County’s policy regarding private housing must catch up

At 112 Haili St., Makamae Holdings’ 39 apartments are keeping approximately 100 people housed, many of them kupuna or people with disabilities.

I was born and raised in Hilo. My husband and I are physicians and the property owners, and we have chosen not to evict residents even when some are nine months behind in rent.

With five single-family homes continuously master-leased to HOPE Services since 2018, Makamae provides more than 25% of the identified East Hawaii homeless-housing inventory reported on page 58 of the county’s 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan.

Yet, public systems relying on this housing leave private providers carrying the cost. Subsidies end, rent goes unpaid, owner-paid utilities receive no Section 8 relief, and serious unit damage goes uncompensated. We continue accepting referrals because these residents are our community.

The previous owner received an affordable-housing property-tax exemption. After purchasing the building in 2024, we continued serving households at or below 40% of area median income at rents far below fair market rents, but the exemption was denied.

Exemptions on our HOPE-leased homes were also interrupted after administrative failures. We filed appeals, then withdrew after the Real Property Tax Division advised that we would likely lose and continued legal costs would exceed the taxes — after already incurring attorneys’ fees and without relief.

Meanwhile, we have renovated more than 60% of Haili’s units and strengthened fire safety. We are applying to CCHawaii for grants to open a publicly accessible downtown Hilo medical clinic offering substance-use treatment, urgent care and primary care to remove barriers to care.

Hawaii County should grant property-tax relief, address rent arrears, utilities and damage, and invest in Haili’s ADA and infrastructure needs. If private housing performs an essential public service, public policy must preserve it before East Hawaii loses housing it cannot easily replace.

Paradis Kawehionalani Reed

CEO, Makamae Holdings LLC

Hilo

Mahalo to sports editor for story regarding ref shortage

I would like to send a huge mahalo to West Hawaii Today Sports Editor Conor Langs for his article involving the BIIF referee shortage.

Not only is there a referee crisis for the BIIF, which handles the high school athletic events on this island, but it affects the youth and adult leagues, too.

I feel that more adults aged 18 or over need to give their time to refereeing and umpiring community sports programming, whether it’s a team or individual sport.

It’s an entry-level job, and knowledge of a specific sport is desirable. Training will be provided.

Much mahalos, Conor!

Gabriel Wibberley

Pahoa