Apartment buildings near UH-Manoa refurbished

Half a century of time wasn’t kind to a cluster of low-rise apartment buildings on the edge of the University of Hawaii’s Manoa campus. But today the small neighborhood along Kolo Place between the H-1 Freeway and UH’s athletic complex has a fresh look following a $6.6 million renovation.

Property owner Kamehameha Schools announced Wednesday that it has finished refurbishing six buildings containing 69 rental apartments after eight months of work by Designer Built Systems Inc.

The cinder block walkup apartments now being referred to as Kolo Village got some architectural accents that include walls covered with plants and wood paneling that replaced metal railings on the buildings dating from between 1959 and 1961.

Laundry facilities, enhanced lighting, landscaping, privacy fencing, a communal barbecue and areas with outdoor furniture also were added.

"We hope these renovations will enhance this university neighborhood and create a sense of safety and community, and a place people are attracted to," Cathy Camp, the trust’s area development director, said in a statement.

Monthly rental rates range from about $1,200 to $1,800 for studios and units with one and two bedrooms, and are being rented through Prudential Locations.

Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii’s largest private landowner, had previously owned the land under the buildings but not the structures. The trust acquired ownership of the buildings last year after a long-term ground lease terminated, and worked with Hawaii Architecture LLP on a plan to renovate the two- and three-story buildings that had severely deteriorated.

Kamehameha Schools has made similar renovations to three other buildings with 73 units in the area between 2010 and 2012, including two other buildings on Kolo Place.