Making Room for Kūpuna in Historic Wailuku

EAH Housing is proposing Wailuku Mission Senior Affordable Housing, a new community of 84 affordable homes for kūpuna, a Hawaiian term for elders or older adults, aged 62 and older, located in the heart of historic Wailuku on Maui, HI. The site was selected deliberately: residents would be within walking distance of a doctor’s office, the library, and public transit, giving older adults the ability to stay connected and independent within their own neighborhood.

The proposed community is designed to honor the place it calls home rather than erase its history. Two of Wailuku’s historic treasures, the 1836 Alexander House and the Baybrook House, would be rehabilitated and given new life as a community center and on-site management office, preserving architecturally and culturally significant buildings while putting them back into active community use. A full-time resident services coordinator, provided through EAH Housing’s StayWell! program, would also be on-site to connect residents with benefits counseling, healthcare navigation, and day-to-day community support.

The need for this kind of housing is significant. Hawaiʻi has the fastest-aging population of any state in the country, and quality, affordable senior housing remains in short supply across Maui. Early community response to the proposal has been encouraging, a reflection of how clearly the need is felt locally.

The project still has several milestones ahead, including review by the Maui County Council, with groundbreaking anticipated in 2028. We will continue to share updates as Wailuku Mission Senior Affordable Housing moves through the approval process.