Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 2, 1 February 1991 — Helping themselves with Self-Help Housing [ARTICLE]

Helping themselves with Self-Help Housing

Governor John Waihee, Hawai'i Mayor Lorraine R. Inouye and state, county and community leaders joined the Hawaiian Homes Commission, the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and 22 homestead awardees last month in groundbreaking ceremonies held Jan. 25 for the Keaukaha/Panaewa Self-Help Housing project in Hilo.

The project was made possible through the efforts of the Homebuilder's Support Group and the Gibson Foundation. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) combined their efforts to enable 22 Hawaiian homestead lessees eommemorate the start of the building of their homes. The homesteaders will be building their own homes with technical assistance provided by the Hawaii County Eeonomie Opportunity Council. OHA is providing the funding for technical assistance. DHHL is providing financing for interim (construction) and permanent mortgages.

Construction is expected to be completed m 12 months. The average lot size is 20,000 square feet with 1,500 square feet of living area whieh includes the lanai. The average cost of the homes is less than $35,000. This is the second self-help housing project sponsored by DHHL. The first was the Oahu SelfHelp project at Waianae Kai, Oahu in 1988. OHA also provided funding for technical assistance. Another self-help housing project is expected to begin soon at Kekaha, Kauai.