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Kawailehua = a place of renewal, healing, and rising again

At Kawailehua Community Alliance, we empower residents through advocacy, collaboration, and engagement in our public housing project, fostering a vibrant, united neighborhood.
Public Housing Project - Housing and Urban Development & Federal Section 8

We recognize that true safety and resilience come not only from preventing harm, but from cultivating connection, care, and purpose among all who call Kawailehua home.

As a community alliance, we commit to:

Uplift positive behavior and celebrate acts of kindness and cooperation.
Empower residents through communication, education, and mutual respect.
Protect the vulnerable and nurture our shared environment with aloha.
Collaborate with civil servants and local partners to build solutions rooted in compassion and fairness.

Legal Basis for this Alliance:

Housing and Urban Development / HUD EXCHANGE

Our Services

Tenant Board

A Tenant Board is the leadership group chosen by residents to represent the community, improve safety, connect services, and work with the housing authority to make the neighborhood healthier and more stable.

Board members hold official roles and responsibilities and are accountable to the residents they serve. They are voted into positions on board by ALL tenants.
If a board member is not fulfilling their duties, acting inappropriately, or violating the community’s trust, they can be voted out and replaced through a tenant recall or re-election process.

A HUD-recognized Tenant Board must:

Represent the people.
Communicate with housing.
Encourage participation.
Support safety.
Build community programs.
Govern fairly and ethically.
Stay accountable.
Collaborate with partners.
Empower residents.

These are the expectations set by HUD’s official federal law

(24 CFR 964)

Sign Up

Neighborhood watch

What Our Neighborhood Watch Does

Builds relationships with KPD in a way that feels safe and culturally grounded
Helps residents understand when and how to report concerns
Supports kūpuna, single mothers, keiki, and survivors
Strengthens communication between tenants and agencies
Promotes restorative accountability and community protection
Creates a safer, healthier environment for all families

This is a tenant-led alliance, supported by trained partners—not an enforcement squad.

Recently, some Kawailehua tenants met with:

KPD Southside Substation Commander & Sargeant
County Council Chair Mel Rapozo
Child Welfare Services (CWS)

During this meeting, we shared openly about our experiences as vulnerable families living in a high-stress housing environment. We spoke honestly about how difficult it has been to work with agencies when we do not always feel safe, respected, or protected.

These leaders listened.
They acknowledged our pain.
And together, we agreed on a new path forward.

More Info

Family Resource Center

The Kawailehua Family Resource Center is an on-site support hub located in the community room at Kawailehua Public Housing.
Its purpose is to make services accessible, local, trauma-aware, and culturally grounded so residents can receive help without leaving the neighborhood.

Nourishment Fridge

A shared free food fridge and freezer stocked weekly through our Nourishment Center partnership.
Residents may take what they need—no forms, no judgment, no barriers.