Kauaʻi’s Affordable Housing Wins: Projects Completed Since 2020

While the island’s housing challenges remain real, the last several years have brought meaningful progress thanks to the Kauaʻi County Housing Agency (Director Adam Roversi) and its partners. Since 2020, a wave of new affordable and workforce housing has opened across the West Side, South Shore, Līhuʻe, and ʻEleʻele — creating options for local families, kūpuna, and residents transitioning out of homelessness.

Here’s a look at the major successes.

South Shore: Koaʻe Makana (Kōloa/Poʻipū)

Completed in 2020, Koaʻe Makana delivered 134 income-restricted rental apartments right in the heart of Poʻipū — a resort area where housing for local workers is extremely scarce. This project combines County-owned land with state and federal financing, and is now home to dozens of families who might otherwise have been priced out of the area.

West Side: Waimea Huakaʻi

Also completed in 2020, Waimea Huakaʻi added 34–35 affordable rental homes serving households between roughly 30–60% of area median income. The County provided early land support and federal funding, and the project is now a stable, long-term community asset.

Līhuʻe’s Pua Loke Transformation

The Līhuʻe core has seen some of the most transformative affordable housing work on the island:

• Kealaula on Pua Loke (2020): a 29-unit supportive housing community helping families transition out of homelessness with on-site services.
• Pua Loke Apartments (2021): 54 new multi-family rentals for households needing stable, long-term affordability.

Both projects turned underutilized County land into vibrant communities that directly address Līhuʻe’s need for centrally located rental housing.

Photo courtesy of Kauai County Housing Agency

ʻEleʻele: Lima Ola – A New Master-Planned Community

Lima Ola is one of the County’s most ambitious housing efforts, and 2024 marked a milestone year:

• 85 new rental units (family + senior housing) opened in partnership with private developers.
• 32 units of permanent supportive housing were completed to help those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
• 38 for-sale single-family homes began welcoming local families — part of a 500+ home master-planned community that will roll out over several years.

A Quiet but Significant Shift

Between these developments and ongoing ARU (Affordable Additional Rental Unit) incentives, Kauaʻi has added hundreds of new income-restricted homes since 2020.

For an island with limited land, complex regulations, and high development costs, this represents a major step forward — and a strong foundation for what’s coming next.

I have worked with many first time home buyers, introducing them to lenders who can help find the best financing program for them and finding them homes that work within their budget. Please reach out to me if you have any questions on buying a home on Kauai!