If there was any doubt that Hawaii needs more moderately priced housing, look no further than Kapiolani Residence, a planned high-rise condominium near Ala Moana Center.

The developer, SamKoo Pacific LLC, reports that about 900 local residents want to get into the 292 affordable units in the 484-unit tower.

No doubt the scarcity of such reasonably priced condos triggered the response; and the proximity to the eventual Ala Moana rail transit station makes them even more attractive.

Surely the same response would happen at the Mana‘olana market- priced condominium/hotel project, located across from the Hawaii Convention Center — if the developer chose to build some affordable units at that prime location.

Unfortunately, that developer, Mana‘olana Partners, is resisting, preferring instead to buy its way out of its obligation or build just 16 rental units elsewhere.