Kukuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center Phase 1

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

Project Summary

The Kukuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center is envisioned by the County of Hawai‘i to provide space for a multi-organization/multi-agency approach to help reduce the number of homeless individuals and couples without children in the Kealakehe and greater North Kona region, and provide social services and programs to help transition emergency shelter individuals to permanent housing and/or affordable housing programs to meet homeless housing goals.

Located off Kealakehe Parkway south of the West Hawai‘i Civic Center, the State land is under Executive Order to the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation and leased to the County of Hawai‘i.

Phase 1 of the Project includes construction of 16 emergency shelter units, an approximately 2,000-square-foot assessment center, shared community restroom facilities with showers, a 1,400-square-foot community center and shared kitchen space, office space for case management services and other resources to be delivered on site, a manager’s unit, and open space for community building activities.

In addition, up to 46 safe overnight parking stalls will be provided at the site for unsheltered individuals living in vehicles.

Project Status

Crews completed mass grading of the site and the access road, Alapono Place, in late 2024.

The County issued its Request for Proposals in late February to developers for the construction of the first phase of the Kukuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center. Heartwood Pacific LLC was awarded the project.

Vertical construction began in September 2025.

Looking forward, the OHCD will continue to connect with the community throughout the planning and development process to ensure that local input shapes the facility’s operations upon its opening anticipated in 2027.