Nanakuli will benefit from new experiences and services provided by the Nanakuli Village Center project. Nanakuli Hawaiian Homestead Community Association (NHHCA) has joined hands with Hawaiian Community Development Board (HCDB) to expedite an extensive village concept. This project comprises a multipurpose learning center, a 48-unit affordable rental housing , a Waianae Comprehensive satellite health clinic with a pharmacy, a dialysis clinic, and a commercial center with Longs Drug Store as the anchor tenant. The Department of Hawaiian Homestead Lands (DHHL) granted a 65-year lease for the project that will be on 13.57 acres. The area is located in the Nanakuli Hawaiian Homestead, adjacent to the Nanakuli Elementary School and the YET Boys and Girls Club on the makai side of Farrington Highway.
One component of the project is the Agnes Kalanihookaha Cope Learning Center. Kamehameha Schools will fund the construction of the center, estimated at $20 million, and build a two-story facility. The first floor will house offices and classrooms for Kamehameha Schools; the second floor may be used for University of Hawaii Ho`O Kulaiwi teacher recruitment and training programs, for the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center’s multi-learrning center, the Waianae Coast Culture & Arts, and for an NHHCA management office.
The rental development, named Hale Makana O Nanakuli, will target low income homestead families seeking relief from overcrowded homes or needing replacement homes. The project includes five buildings, the majority of the units having three bedrooms, and intends to select 75% of its tenants from Nanakuli. The plan was based on these factors: 35% of people are under 17 years old with limited education and unable to pay rent; only 19 homeless shelters are located on entire Leeward Coast, indicating a need for more affordable housing.
The Nanakuli Commercial Center, a $20 million multi-building project for retail and health services, is a product of a collaboration among NHHCA, HCDB, and broker Sofos Realty Corporation. A one-story building, fronting Farrington Highway, will have a Hawaiian culture plantation theme and house the anchor tenant Longs Drug Store. The center anticipates adding businesses such as Goodwill, L & L Restaurant, SuperCuts, Mobi PCS, a pizza parlor, Hawaiian food restaurant, sushi restaurant, surf shop, clothing stores, yogurt outlet, coffee store, and a nail salon. In addition to the commercial activities, WCCHC will have a two-story building on 16,000 square feet. Plans include a pediatric dental clinic, an adult medical clinic, and a low-cost pharmacy. Finally, a renal care facility is planned for the center – Liberty Dialysis Hawaii LLC, an affiliate of Fresenius Medical Care, the nation’s largest network of over 2,150 dialysis centers.
Kali Watson of HCDB manages the overall planning, acquisition, funding, and construction of the Nanakuli Village Center. For more information, contact Watson at this email address: 6kali9@gmail.com.
