Developer defends Waimanalo kauhale project despite community pushback

WAIMANALO (HawaiiNewsNow) – A volunteer development group behind Kahauiki Village off Sand Island is planning to build a similar kauhale along Alaihi Street in Waimanalo, drawing protests and a petition from community members.

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Duane Kurisu, project leader for Mahi’ai Development, LLC, whose sole member is nonprofit aio Foundation. The group is building the village using private funds and plans to gift it to Aunty Blanche McMillan, who runs a nearby homeless village called Hui Mahi’ai ‘Aina. The project is being built on DLNR land with state and county partners and private donors.

“We said we have to help this angel,” Kurisu said.

Community opposition

The project has faced pushback, protests and a petition following grading and the construction of a four-foot retaining wall. Kanela Kamahalonanuilai of Pono ‘Olu’olu wants the development stopped.

“You are putting this community in public health danger actively knowing and it’s a lot of agencies involved,” Kamahalonanuilai said.

The group said it is not opposed to housing the houseless, but that the Governor’s emergency proclamation has allowed developers to build kauhale without guardrails. Opponents have raised concerns about iwi, flooding and potential residents from outside Waimanalo.

“I come from 29 years of houselessness. This is my identity that I sit with and to utilize houselessness as a reason to go on with your government propaganda is not okay. You are putting public health at risk,” Kamahalonanuilai said.

Developer responds

Kurisu defended the project and its team.

“All of the members of Hui Mahi’ai development are at the best or some of the best in Hawaii,” Kurisu said. “These guys are not going to jeopardize their reputation by doing anything that’s anything other than being above the law.”

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He also addressed the use of the emergency proclamation. “The emergency proclamation allows us to start construction before, but it doesn’t preclude us from getting building permits,” Kurisu said.

Community members demanded answers at a recent Waimanalo Neighborhood Board meeting, where questions were raised about whether recipients would be beneficiaries of Hawaiian Homes, the status of the land transfer and calls for a community town hall.

When asked about the conflict, Kurisu said: “I’d say I’d like to be emotionally engaged, but I’m not because really. What we’re committed to do is to build units, build a community for the community.”

Project details

The Hui Mahi’ai Village plan calls for 188 people within 116 single and family units, including kupuna and women transitioning from trauma. McMillan has said she dreams of sheltering 600 people at the site.

Kurisu said developers cannot begin building structures yet because working drawings are not complete and there have been delays in the regulatory process. He expects completion sometime next year, at which point McMillan would move her villagers to the new kauhale and close the current one.

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