The events leading to the Lai Opua Blitz Build have left Aloha Kekauoha “speechless, forever thankful and in awe of everything.”
The events leading to the Lai Opua Blitz Build have left Aloha Kekauoha “speechless, forever thankful and in awe of everything.”
The 58-year-old Kailua-Kona grandmother still searches for a way to best express gratitude. Mere words don’t seem like enough for Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the volunteers who are helping make the dream of home ownership a reality for five families, including hers. Nevertheless, Kekauoha plans to try to meet, thank and hug as many helpers as possible.
Between Sept. 12 and 22, five homes will be built at the Villages at Lai Opua, a DHHL subdivision near Kealakehe High School, to increase affordable housing in Kona. The build is also in celebration of Habitat’s 10th anniversary in West Hawaii.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes are being constructed on parcels available to five approved Native Hawaiian beneficiaries on a 99-year, $1 annual site lease. Owning a Habitat-built home requires a partner family to contribute 500 hours or more of labor, attend workshops on home ownership, as well as meet financial and credit requirements.
Kekauoha said her dream of owning a home began 25 years ago, when she put her name on the DHHL homestead waiting list. She knew buying a home represented a large investment, usually the biggest one people will ever make. Still Kekauoha remained hopeful. She wanted a place where her daughter, Napua; son-in-law, Lorrin; and four grandchildren could feel a sense of belonging.
Faced with bills and debt, Kekauoha admitted thinking she’d never be able to save enough money for a down payment or to meet the other requirements. Then DHHL held a meeting, introducing potential homeowners to Habitat and the blitz build. She applied roughly a year ago and waited. However, as the economy faltered and construction islandwide slowed, home ownership didn’t seem promising.
Having to still make ends meet, Kekauoha and her family relocated to Las Vegas. She decided not to worry and “carry on with faith.” The family eventually missed their island home and wanted to move back. In May, Kekauoha got a job as a front desk clerk for the Hilton Grand Vacations Club and moved to Kailua-Kona. However, her daughter, son-in-law and four grandchildren moved to Oahu. At the end of July, Kekauoha was selected for the Habitat program, and she knew the separation was short-lived.
Getting the keys to her family’s new house will mean one thing to Kekauoha: “roots.” She looks forward to helping her grandchildren plant strawberries in the garden they’ve always wanted and pick out decor for their bedrooms. She said it’s been a worthwhile journey with “many gracious, completely unselfish, genuinely kind people” helping along the way.
For Melanie Lucas, the blitz build is a testament to goodwill and community service.
“The feeling is so surreal,” Lucas said. “It’s a beautiful dream that my family would not have without Habitat, DHHL and so many people helping to make it come true. We feel so lucky to have this opportunity. Our lives and the other families’ lives will be changed.”
Lucas, who works at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, plans to moved into a house with her husband, Robert, and their two daughters. Money that would have gone toward buying a house someday can now be used to provide the girls, ages 13 and 9, extracurricular activities, such as singing and ballet lessons, and go toward their college funds.
She said her family has been on the DHHL waiting list since 2006 and learned about Habitat through the state agency. Home ownership seemed out of reach because the couple could never save enough money, especially when dealing with the high cost of living. Because of their income, she said they didn’t qualify for assistance programs.
Honaunau resident Edwina Fujimoto was delighted upon learning her Habitat home is the “apostles’ house,” the one area churches will work on together. It’s perfect because Fujimoto, a 48-year-old Hawaii Gas clerk, was introduced to Habitat through activities she participates in with St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church.
“There have been many blessings. I’m very thankful,” she said. “This one is extra special because of all the prayerful hearts and healing hands involved.”
As a single mom of five children, Fujimoto said she “felt stuck in the middle, just above the governmental assistance level, but also just short of financially qualifying for a home.” For 17 years, she has lived with her parents. She has long wanted a place where her children and seven grandchildren could enjoy pride of ownership, as well as have space to gather, spread out or roam.
Fujimoto will move into the house with two of her children, ages 16 and 28. She can’t wait to host meals at the house, see her grandchildren biking through the neighborhood and finally get that small pool her children have wanted.
Terrie Mamac’s mother and father encouraged her to apply for the Habitat program, as well as provided endless support along the way. Mamac is a First Hawaiian Bank teller and 28-year-old single mom of two children. She said this house is going to “make a big difference” for her 9-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter.
For her, the process has been “very rewarding.” Mamac has good feelings about the community, her neighbors and the organizations, whom she has gotten to know and work alongside. She’s also enjoyed meeting other single parents, helping build their confidence and share information about the resources available for them.
“This is about hopes and dreams, but also embracing the community and making it stronger,” she said.
The fifth family could not be reached as of press time.