Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 10, 1 October 2001 — A first milestone [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A first milestone

At the Sept. 6 OHA board meeting, a majority vote was cast for OHA to engage in home construction. There has "b'een a need for affordable housing for many years. Mueh home eonstruction today is expensive and nearly out of reach for first time home buyers. And there is a waiting list on the DHHL application list running into the thousands, like 19,000 applicants. In addition there are thousands of more Hawaiians who do not qualify, and who are also in need. The record reflects that Hawaiians have multi-genera-tion families living in households to an extent greater than in the population as a whole. This board action will help where help is greatly needed across the broad spectrum. I have always felt that because there are hundreds of qualified Hawaiians who have been awarded building lots but are unable to build that a new approach is necessary to home building. The board action of

Sept. 6. is a step in the direction of helping to solve the long standing

need for housing. Not only for new construction but in many cases for

replacement of homes that are in need of costly repairs where replacement makes sense.

The board action is truly a milestone, where OHA will enter a new field to serve its constituents. And possibly the most important, whieh is housing. Or the largest investment many families will make in their lifetimes. It was my privilege to request that our staff go to see first hand the operating home manufacturers in California and have them report back that the completed homes were indeed quality and affordable, and as qualified housing under federal codes and complying with federal loan requirements. Affordable, means about $50 per square foot of construction, although these manufactured homes maybe delivered with less or more special appointments or do-it-your-self finishing. Only the main frame ean be delivered to a lot if desired, to be completed by volunteer labor.

Whieh means there is flexibility to contain costs. A valuable component to the eonstruction is that AIu Like ean participate and in the process train Hawaiians in construction work or create job opportunities. This is a true joint venture with DHHL lands, Alu Like labor and at least OHA funding working together for the community benefit. Most important is that OHA participation may help its financial position, or rather than depend on only its volatile investment portfolio, may furnish homes to anyone who wishes to have an affordable home. The manufactured homes use materials resistant to the scourge of Hawai'i, termites. And all of the plumbing and wiring is installed into the components of the house during manufacture whieh helps to reduce costs and makes the delivery price so reasonable. ■

I have always felt that because there are hum dreds of qualified Hawaiians who have been awarded building lots but are unable to build that a new appmaeh is necessary to home building. The board action of Sept. 6. is a step in the direction of helping to solve the long standing need for housing.

Charles Ota Trustee, Maui