HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 Public Notice for Ouli Ekahi Rental Housing Improvement Project RROFNOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
August 12, 2025
County of Hawaiʻi
Office of Housing and Community Development
1990 Kinoʻole Street, Ste 102
Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720
(808) 961-8379
On or about August 28, 2025, the County of Hawaiʽi Office of Housing and Community
Development (OHCD) will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) for the release of $4,407,446.84. This amounts to $1,550,000.00 of 2025
Community Development Block Grant program funds authorized under Title 1 of the Housing
and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended; $156,225.84 of 2018 Home Investment
Partnerships (HOME) funds; and $2,701,221.00 of 2024 HOME funds authorized under Title II
of the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990. These funds will support the ʽŌuli ʽEkahi Rental
Housing Improvements project, which will involve acquiring and installing a package wastewater
treatment plant, constructing a trash enclosure, implementing drainage improvements,
completing interior renovations, and modernizing buildings at the low-income housing complex
located at 62-2600 ʽŌuli ʽEkahi Place in Kamuela, Hawaii.
The proposed activities are categorically excluded under HUD regulations 24 CFR Part 58 but
may be subject to review under authorities listed in 24 CFR 58.5 under National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the
environmental determinations for this project is on file at the County of Hawaiʽi’s Office of
Housing and Community Development, 1990 Kinoʻole Street Ste 102, Hilo Hawaiʻi 96720 and
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building B, 2nd Floor, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi 96740 and may
be examined weekdays 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM. The ERR will also be posted online at
https://cpd.hud.gov/cpd-public/environmental-reviews.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the OHCD,
Grants Management Division via email at ohcdcdbg@hawaiicounty.gov. Comments must
reference the project by name: ʽŌuli ʽEkahi Rental Housing Improvements project. All comments
received by August 28, 2025 will be considered by the OHCD prior to authorizing submission of
a request for release of funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
The OHCD certifies to HUD that Kehaulani M. Costa in her capacity as Housing Administrator
consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce
responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities
have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA
and related laws and authorities and allows the County of Hawaiʻi to use the 2025 CDBG
Program funds and 2018 and 2024 HOME program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the OHCD’s certification for a period of
fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request
(whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not
executed by the Certifying Officer of the OHCD; (b) the OHCD has omitted a step or failed to
make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant
recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs
or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds
by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a
written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.
Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24
CFR 58.76) and shall be emailed to the HUD Honolulu Field Office at cpdhonolulu@hud.gov.
Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
County of Hawaiʻi
Office of Housing and Community Development
By: Kehaulani M. Costa
C. Kimo Alameda, Ph.D.
Mayor, County of Hawaiʻi