Homebuilding also fund-raiser
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
More than 500 volunteers statewide will be out building homes for low-income families tomorrow as part of Hawai'i Habitat for Humanity's first "Build-a-Thon," a fund-raising event involving all five state affiliates.
WHAT: Hawai'i Habitat for Humanity's first "Build-a-Thon" WHO: Habitat for Humanity volunteers WHEN: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow WHERE: Habitat for Humanity has building sites throughout the state. INFORMATION: To volunteer or make a donation, call: In Hilo: Steve Bader, 969-4848. In Kona: Lorraine Highkin, 322-3320. On O'ahu: Anne Marie Beck, 486-7792. On Kaua'i: Georgia Mossman, 822-7809. On Maui: Sherri Dodson, 893-0334. On Moloka'i: Jean Han, 560-5444, or Claud Sutcliffe, 553-3844.
Volunteers for the build-a-thon collect pledges of financial support based on the number of hours they spend building homes, much like pledges for walk-a-thons. The goal statewide is $120,000, and the money raised will go to the local Habitat affiliates for building supplies for more homes.
At a glance
Mattie Kaeo, 61, is becoming a homeowner for the first time and will move into her home with her grandchildren. The Maui affiliate is putting the finishing touches on her three-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Kula.
"It's awesome," Kaeo said. "The house is on a hill and it is like we are living in heaven. God bless them."
Sherri Dodson, executive director of Maui Habitat for Humanity, said the three homes being worked on tomorrow are all in Kula on Hawaiian Home Lands and will all belong to families coming directly out of homelessness.
"These people have waited sometimes 30 years for their land," Dodson said.
"In the subdivision, if you're not able to build on your land, you lose it. It goes to the next person on the list. Generally our families have tried to get conventional loans to build a home and couldn't. They were on the verge of losing their leases when we were able to step in and build for them."
Dodson said the average home on Maui sells for about $550,000, and Habitat is building its homes for about $55,000.
All construction is done with privately donated money and volunteer labor. Families qualify by need, willingness to partner with Habitat with 500 hours of "sweat equity," and the ability to repay the long-term, no-interest mortgage.
Although the Build-A-Thon is a statewide effort, money raised on each island will help to build homes on that island. In addition to money raised by the volunteers, Centex Destination Properties, First Hawaiian Bank, Home Depot, Home Street Bank and The Case Foundation are supporting the Build-a-Thon.
Habitat for Humanity has been building homes in Hawai'i since 1988 and has built about 200 homes in the state, many on Kaua'i after Hurricane 'Iniki.
"Homeonwership was something only in their dreams, so it is kind of fun to make it come true," Dodson said.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
