Sunday, November 22, 2009
 

honoluluadvertiser.com
Sponsored by:
The Honolulu Advertiser

State officials have embarked on a plan to address years of accumulated problems in the troubled public housing system. The network is a safety net for thousands of poor families but today it's a system in peril. In a three-part series, The Advertiser examines the state's public housing and why officials believe something must be done — and now.

DAY 1

A building at Mayor Wright Homes in Kalihi-Palama was painted with a mural as part of a festival. Many buildings need repairs.

Posted on: August 17, 2008 at 12:00 a.m.
Hawaii plan tackles public housing crisis
As far back as the early 1970s, lawmakers, advocates and residents were decrying backlogged maintenance, deteriorating buildings and rising crime at public housing projects statewide.

Laboy Manuel, 78, and Juanita Almeida, 69, are seen at home in Palolo Valley Homes. Almeida, whose ailments limit her mobility, says public housing

Posted on: August 17, 2008 at 12:00 a.m.
Reluctant turnovers defeat housing's goal
Public housing was designed in the 1930s as a stopgap for families facing homelessness or living in overcrowded, substandard conditions. It was supposed to help them move up — then they were supposed...
Advertisement
DAY 2

Mayor Wright resident Fetu Kolio, 41, has been trying for years to drive out crime and improve security at the Kalihi public housing project.

Posted on: August 18, 2008 at 12:00 a.m.
High hopes and dashed dreams in Kalihi public housing areas
When Mayor Wright Homes opened in 1952, its 364 units embodied the dream of public housing not only because of what it was — safe, modest homes for the poor — but because of what it had replaced — 15...

The Palolo Valley Homes resident association has proposed taking over management of the housing project from the state.

Posted on: August 18, 2008 at 12:00 a.m.
Palolo Valley tenants seek bigger role
The wind picks up. A light, chilly rain starts to fall. And still the circle of people assembled on a tiny lawn at Palolo Valley Homes remains, well past dusk, to vent their frustrations about what...
DAY 3

Palolo Homes residents gather in a community room to chat and play: clockwise, from left, Teresa Welle, with 1-year-old niece Mya Welle-Phal, and 2-year-old son Weison Kotlip; Faye Salavea and her 2-year-old son, Xjaduss Sefo; Jan Ii and 2-year-old Kamalani Peters, playing the xylophone; Bina Guerrero, with 7-month-old daughter Jeina; Ollie Kiili; and Treena Sefo, with her baby, Iosua.

Posted on: August 19, 2008 at 12:00 a.m.
Hawaii public housing authority seeks solutions on Mainland
Hawai'i housing officials face this dilemma: Doing nothing to renovate the aging inventory of public housing in the Islands means it will continue to deteriorate, at some point beyond repair; but a...

Chad Taniguchi, executive director of the Hawai'i Public Housing Authority, has earned praise during his first year on the job, and the housing authority board that hired him has been receptive to the changes he has implemented as well as his candid leadership style.

Posted on: August 19, 2008 at 12:00 a.m.
Chief brings can-do spirit to agency
Former attorney and Kaua'i housing administrator Chad Taniguchi took over as the head of the troubled Hawai'i Public Housing Authority after the job had been empty for nearly six months.
Advertisement

Metromix Honolulu

Metromix

Party pics: Fashionista's Market "New Moon" party, Blue Ocean Thai, Saturday Night Sessions, more

 20 THINGS TO DO IN HONOLULU »   MOVIE SHOWTIMES »
Photo galleries
OIA Cheerleading Championship
OIA Cheerleading Championship
Hawaii vs. San Jose State football
Hawaii vs. San Jose State football
Koko Crater stabbing victim
Koko Crater stabbing victim
College football Saturday
College football Saturday
Hawaii vs. BYU basketball
Hawaii vs. BYU basketball
Farrington vs. Honokaa football
Farrington vs. Honokaa football
More galleries »
Special projects

Crossing the Line: Abuse in Hawai'i Homes

So many battered women have lost faith in Hawai'i's criminal justice system that many are not reporting their beatings.

Rail transit

See our coverage of Honolulu's largest public works project, including the results from the latest Hawai'i Poll.

The making of a presidential candidate

Barack Obama was born in Hawai'i, where his experiences growing up in a diverse society helped shape his political views.

Diabetes: Hawai'i's Hidden Epidemic

Health experts say there has been a lack of urgency in addressing Hawai'i's diabetes epidemic. Find out how you can help yourself and your family.

Salute to the Fallen

View the details of military personnel with ties to Hawai'i who were killed while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

2008-2009 Hawai'i's Best Restaurants Guide

Who doesn't love going out to eat? And who doesn't love to brag on a new find? Our new 2008 Hawai'i's Best Restaurants guide is all about recommendations from you and reviews from our panel of restaurant critics.

More special projects »
Special sections

HawaiiWarriorBeat.com

See our UH sports site for breaking news, photos from games and practices, Ferd Lewis' column and Stephen Tsai's blog, where the Tsaikos meet and chat every day.

HawaiiPreps.com

Get breaking news on Island high school sports, see results and schedules for your team, read our Homegrown Reports and check out Wes Nakama's blog.

Hawaii's MomsLikeMe.com

Our Web site for Island moms has gotten a makeover, with several new features that help our users connect and share.