HONOLULU (KHON2) -- The state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) has approved the allocation of nearly 11 acres of land in Waimanalo for a new kauhale housing project aimed at addressing homelessness. The decision was made on October 11, 2024. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The site currently hosts Hui Mahiai Aina, a community homeless shelter that has been operating since 2020 without BLNR approval. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has expressed support for nonprofit entities to help residents obtain proper authorization to remain on the land. DLNR's primary concern was that the existing shelters, which accommodate small families and individuals, are located in a flood zone. Following a topographical study and discussions with Aunty Blanche McMillan, who oversees housing for 80 people at the site, it was determined that an elevated section of the property is suitable for residential development. The remaining land will be designated for agricultural use to support the community village. “The department is in full support of this project. Under the collaboration with aio Foundation, DLNR was reassured that our concerns were addressed," said DLNR Chair Dawn Chang. "When I visited Aunty Blanche’s Hui Mahiai Aina in Waimanalo, I was moved by the sense of community the residents felt for each other.” Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement partners with Microsoft for enhanced public safety The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions (SOHHS) and aio Foundation plan to develop a community village featuring 32 single units, 18 double rooms, six family units, and two units specifically for cancer patients. Shared kitchen and bathroom facilities, a laundry room, and classrooms will be included in the 58-unit project. The DLNR Land Division noted that aio Foundation has experience in similar developments, having successfully operated Kahauiki Village near Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, which houses nearly 700 individuals. The Waimanalo project will follow a similar leasing approach, with aio Foundation expected to obtain a lease from SOHHS, pending future BLNR consent on specific terms. A chapter 343 Environmental Assessment for the project was suspended by a Governor’s Proclamation on January 23, 2023, to expedite housing for homeless individuals. Aunty Blanche, a beloved figure in the community, expressed enthusiasm about the future. The existing structures on the land will be converted into food production spaces, and she anticipates that construction of new tiny homes will take about a year. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news “Sharing, giving back, and loving our people is the most important thing,” McMillan said. “Taking care of the houseless, our kupuna, and those with stage 4 cancer is my style. I believe that everything is going to fall in place.”