Updated at 12:43 p.m., Thursday, March 22, 2007

Kawamoto begins handing out keys to Kahala homes

Advertiser Staff

Dorie-Ann Kahale is overjoyed upon seeing the living room of her new Kahala home, provided to her at no cost by Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto. Kahale's children are at left. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Dorie-Ann Kahale and her five daughters were handed the keys this morning to a four-bedroom Kahala home they will be living in rent-free thanks to Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto.

The house is one of four on Kahala Avenue owned by Kawamoto that are being made available to low-income families on a rent-free basis. Kahale's new 3,423-square-foot home, built in 1989 and remodeled in 2005, was purchased by Kawamoto in April 2005 for $2.89 million.

The enigmatic tycoon said about 3,000 people wrote him in response to the plan that he first publicized in April. Kawamoto said he plans to hand out keys to two more of the four families later today.