Affordable Housing in South Maui

What is an “Affordable House?” Good question. The South Maui Community Plan champions the idea that affordable housing is no more than 30% of a household budget. Any more than that, and you are considered rent or home burdened.

However, in Hawaii, affordable housing is based off of the “AMI.” Which is Average Median Income, which is currently $97,000. After taxes, a 97,000 income is about $6400 a month. Households making this much can afford (after taxes) a rent or mortgage payment of $2000 per month.

Yet currently, a home that costs 1 million dollars would have a mortgage payment of over $6000 per month! How could you afford to buy a home when your house payment takes 80-90% of your income? You can’t! And how can you afford to rent a home when the payment is $4000 plus per month?? You can’t!

What we need in South Maui are more affordable homes, so our workforce and neighbors and families can afford to live on the island. At KCA, we are making as much noise as we can for less luxury homes and more affordable ones.

There is some good news on affordable housing for S Maui. Currently, in the build out or completion phases, there are 511 affordable or workforce housing (often considered the same thing) being completed in Maui. Hale Piikea, Liloa Hale, and the old Haggai Institute. This is exciting and good for South Maui. But we need at least another thousand to keep people from being forced to move away.

Find out more about the affordable housing issue and what you can do to support this vital effort for less luxury homes and more affordable ones in South Maui by coming to the KCA Public Meeting on March 18 at 6:30pm at Pro Arts. Hope to see you there!