Hawaii Pacific Health (HPH) has announced it is providing $500,000 in social-impact loans to support Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association (HHFHA). The community-based investment will allow HHFHA to make revolving loans to the Kauai- and Oahu-based affiliates to help the not-for-profit construct affordable single-family homes to be purchased by income-qualifying families.
Kauai Habitat for Humanity is working on several projects across the Garden Island that will, when completed, provide affordable homes for more than 300 Kauai families. The not-for-profit will leverage HPH’s investment to support these developments and expand Habitat for Humanity’s capacity to help working families in Hawaii attain stable homeownership.
“This investment into Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association’s revolving loan fund comes at a critical time for our organization,” Erik Mann, executive director of Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association, said. “With increasing demand due to increasing costs of acquisition and development, HHFHA can now provide the capital our affiliates need at an affordable rate to provide desperately needed affordable homeownership opportunities.”
Here are some of the Kauai Habitat for Humanity subdivisions that are currently in various stages of development
- Waimea Huakai: Work is underway on 10 homes in this 32-home development; the first eight were completed in 2023.
- Puu Maluhia in Kalaheo: The 0.83-acre property off of Puu Road is slated for six single-family homes.
- Eleele: Eleele Iluna, a 125-home subdivision, was completed in June 2023.
- Kauhale O Waipouli: 17 units featuring duplexes and one single-family detached home.
Kauai Habitat for Humanity utilized this investment to acquire property for an additional six new homes in Kilauea. It is also planning to build homes in Anahola on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in Piilani Mai Ke Kai and a flood recovery project in Wainiha.
HPH’s loan reflects the health care organization’s commitment to making social-impact investments to improve conditions that impact the quality of life where Hawaii’s residents live, work, learn and play.
“At Hawaii Pacific Health, we recognize that healthy communities begin outside the medical care system through building strong families and resilient communities. A key factor is affordable housing, which is why we are proud to support Habitat for Humanity’s important work on Kauai,” Michael Robinson, vice president of government relations and community affairs at HPH, said. “Creating economic empowerment through affordable housing, healthy food systems and education is essential in our mission of creating a healthier Hawaii.”
Since Habitat for Humanity was created in 1976, it has helped more than 39 million people and families find self-reliance through shelter. In Hawaii, Habitat for Humanity has constructed more than 500 affordable homes. Homeownership is the goal for Hawaii Habitat for Humanity, with mortgages being set at less than 30% of homebuyers’ annual income. Homebuyers receive financial education, first-time buyer counseling, and contribute hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” to help build their own and their neighbors’ homes.
“We completed our 125-home subdivision project in Eleele Iluna during Summer 2023. Our Board of Directors and leadership team has long known that the critical next steps for Kauai Habitat would be to acquire more land for the development of truly affordable housing,” Milani Pimental, executive director of Kauai Habitat for Humanity, said. “The loan funds that Hawaii Pacific Health has provided helps us achieve just that, and most importantly enables us to continue serving the people of Kauai.”
Photos: Three Waimea Huakai homebuyer families: the Keough-Irons, Cachero and Piimanu ohana.