An affordable rental housing development named Ko‘o­loa­‘ula is officially under construction in East Kapolei following a groundbreaking ceremony Friday.

D.R. Horton — Schuler Division will build the 120 rental apartment units in the first phase of the proj­ect for Mutual Housing Association of Hawaii. The development is on Keahu­moa Parkway (formerly known as East-West Road), near the Kroc Center.

The first phase will include an administration office, community center and rental apartments for families earning 30 percent through 60 percent of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development median incomes for the area.

Communities developed by the Mutual Housing Association of Hawaii prioritize the availability of, and residents’ participation in, a variety of services, such as educational learning centers, access to outside resources and more.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Mayor Peter Carlisle and other dignitaries addressed attendees at the ceremony, at which Kahu Kaleo Patterson presided over a traditional blessing.

Officials of the Mutual Housing Association were presented with certificates recognizing the organization’s efforts.