Hannemann Wants To Sell City's Affordable Housing Projects

KANEOHE, Hawaii -- Mayor Mufi Hannemann on Thursday said he wants to sell 12 of the city's affordable housing projects because they are too much of a drain on taxpayers.

The first complex on the list is Kulana Nani in Kaneohe.

This city housing project on Kahuhipa Street is home to 160 families.

It is overdue for a paint job, but residents said they are grateful they have a place to live.

You can get a two-, three-, or four-bedroom apartments there. The rents range from $425 to $625 a month.

Emma Bruhn moved in there 31 years ago. The mother of seven children works as a housekeeper at a nearby elderly care home.

"They should make rent that we can afford, especially people like us: poor. You don't want to become homeless. We don't want to live on the beach, never did," Bruhn said.

The mayor promised that he would only agree to a sale if the units remain as affordable rentals. That could be tricky since the city does not own the land under the project. Kamehameha Schools does.

"I want to assure them we will do our utmost to make it clear that the buyer will keep these rents affordable," Hannemann said.

The Utututvanu family is new to Kulana Nani. They moved into a four-bedroom apartment here less than a year ago from Waipahu.

"Yeah, I worry because if the rent going up, I have to move," Liuvaa Utututvanu said.

If the mayor can find a way to make the sale work, it could pave the way for the sale of 11 other projects.

The mayor said that managing those affordable properties is costing taxpayers about $3.5 million a year.

City's Affordable Housing Projects:

Bachelor's Quarters

Chinatown Gateway Plaza

Chinatown Manor

Harbor Village

Kanoa Apartments

Kulana Nani

Manoa Gardens

Marin Tower

Pauahi Hale

West Loch Elderly

Westlake Apartments

Winston Hale