Hunt Capital Partners, in collaboration with managing general partner Blieu Companies, LLC and co-general partner Ikaika ʻOhana, celebrated the reopening of Kaiāulu o Kupuohi, an 89-unit affordable housing community at 258 Kupuohi Street in Lahaina, Hawaiʻi. The community first opened in December 2022, only to be destroyed in the August 2023 Maui wildfires. Today, it stands rebuilt, LEED Gold-certified, and fully occupied with approximately half of its 89 households made up of returning residents and the other half fire victims, many of whom had lived in temporary housing for nearly two years.
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Rebuilt affordable housing community in Lahaina welcomes 89 families home nearly three years after the August 2023 wildfires destroyed the property.
“Seeing this community open its doors again is a moment none of us will forget. We are honored to stand with Blieu Companies and Ikaika ʻOhana in welcoming residents home to Lahaina.”
— Jeff Weiss, President, Hunt Capital Partners
In the immediate aftermath of the fire, the development team focused on supporting displaced families through donated funds, the release of property reserves, and relocation support at affiliated properties in Kīhei, while maintaining ongoing outreach to residents who had moved elsewhere.
“From day one, our commitment was to the families who made Kaiāulu o Kupuohi their home. Every decision was guided by the goal of helping residents return to a safe, stable, and resilient community.”
— Thomas Fischer, Ikaika ʻOhana
Rebuilding required navigating extraordinary conditions. Because the community provides affordable workforce housing supported in part by federal resources, redevelopment had to be completed within 24 months of the fire to preserve critical funding — all while FEMA controlled site access for approximately six months during search, recovery, and initial cleanup operations.
Meeting that deadline required an intensive public-private effort. Hunt Capital Partners and Bank of Hawaiʻi provided predevelopment support, including the early release of insurance proceeds. Maryl Construction Group assessed salvageable structural elements and had a full construction plan ready the moment site access was restored. Design Partners Inc. and D&T Designs worked with the County of Maui to expedite building permits. Mayor Richard Bissen’s administration expedited cleanup plan review and secured gap funding through the Maui County Council.
“What kept us going was the resilience of the families themselves. They never gave up on Lahaina. Kaiāulu o Kupuohi reflects what is possible when residents, public agencies, construction partners, lenders, investors, and the development team work toward the same goal. More than a rebuilt property, it represents the continued strength of this neighborhood.”
— Douglas Bigley, CEO, Blieu Companies
The reopening celebration included a blessing by Kahu Anela Rosa of Waiola Church, followed by the untying of the maile lei. Remarks were delivered by Ikaika ʻOhana’s Thomas Fischer, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, West Maui Council Member Tamara Paltin, Hunt Capital Partners President Jeff Weiss, and Bank of Hawaii’s Christopher Abbott. Residents also shared personal stories, and the event concluded with lunch and guided tours of the community.
Rebuilt to serve future generations, Kaiāulu o Kupuohi is designed for energy efficiency, water conservation, healthy homes, and long-term resilience. Community features include:
- Solar photovoltaic energy systems and solar thermal water heating
- Solar-reflective roofing for climate resilience
- Filtered drinking water in common areas and water conservation systems
- Recycled-content site furnishings throughout
About Hunt Capital Partners
Hunt Capital Partners (HCP) is the tax credit syndication division of Hunt Companies, Inc. (Hunt). HCP specializes in the sponsorship of Federal and State Low-Income Housing, Historic, and Solar Tax Credit Investment funds. Since its inception in 2010, HCP has raised over $4.1 billion in tax credit equity in 49 proprietary and multi-investor funds, financing development in 48 states and territories. Founded in 1947, Hunt is a privately held company that invests in businesses focused in the real estate and infrastructure markets. The activities of Hunt’s affiliates and investors include investment management, asset management, property management, development, construction, consulting and advisory. For more information on HCP, please visit www.huntcapitalpartners.com, or for Hunt, please visit www.huntcompanies.com.
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