing first-hand the progress of a project that has advanced through the close collaboration of both teams over the past several years.
Located on 3.45 acres of City-owned land, the project represents a meaningful transformation of historic industrial lands into new housing opportunities for kūpuna. The City also contributed $6 million from the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) and the land itself to help make the project possible.
With construction complete, the development has now entered its lease-up phase. The EAH Housing team is working closely with prospective residents to connect kūpuna to newly available affordable units, ensuring that those most in need of housing can access safe, stable homes in their own community.
“Many kūpuna in our communities are quietly struggling — living on fixed incomes while housing costs continue to rise,” said Karen Seddon, Regional Vice President, Hawaiʻi, EAH Housing, in a recent interview. “Affordable, age-friendly options are few and far between. Aloha Iā Halewiliko provides a place where kūpuna can live independently, safely and affordably, while staying close to their roots in ʻAiea.”
Aloha Ia Halewiliko is expected to welcome its first residents soon, strengthening the community of ʻAiea by providing high-quality, affordable housing for Hawaiʻi’s seniors. To learn more about the project, or to apply, please click here.
