Chamber of Commerce Hawaii

YP4HI: Do We Really Need to Agree About the Need for Affordable Housing?

Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s Events unite the business community to enhance the state’s economic climate by fostering success for businesses and business leaders alike. Attend or sponsor a Chamber event to promote your company, build brand awareness, market to your target demographics, expand your network and invest in your local community.

Makani Maeva will share with us her recent experience trying to develop an affordable housing project in Kailua. Kawainui Street Apartments was supposed to be a 73-unit apartment project at the corner of Kawainui Street and Oneawa Street. Sixty-eight of the units were dedicated to working families earning less than $72,300 per year, with rents based on household income, starting at $521 for 1-bedroom apartments and $598 for 2-bedroom apartments. The project met tremendous opposition from the established neighborhood, with Kailua residents citing the following concerns:

· It will cause too much traffic.

· There is not enough parking.

· It will change the character of the neighborhood.

Ultimately, Makani and her team decided to withdraw from the project.

The underlying assumption that many of us have is that affordable housing is needed in Hawaii. But is it really? If it is, should localized neighborhood concerns trump the state’s greater need for affordable housing?

In this YP4HI, Makani will make a short presentation on her recent efforts to develop affordable housing projects in Hawaii. She will ask for feedback from YPs that will help her as she and her team develop more affordable housing projects around the state.

Makani Maeva
President and CEO
AHE Group

Makani is the president and CEO of Ahe Group, a Hawaii based affordable housing developer. She was previously the director of Vitus Group’s Hawaii office. Since 1995, Makani has been instrumental in the development and preservation of over 2,200 affordable units. To date, she has secured over $138 million in debt financing and $116 million in equity for affordable housing in Hawaii. A frequent speaker on affordable housing topics at both industry events and for the University of Hawaii, Makani was selected in 2011 by Hawaii Business Magazine for their annual list of emerging young leaders as “20 For The Next 20.” Makani holds a B.A. from Pepperdine University.