Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 3, 1 March 1991 — Self-help housing project begins in Keaukaha [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Self-help housing project begins in Keaukaha

by Deborah L. Ward Editor » Twenty-two Hawaiian homestead families in Keaukaha and Panaewa will be moving into their own homes by next January, whieh they will build in the coming year. By investing their "sweat equity" in a "self-help" housing project, the homestead lessees and their families are keeping eonstruction cost below $35,000, truly affordable housing in modern-day Hawai'i. Start of construction was launched Jan. 25 at a groundbreaking ceremony in Keaukaha.

The Hilo Hawaiian Homebuilders Support Group was instrumental in organizing and supporting the lessees to make this project eome true. This group, made up mostly of kupuna homesteaders, took their vision and the initiative to bring together the Hawai'i County Eeonomie Opportunity Council, Hawaiian Homes Commission, DHHL and Office of Hawaiian Affairs to form the Keaukaha/Panaewa Self-help housing project. The Gibson Foundation also assisted the homebuilders' group in their planning efforts and to seek project fundinq.

Support group members include Eleanor Ahuna, Rev. Tuck Wah Lee, Abbie Napeahi and Maile Akimseu. They are planning to ask the 1991 legislature for $2.3 million to continue the self-help housing project to fulfill the group's commitment to see built a total of 85 sweat-equity homes for homestead lessees on the Big lsland. Technical assistance to the families, most of whom are first-time homebuilder/owners, is provided by the Hawai'i County Eeonomie Opportunity Council and funded by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. This includes a six-week course to prepare them for all aspects of home ownership, financing

and budget management, as well as construction planning and actual step-by-step building knowhow and guidance.

With the help of their 'ohana and friends, homesteaders will be building their own homes with an average 1,500 square feet of living space. They

have choosen between three designs by architect Boone Morrison — either three bedrooms, one bath or two bedroom, one bath. Most are young families with children, and all are employed. Their mortgage payment and insurance will average continued page 3

Ground-breaking ceremonies in late January launched the Keaukaha-Panaewa Self-help Housing Project. OHA trustees joined DHHL, state and county officials and homestead families here in Keaukaha.

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Self-help project mooel for futyre

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$250 to $350 monthly over 30 years.

Bernard Kaluna Adams and Yuk Ling Adams of Hilo will be among the 22 families building their dream home. He is a construction worker and his wife is a homemaker who cares for their two preschool age daughters. The Adamses eall the homebuilding project "a blessing from God Almighty." They are members of Thy Word Ministries in Hilo. Elaine and Jonathan Tsukiyama and their son, Ikaika cleared their lot last September and will line up their family to help "pound nails." She is a fulltime student at UH Hilo.

Special invited guests to the groundbreaking īncluded James DeMello, Hawai'i island liaison representing Gov. Waihee, Sen. Mike Crozier, Hawai'i county housing administrator Brian T. Nishimura, representing Mayor Lorraine Inouye, and Hawai'i County eouneil members Merle Lai and Russell Kokuhun, and project director Joe Clarkson of HCEOC and George Yokoyama.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has provided funding for technical assistance. Representing OHA at the groundbreaking ceremony were OHA chairman Moses K. Keale, Sr., and trustees Moanikeala Akaka, Louis Hao, Clayton Hee and Kamaki Kanahele. Keale said the project demonstrates "OHA's commitment to the housing needs of our people." He said "This is an example of how OHA ean help DHHL. OHA will eonhnue this." He called the project a model for future collaborations between homesteaders, DHHL, OHA and housing development agencies. He added, "Keia ka wahi. Keia ke kumu. Keia ke piko. This is the plaee, the seed was planted here, this is the tree that grew. This is the piko."

Kamaki A. Kanahele, an OHA trustee and president of the State Oouneil of Hawaiian Homestead Association, (SCHHA) called the groundbreaking for the self-help housing project in Keaukaha/Panaewa "a positive direction for Hawaiians implementing the ohana system to its fullest. The support provided by the Gibson Loundation in pulling together the community and working with DHHL was an excellent example of private and state cooperation. "The concept of 'self-help housing' itself is a valuable source and one of several alternatives that should be considered and available to our people. There are those Hawaiians that might not be able to build their own homes and need to be provided with other possibilities for housing

needs. i look for the day when a full-service housing system ean be provided for our people." "The SCHHA has been a major supporter of self-heip housing, and the model in KeaukahaPanaewa will serve us well in expanding this concept throughout our homelands," Kanahele said.

Representing the Hawaiian Homes Commission ana the Department of Hawaiian Homes were commission chairwoman Hoaliku Drake, commissioner Ann Nathaniel, deputy director John Rowe, and DHHL staff Linda Chang, Hardy Spoehr, Sandy Asato, Don Pakele and Ken Toguchi.

Drake told the homesteaders You are the model we will look to, to justify getting more money for self-help projects on all islands." She asked homesteaders' help to go before the state legislatures and "tell them to kokua DHHL. I need the kala to buiid houses." Rev. Ronney Keawekane of Ka Uhane Hemolele O Ka Malamalama church in Hilo gave the innovation and the groundblessing prayer. He

said it would bring joy to Pnnee Kuhio if he could see the homesteaders preparing to build their homes.

Then with shovels in hand, agency officials and homesteaders took the symbolic first shovelfui. The ceremony was held on the 100-foot by 217foot lot of Isaiah "Frank" and Cindy Feary on Kalanianaole Avenue in Keaukaha. The Fearys, who have four young children, will build a threebedroom house with help of their 'ohana and friends.

These are the lessees whose families will be participating in the Keaukaha/Panaewa Self-Help Homebuilding Project this year. Bernard K. Adams, Jr.; Rae Lee Awai; James K. Beckiey; Ruth L. Brooks; Ronald A. DeCosta; Isaiah F. Feary; Samuelyn L. Gaison; Rebecca L. Grace; George Iaukea; Mickey K. Ioane; Arthur D.K. Iokepa; BeniJo Kuamoo; David K. Kuheana; Dyreson A. Kuoha; Mercedes L. Marks; Judith Mitchell; Eiswood K. Noeau; Paulette Ota; Molly L. Segawa; Bridget W. Tripp; Elaine R. Tsukiyama and Delbert A. Whitney.

The Feary family on their homestead lot.

Yuk Ling Adams and daughters.