By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– The City and County of Honolulu has selected EAH Housing as its preferred negotiating partner for the redevelopment of the former Dee Lite Bakery site in Kalihi — a key step toward bringing new transit-oriented affordable housing to the Dillingham Boulevard corridor.
The City-owned property, located at 1930 Dillingham Boulevard and 1907 Eluwene Street, was once home to the longtime neighborhood landmark Dee Lite Bakery, which served generations of Kalihi families. The City acquired the property in 2019 for approximately $8.4 million as part of a long-term effort to secure land for affordable housing near transit. Situated directly across from the future Mokauea (Kalihi) Skyline Station, the site represents one of the most strategically located opportunities for affordable housing development along Honolulu’s expanding rail corridor.
“This site represents a tremendous opportunity to deliver new affordable housing in a neighborhood that has long been the heart of Honolulu’s working families,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “By activating City-owned land directly across from a future Skyline station, we are thoughtfully aligning housing with transportation and creating opportunities for residents to live closer to jobs, schools, and essential services. Projects like this demonstrate how strategic use of public land can help address Oʻahu’s housing needs while strengthening communities like Kalihi for generations to come.”
EAH Housing is a nonprofit affordable housing development and management organization with a long track record of delivering high-quality affordable communities across Hawaiʻi and the West Coast. The organization currently manages thousands of affordable housing units and has partnered with public agencies and community stakeholders to deliver housing that supports long-term community stability and opportunity.
“This was a highly competitive process, and we want to thank all of the applicants who submitted thoughtful proposals,” said Kevin D. Auger, director of DHLM. “The former Dee Lite Bakery site is uniquely positioned to deliver transit-oriented affordable housing in the heart of Kalihi. We look forward to working with EAH Housing and the community to move this project forward, and we appreciate the partnership of HART, the Department of Planning and Permitting, the Department of Transportation Services, and others who helped bring the project to this stage.”
“Kalihi is one of Honolulu’s most transit-rich neighborhoods, but it is also one of the communities most affected by rising housing costs,” said District VII Councilmember Radiant Cordero. “Creating affordable housing next to the future Mokauea Skyline station helps ensure that local families can benefit from the investments being made along the rail corridor. I look forward to continuing to work with the administration, EAH Housing, and community stakeholders as this project moves forward.”
Preliminary analysis indicates the site could support more than 150 affordable rental units, though the final development program will be determined through collaboration between the City and the selected developer during the planning and design process.
The redevelopment site includes two adjoining parcels totaling approximately 23,600 square feet at the corner of Dillingham Boulevard and Eluwene Street. Located less than two miles from Downtown Honolulu and within walking distance of schools, Honolulu Community College, and neighborhood businesses, the site is designated as a priority location under the Iwilei–Kapālama Transit-Oriented Development Plan.
Under the terms of the selection, EAH Housing will enter into an exclusive negotiation period with the City to finalize the terms of a Pre-Development Contract and Ground Lease. Once those agreements are completed, the project will move forward with community engagement, planning, and design prior to City Council review.
“EAH Housing is honored to be selected for this opportunity,” said Karen Seddon, Regional Vice President of EAH Housing. “We look forward to working with DHLM, community stakeholders, and neighborhood residents to shape a development that provides high-quality affordable housing while strengthening connections to the future Skyline station and surrounding Kalihi community.”
This property was previously identified in the City’s 2025–2028 Strategic Housing Plan as part of a broader initiative to accelerate the production of long-term affordable housing on underutilized public lands. In 2025 alone, the City issued Requests for Qualifications for several City-owned sites across Oʻahu — including 1615 Ala Wai Boulevard, 436 Ena Road, 130 South Beretania Street, 1421 Pensacola Street, Iwilei Center, and the Kapolei Parkway Lots 2-5 parcels — representing more than 25 acres of City land moving toward housing development. Together, these opportunities represent a new era of public land activation and affordable housing delivery in Honolulu.