Vacant dorm site could morph into affordable housing

WAILUKU >> Maui County has a set of old college dorms in mind for low-income housing.

But a recent inspection shows the buildings have a long way to go before they can be turned into livable spaces — or the best option might be to tear them down and rebuild, The Maui News reported last week.

Carol Reimann, director of the county Department of Housing and Human Concerns, said that the inspection revealed leaks, mold, poorly repaired fixtures and visible cracks in the foundation. Reimann said it would take “an army of licensed contractors” to make the old University of Hawaii-Maui College dorms livable.

Reimann said the dorms in Kahului were built in 1981 and have been vacant for at least 20 years. The nearly 9-acre property includes three residential buildings, each with four apartment units; a multipurpose building with laundry, mail and recreation rooms; and a parking lot with 17 stalls.

Each apartment unit is about 800 square feet with two bedrooms and one bath.

After the dorms were vacated, the college planned to open a hospitality training academy on the site but later decided to build it elsewhere on campus. With the lease set to expire in 2035, Chancellor Lui Hokoana said the college is willing to give up the lease earlier to allow the county to use the property for housing.

In March 2016 the college did a hazardous materials study of two buildings and discovered asbestos in the flooring and roof shingles, Reimann said. A county-­funded inspection by Honolulu-based Professional Real Estate Inspectors on March 28 also found plenty of problems.

Meeting to be held on flow standards for 4 streams

The state Commission on Water Resource Management will hold a meeting to apprise Maui residents of new flow standards for four streams.

The meeting will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria, 871 Lahainaluna Road. It will include a review of the amended interim flow standards for Ukumehame, Olowalu, Launiupoko and Kauaula streams.