WAIEHU, Maui — Before Donna and Harry Brown Jr. could have a new home in the Waiehu Kou subdivision, they had a son, Kahiau, an adopted child with cerebral palsy.

Their love and attention to him and his need for specialized medical care on O'ahu caused them to turn down four chances to have a Hawaiian Homes residence since 1996, The Maui News reported.

"I think 98 to 99 percent of the people said we were crazy," Harry Brown said, remembering how family and friends reacted when they learned that during the last 12 years the Browns deferred the dream of owning a home and returning to their family roots.

This past weekend brought the wait to an end. The fifth time was the charm. The Browns had finally accepted their dream home in Waiehu Kou Phase IV subdivision, giving it a blessing and a block party featuring family, friends and lots of Hawaiian food, music and dance.

"We knew when the right time came, everything would be pono. It would be right," Donna Brown said.

Both Browns have roots on Maui, Harry having grown up in Waiehu and Donna's mother being a Maui girl. They met on O'ahu while attending Brigham Young University-Hawai'i, eventually marrying in 1974 and settling in Kahuku.

The couple tried a few unsuccessful private adoptions, until 13 years ago when Kahiau was born here to a niece of Harry Brown's. They later discovered that Kahiau's biological father is a cousin of Donna Brown.

"So our boy really is our family. He has our blood," Harry Brown explained.

Soon after the adoption, the Browns placed their name along with hundreds of other Hawaiians seeking a home in the Waiehu Kou Phase II subdivision. Harry Brown's name was selected in 1996, but he had to turn down the offer, choosing to concentrate his time and attention on Kahiau's care.

The couple had been told by doctors at Kahiau's birth that his chances of surviving past the age of 3 were dim, in part because he had other special conditions that resulted from the cerebral palsy. That prognosis motivated the Browns to do more for their son, including giving up their dream of moving to Maui three more times.

"He's the 'main man,' '' Brown said, referring to the nickname he gave his son. "Our focus is on him. Our life is centered on him."

The Browns are always at his side except for when they go to work. Harry Brown, 57, is the chief projectionist at the Polynesian Cultural Center, while Donna Brown, 56, serves as a special needs advocate at the University of Hawai'i.

Harry Brown said every time he turned down a chance to achieve his dream of home ownership on Maui, he had mixed feelings.

"It was sweet and sour," he said.

But together with his wife, he said he knew that eventually he would return.

The final effort began some five years ago. Harry Brown's name was again drawn for Waiehu Kou Phase IV. The couple said Kahiau's care has since been stabilized, and Brown himself is near retirement. "Everything was fitting into place," he said.

"When Waiehu Kou Phase IV was offered, we decided to participate because now we're ready, both financially and physically, for our family to relocate to Maui," Harry Brown said.

While they blessed their home on Saturday, they won't actually move to the Valley Isle until summer after Kahiau has completed another year in the Hawaiian Immersion Program at Kahuku High School.

To get the three-bedroom home valued at $224,000, the Browns saved and took homeownership education classes offered by the Homestead Individual Development Account Program.

The HIDA Program provided the Browns with a match of $3 for every $1 saved, for a maximum of $10,000. Funding for the Homestead Individual Development Account Program comes from the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act program with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

The Browns participated in the program for six months. The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, in partnership with Hawaiian Community Assets, developed the program to provide Native Hawaiian beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust with a funding match to their savings to help them achieve their goal of homeownership.

Hawaii Community Lending's consultant loan officer Winona Kauhane said the Browns stand out among the hundreds of families she's helped move into Hawaiian homesteads.

"They're one of the special ones," she said. "They were very disciplined and helpful. They were cooperative, and they worked through every request asked of them through the process," she said. "They were very goal driven, and it's exciting to see them achieve their dream."

The home closing was full of tears and emotion. Harry Brown teared up Saturday as he recalled signing of the papers. "It was the Lord who got us here," he said, unable to continue talking.

Donna Brown chimed in, her eyes also filled with tears. "We just felt it was a big blessing for us. ... We knew we had to be patient and this day would eventually come. In the end, it was worth the sacrifice."

Their three-bedroom home is exactly the way they wanted it to be — complete with durable flooring purchased specially from O'ahu; large doors that open out instead of into the bedrooms; and a bathtub larger than normal to accommodate a chair and Kahiau.

They said they were grateful to all who have made their dream of homeownership become a reality, including construction manager Brian Ige of the Dowling Corp., which developed the subdivision.

"The journey to building this home was a pleasant one," Harry Brown said.

They also noted the Dowling Corp.'s housewarming gifts of a Hawaiian plant, a Waihee School cookbook and a coupon for a dinner at Da Kitchen.

"We're so thankful," Donna Brown said.

She said she looks forward to planting a garden in their yet-to-be landscaped yard, and her husband plans to introduce his son to the entire block of neighbors by driving him around in a special golf cart.

"Some people look at us and they say, 'How sad,' '' Brown said.

They respond by celebrating their son. "He's a joy to hold. I say I have the perfect child," Donna Brown said. "He doesn't talk back. He won't run away, and he never gives me attitude."

Harry Brown adds: "I say I have the perfect child in an imperfect body," proudly noting Kahiau's achievement as a six-time medalist in the Hawai'i Special Olympics. He's won three medals for swimming and three for bowling.

"I'm proud of him."

Saturday's party drew close to 100 friends and family. The Browns were quick to introduce their son to guests, putting off showing their new home.

"My son is first and foremost," Harry Brown said.

For more Maui news, visit www.mauinews.com.