Two Hawaiian state agencies are teaming up to finally put homes on prime waterfront land that's sat undeveloped for over a decade, which is good news for Native Hawaiian families waiting for housing but a mixed bag for nearby residents worried about construction.

• OHA and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands signed a deal to build a multi-tower complex with hundreds of units for eligible Native Hawaiian families on OHA-owned land in Kakaako Makai.
• DHHL can legally override a longstanding rule against residential building on that land, something OHA alone could not do, which is what makes this project possible now.
• Construction unions and Honolulu's mayor are backing the plan, with unions securing a promise that union contractors get the work.
• A state senator representing the area opposes the housing and high-rise plans, arguing the site (a former dump and incinerator) is unhealthy and that the state should instead swap in different land that's more ready to build on right away.
• The two agencies also have bigger long-term plans for the broader area beyond housing, including a hotel, amphitheater, cultural center, and maritime museum.

Outlook: Expect a fight over health and zoning concerns to slow things down even as the agencies and unions push to keep the project moving forward together.