Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 1, 1 January 1986 — Welcomes New Housing [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Welcomes New Housing

Former Homeless "Praise the Lord"

"Praise the Lord, alleluia!" This was the thanksgiving offered by three of the speakers who addressed a crowd of around 150 attending dedication ceremonies Nov. 29 for former "beach people" from the Leeward coast in Maili. Residents already have moved into the project located at Kulaaupuni and Maliona streets. The project was erected on a 1.7-acre parcel donated by the Roman Catholic Church. The opening prayer was given in Hawaiian by the Rev. Aian Smith of the Resurrection of Life Church with weleoming remarks by the Rev. Lei Sexton of the same church. The Most Reverend Bishop Joseph A. Ferrario of the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu recognized the hard work of all those involved and paid special tribute to "the people of our own Church here who originally eame up with the idea" of making the land available for the homeless. He was referring to parishioners of Sacred Hearts Church in Nanakuli. Ferrario said he was glad the Catholic Church could help out in this situation and added he was especially happy the parishioners "from your area were the ones who eame up with the idea." Following his brief address, Ferrario sprinkled holy water on the buildings to official!y bless them. Smith, Sexton and Ernestine Marfil, one of the leaders of the homeless who now prefer to be known as former beach people, all praised the Lord to make the project a reality . A big majority of these people are Hawaiians. Sexton had some profound words to share with her audience when she remarked:

"Everyone here today is a potential homeless no matter how secure you may feel. This project is not the end; it is only a beginning. "We're hoping they don't go back to the beaches but into homes and productive employment. We're going to need a lot of things here and our most pressing eoneem are pots and pans." She paid sp>ecial tribute to City and County of Honolulu Managing Director D.G . ( Andy) Anderson "for working hand and tooth with us. We really appreciate his personal efforts on our behalf." Marfil, who is the project's resident manager currently eyeing a law degree as a first year student at Leeward Community College, also praised the Lord and accepted the keys from Valerie Mendez, president of Kuu Home Non-profit Housing Corp. Anderson also credited Mayor Frank F. Fasi "for supporting us all the way. He gave us his full backing." He said this new intermediate concept should be given a ehanee. The project is made up of three grass courtyards, eaeh surrounded by six one-story housing buildings and a single structure containing kitchen and laundry facilities. There are three of these in eaeh of the courtyards. Forty-two family units feature two rooms and a bathroom. There are also 21 single-room units whieh accommodate individuals. Four single units share one bathroom. The $1.09 million project, with financing from the Bank of Hawaii, features hoilow tile construction and pitch-and-gravel built-up roofs. The grounds have also been appropriately landscaped.

Ernestine Marfil, center. and City and County of Honolulu Managing Director D. G. Anderson untie maile lei to entrance of new housing.

The Most Reverend Bishop Joseph A. Ferrario of the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu blesses Maili Housing Project for former beach people.