EAH Housing Selected to Redevelop Former Dee Lite Bakery Site in Kalihi
July 15, 2026
The City and County of Honolulu has named EAH Housing as its preferred partner to redevelop the former Dee Lite Bakery site in Kalihi, a longtime neighborhood landmark now on its way to becoming new transit-oriented affordable housing directly across from the future Mokauea Skyline Station.
A Site Built for Transit-Oriented Housing
The City acquired the 23,600-square-foot site in 2019 for approximately $8.4 million as part of a broader effort to secure land for affordable housing near transit. Preliminary analysis suggests the site could support more than 150 affordable rental units, with the final development program to be determined as planning moves forward.
"This site represents a tremendous opportunity to deliver new affordable housing in a neighborhood that has long been the heart of Honolulu's working families," said Mayor Rick Blangiardi.
The location sits less than two miles from Downtown Honolulu and within walking distance of schools, Honolulu Community College, and neighborhood businesses. It is designated as a priority site under the Iwilei-Kapalama Transit-Oriented Development Plan.
EAH Housing will now enter an exclusive negotiation period with the City to finalize a Pre-Development Contract and Ground Lease. Once those agreements are complete, the project will move into community engagement, planning, and design ahead of City Council review.
"EAH Housing is honored to be selected for this opportunity," said Karen Seddon, Regional Vice President of EAH Housing. "We look forward to working with DHLM, community stakeholders, and neighborhood residents to shape a development that provides high quality affordable housing while strengthening connections to the future Skyline station and surrounding Kalihi community."
The Dee Lite Bakery site is part of a larger citywide push to activate public land for housing. In 2025 alone, the City issued requests for qualifications on several City-owned sites across Oahu, together representing more than 25 acres moving toward housing development, marking a new era of public land activation in Honolulu.
