LIHU‘E — A wide variety of topics, information and workshops about putting a roof over the family’s head were available for the public this weekend. Karen Ono of the Kaua‘i Board of Realtors and one of the organizers of the
LIHU‘E — A wide variety of topics, information and workshops about putting a roof over the family’s head were available for the public this weekend.
Karen Ono of the Kaua‘i Board of Realtors and one of the organizers of the two-day housing fair at the Pi‘ikoi Building said one of the more popular topics, especially in these trying economic times, dealt with foreclosures and short sales.
“Workshop: Do I Walk or Not? Foreclosure Avoidance, Loan Modification and Short Sales,” one of six workshops offered during the fair, was presented on the opening night Friday and Saturday.
Similarly, the first-time homebuyer program was available Friday and Saturday, drawing almost-capacity audiences.
Billed as “Turning Hope Into Homes,” a homebuyer’s and renter’s educational fair, Ono said the event was a truly unique partnership with the county Housing Agency.
“We worked with the county from the planning stages and today Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. offered the opening pule where everyone joined hands,” Ono said.
That represented the cohesive and collaborative efforts of the different vendors, agencies and organizations that work toward putting roofs over Kaua‘i’s families.
Vendors from rental properties, banks and loan institutions, plus various agencies dealing with housing issues and programs, lined the lobby and hallways of the Pi‘ikoi Building, home of the Housing Agency.
Ono said the event was made possible after the Kaua‘i Board of Realtors secured a National Association of Realtors grant that started the ball rolling with the county.
Lani Aranio of Kaua‘i Lagoons was on hand to discuss the Kamamalu affordable housing project that she said is “right on schedule” and should be opening in early 2010.
That project, located at the intersection of Haoa Street and Kapule Highway, is a lease-hold project with a starting price of approximately $170,000.
John Friedman said that project appealed to him while shopping around for his daughter who he said didn’t want to live outside of Lihu‘e.
People browsing through the fair spanned a wide range of ages including young families with their Kaua‘i Police Activities League flag football players in tow to grandparents who were shopping for something for their children and grandchildren.
Younger families were investigating home ownership through programs available through the Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity as well as the Self Help Corporation, supplementing those stops with visits at the various mortgage representatives and loan institutions.
“The planning for this fair was a little longer than expected,” Ono said. “But the next one should be right on schedule. It’s about everything in housing.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
