The state’s first veteran-focused senior living center will take a little longer to finally open to residents.

The 92-unit Hale Na Koa ‘O Hanakahi housing project began construction on Kawili Street near the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus for nearly two years. The project has promised affordable housing targeted toward Big Island seniors, with priority given to veterans and their spouses.

Earlier this year, construction was estimated to be completed by August, and residents could begin moving in by September. But some final construction delays have pushed the move-in date to late October, or possibly even December.

“We’re still waiting on some construction shipments,” said Mona Tempo, a representative of EAH Housing, the California-based nonprofit that will manage the complex. “Right now, it looks pretty good from the outside, but we can’t have people moving in yet.”

After those shipments come in and the construction is completed, Tempo said the facility will still need to pass final certifications allowing people to occupy the units.

Tempo said applicants will be notified when a move-in date is finalized. Although she said EAH Housing still is accepting applications to join a waitlist, initial applicants entered a lottery to determine priority order back in February.

Once completed, all of the housing complex’s units will be available to residents making less than the Area Median Income. According to move-in qualifications posted on EAH Housing’s website, 10 units will be available to those making 80% of the AMI, 31 to those making 60%, 38 to those making 50% and 12 to those making 30%.

Monthly rent for the highest-income residents would be as high as $1,663, while the lowest-income residents would only pay 30% of their adjusted income. Security deposits would also only be as high as one month’s rent, which Tempo said is required by law.

Mark Baker, who applied for a unit earlier this year, said the higher-end rents would be nigh-unaffordable for many veterans, including himself.

“I have about $3,500 in savings,” Baker said. “If you’re asking me to spend $2,000 or more to live there, then that’s a big ask.”

Baker said he was shocked after EAH informed him his security deposit would be $1,600. However, Tempo later confirmed that the lower-income units are eligible for Section 8 housing assistance, and that security deposits will not exceed rent.

In any case, Baker said the move-in date being pushed back has been frustrating — each delay has required him to send additional financial paperwork, he said — but he praised the concept of a housing complex specifically for senior veterans.

“A place for like-minded people, around the same age, probably mostly single,” Baker said.

“Nobody’s going to mess with our cars in the parking lot,” he added. “Do that, and the Fifth Brigade is going to come running.”

Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

MOANALUA, Hawaii (KHON2) — Even though Teacher Appreciation Week is in May, celebrating our educators never stops. Since Oct. 5 is World Teachers’ Day, one Honolulu teacher was celebrated for creating a “dream classroom” for her students.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

N’mmah Kanu teaches third grade at Red Hill Elementary School and prides herself on creating a safe and happy space for every student.

New public preschool classrooms provides ‘testament to importance of early education’

Before coming to Oahu, Kanu “spent years traveling the mainland with her daughter, Zara.” When she decided to move back to the islands, she left all her classroom supplies and decorations and started from scratch.

Kanu has more than 15 years of experience under her belt. When the time came to decorate her Red Hill classroom, she had to create a classroom that fit both her vision and budget.

Her vision was to create a classroom that conveys a passion for learning. After scouring the web, Kanu stumbled over an online marketplace that fit her aesthetic and allowed her to stretch her budget.

She purchased affordable decorations, learning tools, prizes and more to create a classroom to help set her students up for success.

After acquiring the necessary supplies, the classroom came together with “a positive affirmation corner, cozy reading nook, mini library, wall of positive vibes and incentive jar.

In addition to inspiring her students, N’mmah helps inspire teachers across the globe, showcasing her classroom transformation journey with those on TikTok.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.

Light to moderate trade winds will continue to bring some showers for windward areas through the weekend. But there’s a First Alert as those winds will be light enough to allow afternoon sea breezes to blow over sheltered leeward sections. At the same time, an upper level disturbance will increase the chance for pop-up downpours and isolated thunderstorms late tonight into Sunday.

The chance for some rumbles of thunder will begin with Kauai and surrounding waters later in the day, Oahu tonight and the rest of the island chain Sunday. It will be difficult to say exactly where the heaviest rain will fall, but they will favor leeward areas. Basically, if you see dark clouds forming, there’s that higher chance for heavier rain.

Surf will be small Saturday but we are tracking some higher waves for Sunday. A shoft-lived small medium-period northwest swell will boost waves near head-high levels Sunday. A moderate long-period south swell will peak Sunday with the potential for some sets near the 10-foot high surf advisory level. You’ll get the First Alert here as we get more swell data.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.