Summary:

An Environmental Assessment (EA) is being prepared regarding the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) proposed long-term course of action for the Wailupe Family Housing site. This process will provide opportunities for public comment, analysis of potential environmental impacts, and identification of mitigations measures.

Wailupe Family Housing is currently located at 5044 Kalanianaole Highway, Honolulu, Hawaii. The living quarters at the housing site were constructed between 1920-1929. Due to the age of the structures, there are several ongoing environmental hazards including Lead Based Paint (LBP) on interior and exterior surfaces, ceilings constructed with canec (a material known to contain arsenic), and surfaces soils containing lead in exceedance of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) direct exposure action levels. As a result, at-risk families with children under the age of seven or expectant mothers are not allowed to inhabit the living quarters. In addition to health concerns related to environmental hazards, the living quarters are in overall poor condition. Much of the interior electrical and plumbing utilities are original construction, and conditions such as leaking roofs and termite damage have caused uncomfortable living conditions.

The principal considerations for long-term management of the housing site include the age and historic nature of the homes, deteriorated building materials, environmental hazards, high cost of reconstruction, and the lack of demand for USCG housing on Oahu. Based on these considerations, the USCG’s Proposed Action for the Wailupe Family Housing site includes the following:

By following this process, decision-makers will be equipped with the information necessary to make safe and sustainable decisions regarding this Proposed Action.

1. Maintain quarters until current occupants are transferred.
2. Upon vacancy, demolish the housing quarters, recreation center, garages, bath house, tennis court, and swimming pool. The roadway, ditch, culvert, bridges, and mature landscaping will be retained.
3. Following demolition, retain the property for USCG future use(s). Future use has not been identified; input will be sought prior to establishing a new use.

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The EA will evaluate the potential impacts associated with the Proposed Action and be prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 United States Code §4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and USCG Commandant Instruction (COMDTINST) 5090.1 (series), U.S. Coast Guard Environmental Planning Policy. By following this process, decision-makers will be equipped with the information necessary to make safe and sustainable decisions regarding this Proposed Action.

Notice of Public Scoping Period:

The USCG has contracted Tetra Tech, Inc. to facilitate NEPA public scoping process, which happens early in the process to help identify topics and resources that need to be assessed in the EA. Input received during scoping will help define how to approach the assessment and what information may be needed to identify regulatory concerns, approvals, and any other relevant information. The public scoping period will be open from January 7 to January 28, 2026.

Notice of Public Meeting:

A public meeting will be held on January 21, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM at the project site’s Recreation Center. The site address is 5044 Kalanianaole Highway, Honolulu, HI 96821. There will be a brief presentation at 6:00 PM followed by a question and answer period.

Throughout this process, publicly available documents—including notices of opportunity for public comment and the Draft EA—will be posted on this webpage. Stay tuned for further information regarding the EA process.

More Information:

• Signed Scoping Letter
• Proposed Action Figures
  • Figure 1. USCG Wailupe Family Housing Site Location Map.
  • Figure 2. USCG Wailupe Family Housing Site TMK Map.
  • Figure 3. USCG Wailupe Family Housing Site Layout & Building Identification Map.

Request for Comments:

Interested parties are requested to express their views on the proposed project. Comments may be provided electronically through the "Submit Comment" button at the bottom of this website (preferred) until January 28, 2026, or by letter to the following address:

Commanding Officer U.S. Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit Hawaii ATTN: Matthew Casey 300 Ala Moana Blvd. Rm 8-134 Honolulu, HI 96850

For further information contact:

For information or questions about this document, please send an email to Tetra Tech, Inc. via Zach.Wells1@tetratech.com and copy the USCG’s representative, Matthew Casey, at Matthew.C.Casey@uscg.mil by 5:00 PM Hawaii Standard Time on January 28, 2026.