New residents of Hunt Companies’ recently renovated Wakea Garden Apartments can move in this week.

The former bachelor officer quarters at the Naval Air Station at Barbers Point underwent a $12 million renovation as part of Hunt Companies’ 20-year plan to redevelop 540 acres in Kalaeloa. On Tuesday, the apartments were blessed by Shad Kane of the Kalaeloa Heritage and Legacy Foundation as part of a ceremony to celebrate the opening.

Rent for one-bedroom, one-bath units will range from $1,200 to $1,500 per month. All of the units qualify as reserved housing due to the rent being lower than than the Hawaii Community Development Authority’s limit of 140 percent of average income of households in the area. Cirrus Asset Management Inc., manager of the Kalaeloa property, said the average rent for one-bedroom apartments in the area is $1,600 per month.

The former bachelor officer quarters were abandoned in 2006, and the renovation is the first part of Hunt Companies’ plan to revitalize the area. Hunt’s Hawaii Division has been active for more than 20 years, renovating underutilized military properties and building homes for more than 6,600 military families. Its projects include Palamanui and Ke Kailani on the Big Island and the Kilauea Lighthouse Village on Kauai.

Shiwani Johnson
Pacific Business News