​Maui Countys First Time Homebuyer Opportunity Program

Ho okumu Hou

Maui County's First-Time Homebuyer Opportunity Program (Hoʻokumu Hou)

The Opportunity Program was launched on August 11, 2025, as a segment of Maui County's recovery plan, Hoʻokumu Hou. This program has been allocated $92.5 million from the federal Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. The program aims to assist first-time homebuyers and covers closing costs, down payments, mortgage rate buy-downs, principal reductions, and other expenses.

To qualify, applicants cannot have owned a residential property in the last three years, must currently live in or be relocating to Maui County, and must plan to occupy the home— which can be a single-family house, townhouse, or condo— as their primary residence. The household income must not be above 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) with preference to those at or below 80% AMI.

Applicants must obtain a first mortgage which has to be a 30-year fixed rate. Those who are not qualified yet can be assisted by a case manager. The program also mandates that housing costs must be maintained at 30% of pre-tax income, a 99-year affordability restriction is placed to ensure that future sales are made to qualified income-restricted buyers at affordable prices.

Applications can be submitted online, via mobile app, or at intake centers in Lahaina or Kahului, with support provided throughout the process. The overall housing budget for first-time homebuyers under CDBG-DR totals $185 million, half of which is allocated specifically to this program.

The First-Time Homebuyer Opportunity Program ( Hoʻokumu Hou ) began accepting applications on August 11, 2025, with $92.5 million available from federal CDBG-DR funds. This program is aimed at aiding first-time buyers, defined as those who have not owned a home in the past three years, and who are residents of Maui County and able to secure a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. They must not exceed 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) with the best chances of being selected if they are under 80% of AMI.

Homes that are eligible are single-family homes, townhouses, and condos to be purchased as the buyer’s primary residence and not situated in flood zones. This program offers assistance with closing costs, down payments, mortgage rate and principal buy-downs as well as other eligible costs. An important component of the program is a 99-year affordability restriction which mandates that the property must remain an affordable and owner-occupied home for 99 years. Applicants may apply via the online portal, Maui OOR app, or in-person at intake centers in Lahaina and Kahului.

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