Hawaii Gov. David Ige (front, holding the document) came to Lahaina on July 7 to sign Senate Bill 2293. He is flanked by Sen. Roz Baker (left), Rep. Angus McKelvey (right, in the back row) and Mayor Alan Arakawa (next to Ige at front, right).

LAHAINA – Gov. David Ige, State Sen. Rosalyn Baker, State Rep. Angus McKelvey, Mayor Alan Arakawa and supporters of Senate Bill 2293 gathered at Lahaina United Methodist Church on July 7 for a ceremonial bill signing.

SB 2293 requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. to institute proceedings to condemn the ground lease for the Front Street Apartments affordable housing project.

The measure also appropriates rental housing revolving funds to the HHFDC for the expedited construction of the Villages of Leiali’i affordable housing project in Lahaina.

South and West Maui Sen. Baker noted that SB 2293 provides a pathway to preserve the rent affordability of the Front Street Apartments, so residents “won’t be priced out of their units.

“Rep. McKelvey and I both introduced similar bills on this matter. The Senate bill ultimately moved to the governor’s desk,” she continued, adding that she was delighted that Gov. Ige took the opportunity to come to Lahaina to sign the bill.