Nearly two years after catastrophic wildfires destroyed over 2,000 homes in Lahaina, Hawaii, reconstruction has been sluggish, with only 10 homes completed. Contrarily, a temporary neighborhood named Ka La'i Ola emerged quickly, showcasing modular houses for over 600 residents. Managed by HomeAid Hawaiʻi, the construction began only three months after acquiring land in February 2024. The nonprofit vetted 130 modular manufacturers post-disaster, highlighting the need for efficient, scalable housing solutions amidst recovery, raising broader questions about cost and sustainability in temporary housing.
"The timeline was unlike anything that we've ever experienced," says Kimo Carvalho, executive director of HomeAid Hawaiʻi, the nonprofit leading the development of the project in partnership with the state of Hawaii. The team secured land in February 2024 and broke ground at the beginning of May.
Immediately after the fires, the state was inundated with calls from modular housing companies; it realized that factory-built modular housing would likely be an important tool in the recovery.
One hundred days later, the first families started moving in, showing whatâs possible with timely and efficient planning in disaster recovery.
The success of Ka La'i Ola may serve as a model for other communities faced with similar disasters, illustrating the potential benefits and challenges of modular housing.
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