LIHU‘E — The construction site of a developing single-family dwelling was the site where Nareit Hawai‘i Community Giving Initiative turned over $130,000 to the Kaua‘i Housing Development Corporation to help with the building of the house being done under the affordable housing designation by the county’s Housing Agency.
“The Kaua‘i Housing Development Corporation is truly fortunate and blessed with a most generous donation from the Nareit Foundation,” said KHDC board president Tom Shigemoto. “This gift will go a long way in assisting KDHC to provide a home for a deserving Kaua‘i family. We cannot begin to express how appreciative we are for the benefactors like Nareit who share our vision of providing affordable housing.”
The grant was made possible by donations from REITs in Hawai‘i to the Nareit Foundation, a section 501(c)(3) organization. The presentation was attended by several representatives of REITs, including Trinette Kaui and Dan Sargent, Kaua‘i-based managers of Alexander &Baldwin, whose REIT contribution to the Nareit Foundation helped fund the grant for KHDC.
The Nareit Foundation grant helps support the construction of a new affordable home taking shape adjacent to the Isenberg Park that, Friday, bristled with activity from the Baniaga division senior softball games that pulled the attention of Mayor Derek Kawakami while he waited for the arrival of the presentation dignitaries.
“I grew up in that house when we moved here from Honolulu,” said Kawakami. “And I played football with the Lihu‘e Jets in this park. Without question, the need for affordable housing on Kaua‘i remains a high priority for us all. We are grateful to the Nareit Foundation and REIT’s in Hawai‘i for supporting nonprofit affordable housing initiatives that will benefit our families in need. This incredible effort towards building our affordable housing inventory shows the importance of public-private partnerships in our community, and we thank everyone involved for making this dream a reality here on Kaua‘i.”
The four-bedroom, two-bath home being built will provide a family with 1,465 square feet of living space on a lot measuring 3,414 sq. ft. It is located adjacent to Isenberg Park and the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center offering the family convenient access to sporting fields, a playground, open space, and community activities.
“Supporting workforce housing for families is vital to the future of our communities, and a priority for our charitable giving program to nonprofits,” said Nareit Hawai‘i Executive Director Gladys Quinto Marrone on behalf of the Nareit Foundation and REITs in Hawai‘i. “We appreciate the tremendous effort put forth by the Kaua‘i Housing Development Corporation to establish these partnerships that make a new home in Lihu‘e affordable for a family that will ultimately make the community stronger overall.”
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
