Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto says he hopes to have five more Kahala mansions ready by the end of next month for needy Native Hawaiian families. Advertiser library photo | October 2006

Genshiro Kawamoto moved three families — either homeless or on the verge of homelessness — into three of his homes in Honolulu's ritzy Kahala neighborhood in March.

Kawamoto is currently having concrete gates, walls and swimming pools, "which can be hazardous to small children," removed from the five homes, he said in a statement faxed to media.

The real estate developer announced plans in October to have eight low-income Hawaiian families move into eight of his Kahala Avenue homes.

Kawamoto selected the families from about 3,000 people who wrote him after the announcement.

The homes are among about 20 Honolulu dwellings Kawamoto bought for about $115 million in the years since 2002.

Many of the houses have been vacant since then. Kawamoto also has plans to transform four houses into public museums for his collection of Western and Oriental art.

Kawamoto has said he's moving needy Hawaiians into his homes because doing so is fun and because he wants to liven up the neighborhood.

Critics say he's trying to drive down land values in Kahala.