{"id":2061,"date":"2026-07-01T11:05:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T11:05:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2061"},"modified":"2026-07-01T11:05:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T11:05:28","slug":"waimanalo-kauhale-faces-community-pushback-over-major-expansion-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=2061","title":{"rendered":"Waimanalo kauhale faces community pushback over major expansion plans"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WAIMANALO (HawaiiNewsNow) \u2014 A nonprofit operating a kauhale for homeless residents in Waimanalo is planning to move and significantly expand its village, drawing a grassroots opposition effort from some neighbors.<\/p>\n

Read more HPD officer vacancies near record levels as new chief David Lazar takes over<\/a><\/p>\n

Hui Mahi\u02bbai \u2018Aina, led by CEO Blanche McMillan, currently operates 59 tiny homes housing 106 homeless residents. The organization has received recognition from Gov. Josh Green and others. McMillan is now planning to build 300 tiny homes to house 600 people on a different section of \u2018Olu\u02bbolu Street.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I had my dream. I\u2019ll be honest with you. One-thousand people. This is my dream,\u201d McMillan said.<\/p>\n

RELATED POST: <\/b>Spotlight Now: Village of hope builds long-term support for Hawaii\u2019s homeless<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Neighbors organize opposition<\/h2>\n

Some neighbors have formed a group called Pono \u2018Olu\u02bbolu and launched a petition to stop the development. Cindy Parker, a neighbor and member of Pono \u2018Olu\u02bbolu, said the community has concerns about the scale of the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t happy because we\u2019ve lived here all our lives. This is country,\u201d Parker said. \u201cWe are not ready for all these people coming from around the state.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kanela Kamahalohanuilai, also with Pono \u2018Olu\u02bbolu, said the petition aims to stop the development.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe petition is asking to stop the development to allow the conversation to come back and to protect the beneficiaries of DHHL,\u201d Kamahalohanuilai said.<\/p>\n

Flooding concerns sharpen debate<\/h2>\n

During the Kona Low storms, parts of the village and surrounding properties were flooded. Hui Mahi\u02bbai \u2018Aina had built a four-foot retaining wall before the storms, which has sharpened debate over flooding impacts.<\/p>\n

Read more Hawaii officials urge wildfire prevention as summer dry season ramps up<\/a><\/p>\n

Neighbor Bernard Sampanga, a member of Pono \u2018Olu\u02bbolu, said the wall has affected properties along the street.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe impact on my property, I could see it. I know how far this wall goes and it\u2019s impacted everybody else on \u2018Olu\u02bbolu Street,\u201d Sampanga said.<\/p>\n

McMillan defended the retaining wall and the planned location of the new homes.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cThat is not a flood zone. Here is the flood zone. That\u2019s why we are putting homes on that side. We put the retaining wall so we can protect my people,\u201d McMillan said.<\/p>\n

McMillan says she is moving forward<\/h2>\n

McMillan said the planned expansion site is more than eight acres and that she hopes to begin building next month if plans proceed as expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlanche is fighting for the homeless rights, but as she\u2019s fighting for the homeless rights, she\u2019s putting our rights out,\u201d said Paul Vega, neighbor and member of Pono \u2018Olu\u02bbolu.<\/p>\n

Opponents say roughly 400 people have signed the petition so far. McMillan said she intends to continue with her plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just sticking to my plan. I\u2019m going to go all the way with my plan. Whatever they are saying, that is their business. My business is to take care of our people,\u201d McMillan said.<\/p>\n

Read more New Hawaiian Airlines design marks oneworld alliance membership<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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