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Hawaii Agriculture Research Center preserves agricultural worker housing on the Island of Oahu

Housing Project Highlight

Where: Island of Oahu, Hawaii

Problem: Lack of affordable housing for agricultural workers in Hawaii

Solution: Rehabilitate or replace existing housing units

When Del Monte ceased pineapple production in Hawaii and left the Island, more than 600 people living in Kunia Village were in jeopardy of losing the homes, which some had occupied for generations. The Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (HARC) agreed to acquire the Village from landowner James Campbell Corporation and to continue to provide housing for active and retired agricultural workers.

In spite of the fact that most of the housing is more than 50 years old and substandard, HARC knows that housing continues to be critical to emerging agricultural businesses that are developing in this area.

RCAC is working with HARC to rehabilitate or replace the 115 housing units within Kunia Village. RCAC submitted an application for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development 514/516 Farm Worker Housing funding, which has been funded. RCAC is now submitting a low-income housing tax credit application to the state of Hawaii to secure the last major source of project funding for the first phase. RCAC’s loan committee also approved a $563,000 predevelopment loan to HARC to cover predevelopment costs; and RCAC is now preparing a Low Income Housing Tax Credit application for the project.

Through these combined efforts, agricultural workers and their families will continue to have an affordable and safe place to live in Kunia Village.

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