Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 10, 1 October 2003 — Homesteaders offered building aid [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Homesteaders offered building aid

Hawaiian homesteaders in Kula, Maui, and on the leeward coast of O'ahu are being provided assistance to build new homes through the Hawaiian Community Development Board. HCDB has initiated two projects to help homesteaders realize their homeownership dreams by presenting them with new pre-manu-factured houses and access to financial assistance. HCDB, whieh has partnered with Quality Homes Development,

a Leeward O'ahu manufacturer of steel-frame kit homes, is a nonprofit development agency incorporated in 2000 and the recipient of a $325,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle. HCDB is seeking 25 applicants in the Nānākuli and Wai'anae Hawaiian Homestead areas who want to replace their substandard homes with high quality, steelframed single-family homes. The second project seeks 25 applicants from Kula who have been unahle to find viable options to construct and finance their new homes. In addition to the construction of the homes, HCDB will provide homeowners with financial management planning and facilitate

their access to alternative sources of financing and funding programs, whieh provide grant subsidies and down-payment assistance to reduce the purchase price of these homes. Quality Homes has designed three model homes, whieh range from a l,056-square-foot, twobedroom home to a l,456-square-foot, four-bedroom home. These manufactured homes, whieh are

resistant to dry rot and termite infestation, ean be delivered to the site and ready for occupancy in less than six months. The projected sales prices for these homes (turnkey, including all standard amenities) are two bedroom: $116,587; three bedroom: $126,795; four bedroom: $139,787. For more information, eall HCDB at 358-2123.

Hawai'i County Mayor Harry Kim attended the Aug. 21 blessing and open house for OHA's new East Hawai'i office at Keaukaha, along with Hilo community members, OHA trustees and staff. Mayor Kim urged OHA to "attack with aggresiveness as never done before. Of all your goals, nationhood is top. OHA needs to work toward this. The govemment has failed Hawaiians for years," he said. "OHA should lead the WOy." Photo: Manu Boyd