Affordable housing community for seniors opens on former Aiea Sugar Mill site

AIEA (HawaiiNewsNow) - A new affordable housing community on the former Aiea Sugar Mill site marked its grand opening Friday with city and state leaders.

The Aloha Iā Halewilikō provides housing options to Oahu’s kūpuna who earn incomes at 30, 50, or 60 percent of the area’s median income.

This means a tenant’s maximum yearly salary must not exceed $82,080.

View the move-in qualifications here.

“Putting a roof over your head is the foundation of healthy living,” said Scott Glenn, senior adviser for federal affairs, climate, and housing at the Office of the Governor. “When we do that for our kūpuna, that also shows respect.”

The three-story building, which sits on 3.5 acres, consists of 140 apartments, including 83 studios, 56 one-bedroom units, and a manager’s unit.

Amenities feature walking paths, gardens, a dog park, a multipurpose room, fitness and activity spaces, resident lounges, a covered outdoor lanai, digital literacy programming, and an on-site resident services coordinator.

This marks the 16th property developed by EAH Housing, an affordable housing nonprofit organization.

Applications can be filled out online.

View more information about the property here.

To reach Aloha Iā Halewilikō, call (808) 556-5531 or email AIH-management@eahhousing.org.

Contact EAH Housing at (808) 523-8826 or submit a message on their website.

Resident expresses gratitude

Leona Haili, one of the first residents to move into Aloha Iā Halewilikō, thanked those who helped her find an affordable place to live.

“You know, rent was tough, right? For us kupunas,” said Haili. “But when I got my call, and I was on the 87th list, I came over here.”

Haili described her experience moving in. “When the girl put me through there, after I went back with the key, I got on my hands and just was so grateful,” she said. “When others moving in, you know, in the beginning, I wanted to help all of them.”

She added, “I wanted to share how beautiful this was. I wanted to give them my little wagon. I wanted to let them know that they was coming to a place that they could feel free, safe, and that this may be the final home and a new chapter in our lives.”

Haili said she felt blessed to live in the new housing. “This is the real deal, that from one seed, one idea, for EAH, I can hardly say that, I have to practice,” she said. “Every day when I get up, I thank God that He has blessed me.”

Ceremony blesses property

On Friday morning, Kahu Kordell Kekoa conducted a Hawaiian blessing and dedication for the project’s grand opening.

Laura Hall, president and CEO of EAH Housing, said the nonprofit is glad to fill a housing need. “We could not celebrate this most important milestone without the help and support of so many,” said Hall.

EAH is currently managing about 3,300 units across 39 communities in Hawaii.

In October 2025, the nonprofit marked the grand opening of another affordable housing property called Hale Nā Koa ‘O Hanakahi.

“It was our first affordable senior rental community with a preference for veterans, and all 92 homes were filled within two months,” said Hall. “That was awesome.”

Community built on historical land

Aloha Iā Halewilikō is built on the former site of the Aiea Sugar Mill, which operated for nearly 50 years as a cornerstone of Hawaii’s sugar industry.

The mill was built in 1898 by the Honolulu Sugar Company and later operated by the Honolulu Plantation Company until World War II military land seizures and rising costs forced the company into bankruptcy in 1946.

The mill continued operating under different ownership until it was finally demolished in 1998.

View the complete timeline here.