Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 8, 1 August 1993 — Nā Poʻe Kōkua opens doors [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Nā Poʻe Kōkua opens doors

by Jeff Clark Nā Po'e Kōkua, the Maui selfhelp housing project organized by Hawaiian homesteaders, opened its new office on July 2. President Tasha Kama welcomed friends, 'ohana and OHA's housing division staff to the new digs at 1787 Wili Pā Loop in Wailuku, where they prayed, chatted and enjoyed Hawaiian food with māmaki tea. "The vision of Nā Po'e Kōkua is to see every beneficiary of the Hawaiian Home Lands trust occupy their lands and be able to build a home in whieh they will be able to live in comfort and dignity," according to the group's literature. They are presently locating and assisting homesteaders who were awarded leases in the Waiehu Kou homestead area.

If you are a lessee with a lot on Maui and have not been in eontact with Nā Po'e Kōkua, eall coordinator Audrey Brito at 2444145.

Nā Po'e Kōkua is a nonprofit organization for self-help housing: homestead lessees ean save 30 percent of the cost of a home

by contributing labor to build it themselves. The organization received $63,000 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to assist at least 10 families in securing financing and learning the responsibilities of home ownership. (Ed. note: Ka Wai Ola O OHA featured Nā Po'e Kōkua in our March 1993 issue.) In addition to Kama, the board of directors of Nā Po'e Kōkua consists of Ilima Wood (vice president), Celeste King (secretary), Kehaulani Filimoe'atu (treasurer), Lani Kauhaahaa, Sarah Nakihei, and the Rev. Kaleo Waia'u.

Tasha Kama

The Nā Po'e Kōkua 'ohana, with friends, in their new digs: (left to right) Kehaulani Filimoe'atu, OHA housing specialist Patti Tancayo, Celeste King, OHA housing officer Stephen Morse, Tasha Kama, Audrey Brito, and llima Wood. Photos byJeffClark