Pre-fab factory could accelerate housing for native Hawaiians

Hawaiian lawmakers are proposing funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to buy a 196,000-square-foot hangar in Kalaeloa. The hangar would be converted into a factory for producing modular housing units, aimed at reducing a waitlist of over 29,000 applicants. The modular homes would be 10% to 15% cheaper than traditional construction. The factory could produce up to 40 homes monthly, with a pilot project planned for Maui. The homes would be built off-site and then finished locally. The proposal has received no opposition so far and has cleared a key legislative committee. The department is also seeking an additional $600 million from the Legislature this year to support housing projects.