Denise Iseri-Matsubara

Incorporated in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as an affiliate of Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, CCHDC owns, develops, and manages real estate properties in an effort to provide affordable housing for the elderly, those with special needs, and the socially or economically disadvantaged in our community. With the recent completion of its affordable rental projects for seniors on O‘ahu (Meheula Vista) and Maui (Kahului Lani), CCHDC plans to break ground during the second quarter of 2025 on a 178-unit affordable housing complex for qualified families in Kahului, called Hale Pilina. 

Catholic Charities Housing Development Corporation (CCHDC) has chosen a veteran of Hawaii’s housing landscape to serve as its Executive Director to help the new CEO move the needle on developing more affordable housing across the state for the nonprofit organization.

Denise Iseri-Matsubara has been involved in housing issues at both the city and state level for over a decade.  

Prior to joining Catholic Charities, Denise was the Executive Director of the City & County of Honolulu’s Office of Housing. Before that, Iseri-Matsubara spent seven years at the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) — the development arm of the state — serving first as a board director, then as the Corporation’s Executive Director; working with the development community and the state Legislature to secure funding to help finance affordable housing.

“Like CCH, the CCHDC’s mission is to advocate for social justice, especially for those with the greatest need,” said Catholic Charities Hawai‘i CEO Tina Andrade. “Working together with Denise, we are looking forward to building partnerships in our community to offer hope.”

Iseri-Matsubara’s experience in housing, regional planning, and community development stemmed back to 2005 while working in the Director’s office at the State Department of Hawaiian Homelands. She later went to work for Gov. David Ige as the lead for housing matters in the state, working with stakeholders on strategies to boost the production of affordable housing.  

Denise holds a Master’s degree in public administration, and a Bachelor’s degree in business administration, both from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  She graduated from Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama; has served on the board of directors for the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce as well as the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association.