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Green, Blangiardi unveil Waikiki high-rise homeless kauhale

Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Gov. Josh Green teamed up again Friday to announce their latest effort to reduce homelessness on Oahu by unveiling the latest “kauhale” community of formerly homeless and low- income, working residents: a first-of-its-kind Waikiki high-rise that now repre­sents home to 35 families comprising 121 adults and children.

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Unlike previous kauhale built out of tiny-home structures that continue to expand across the state, the city bought the Waikiki Vista high-rise on Kapiolani Boulevard — originally the home of Tokai University and then dorm-style housing for Hawaii Pacific University — in October 2022 at a cost of $37.75 million.
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Mayor Rick Blangiardi speaks on Friday.
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Ala Wai Community Park is seen from Waikiki Vista.
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Anton Krucky, director of the office of housing homelessness, speaks on Friday.
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Aedward Los Banos, left, deputy director of the city’s community services, takes a tour of a Waikiki Vista unit.
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Tina Andrade, CEO of Catholic Charities of Hawaii, speaks on Friday.
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Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Gov. Josh Green and Royal Hawaiian Band director Clarke Bright tour the band's office. Since late April, Waikiki Vista has become home to a mix of formerly homeless and low-income, working adults and their children — along with the first-ever home and permanent rehearsal space for the Royal Hawaiian Band on the building’s ninth floor.
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Entertainers, Gigi Takaki, left, Kala’i Stern, and La’amea Paleka, are visited by Royal Hawaiian bandmaster, Clarke Bright.
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John Mizuno, the governor’s homelessness coordinator, speaks on Friday.
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Sam Moku, the mayor's chief of staff, speaks on Friday.
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Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Gov. Josh Green and Royal Hawaiian Band bandmaster Clarke Bright in the Royal Hawaiian Band rehearsal Hall.

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Green, Blangiardi unveil Waikiki high-rise homeless kauhale