The fairs will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays at these locations:

i March 3 -- Holy Cross Church

i March 10 – Kilauea gym

i March 17 – Kapa'a Elementary School

i March 24 – Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall

i March 31 – Waimea Theatre

There will be no charge to attend the housing fairs, and childcare for youngsters 4 years and older will be available for free. Light refreshments will also be provided.

"We want to reach out to as many potential first-time homebuyers and renters as possible so they are aware of the tremendous opportunity that awaits them," said Kendall Hirai, executive director of the Hawai'i Homeownership Center and a member of the coalition.

Over the next few years, several hundred affordable housing units are scheduled to be built on Kaua'i.

The coalition is hopeful that the regional fairs will help to ensure that first-time homebuyers and renters will be ready to move in when the projects are completed.

Hirai said that although a lot of people may think they don't qualify for homeownership, they actually only need to make a few adjustments in their lives to qualify.

Those who attend the housing fairs will have access to information on layouts, locations and prices of upcoming projects across Kaua'i; receive information on training programs, financing options and other resources to get them on the path of owning a home; obtain tips from experts on how to buy or rent a home; and hear inspiring testimonials from Kaua'i residents who thought homeownership was out of reach.

The Kaua'i Housing and Traffic Coalition comprises representatives of several large Kaua'i landowners, developers, and state and county agencies.

Shortly after the group was formed last year, affordable housing was identified as one of its top priorities, and a plan was developed to tackle the issue.

The first step taken by the coalition was to conduct a survey on Kaua'i's housing needs.

Detailed information on affordable housing — including affordability, location demand (proximity to work and school), and the number and type of housing units needed — was obtained from the survey.

Using the information from the survey, the coalition has been working with Mayor Bryan Baptiste and his administration to address the island's affordable housing

situation.