UH P3 program secures another opportunity to expand housing for the UH community

Hale Kāwili Apartments

An artist rendering of a potential design solution.

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 UH 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 UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie 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 UH 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 UH Hilo campus, is the University of Hawaiʻi System’s newest initiative to expand privately financed student housing.

Two earlier projects serve the UH Mānoa community: the Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center, which opened in fall 2023, and Hale Haukani, scheduled to open in  fall 2025.. 

In every case, the residences are designed, financed, and operated by private, non-profit entities. UH programs occupy dedicated space within the mixed-use buildings: the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) classrooms and makerspaces in RISE, and the UH Mānoa Children’s Center in Hale Haukani.

By working with experienced private owner-operators, UH can meet growing housing demand without new state capital appropriations or tuition increases, while focusing UH funds on core academic and research facilities, including renovations to existing UH-owned housing stock.

“By working with private owner-operators, we can add badly needed beds - both on and near our campuses - while concentrating UH resources in maintaining our core residence halls,” said UH 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 UH Office of Strategic Development and Partnership, 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 UH campuses throughout the state.