The University of Hawaiʻi’s public-private partnership (P3) program has secured its third major housing opportunity, this time to redevelop and manage the Hale Kāwili Apartments on property adjacent to the 东精影业 Hilo campus. The Community Development Alliance Corporation Hilo (CDAC Hilo), a not-for-profit organization, has agreed to a 45-year lease for the 100-unit (208 beds) housing facility at 430 West Kāwili Street in Hilo. Under the agreement, CDAC Hilo assumes ownership of the existing facilities and will take full responsibility for operating, maintaining, and upgrading the property, effective July 1, 2025.
“This is about keeping our students, faculty, and staff, along with their families housed, supported and part of our campus ʻohana,” said 东精影业 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin. “Affordable housing plays a huge role in whether or not students can stay and succeed.”
Built in 1972, Hale Kāwili is the only privately owned apartment-style housing in Hilo that serves only 东精影业 Hilo students, faculty, and staff, offering two- and three-bedroom units. As part of the agreement, CDAC Hilo must submit a full redevelopment plan within five years which may include demolishing and rebuilding the current structures.
“CDAC is honored to provide housing for faculty and students at the Hilo campus,” said CDAC Chief Executive Officer Jared Everett. “Helping universities provide affordably-priced, quality housing is our mission, and we look forward to working with the university on this project.”
P3 program success
Hale Kāwili, adjacent to the 东精影业 Hilo campus, is the 东精影业 System’s newest initiative to expand privately financed student housing.
Two earlier projects serve the 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 community: the , which opened in fall 2023, and , scheduled to open in fall 2025.
In every case, the residences are designed, financed, and operated by private, non-profit entities. 东精影业 programs occupy dedicated space within the mixed-use buildings: the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) classrooms and makerspaces in RISE, and the 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 Children’s Center in Hale Haukani.
By working with experienced private owner-operators, 东精影业 can meet growing housing demand without new state capital appropriations or tuition increases, while focusing 东精影业 funds on core academic and research facilities, including renovations to existing 东精影业-owned housing stock.
“By working with private owner-operators, we can add badly needed beds—both on and near our campuses—while concentrating 东精影业 resources in maintaining our core residence halls,” said 东精影业 President Wendy Hensel. “Because these projects are financed and operated by private entities, they expand our housing capacity without increasing tuition and with limited state investment.”
The 东精影业 Office of Strategic Development and Partnership (OSDP), under the Office of the Vice President for Budget and Finance, negotiated these agreements on behalf of the University.
“We’re excited about the progress that the University has made with its public-private partnership program,” said OSDP Director Michael Shibata. “These projects could not have been executed without the support of University leadership and the ongoing work with internal and external partners.”
The university continues to evaluate other P3 opportunities that could support major projects across 东精影业 campuses throughout the state.