‘It gives a person hope’

KAILUA-KONA — Hundreds of volunteers from the local community and beyond have been hard at work this past week making the dream of home ownership a reality for 10 local families.

But this isn’t just any construction effort.

Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii has committed to building 10 homes in 10 days as part of its “Blitz Build,” doubling its efforts from the last Blitz Build in 2012, when the organization built five homes in 10 days.

The organization held its opening ceremony and site blessing Tuesday evening and the closing ceremony is scheduled for next Saturday, Sept. 23.

It’s a commitment well on its way to reality. Blitz Build project manager Kaleo Perreira said Saturday afternoon that five homes already had drywall in them and expected that they’d have drywall in eight of the houses by the day’s end.

Pat Hurney, executive director of Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii, estimated they’ve had about 225 volunteers working on the houses on the weekdays and on Saturday there were 500 to 600 contributing to the cause.

“It’s amazing the amount of support the community has shown,” Hurney said, “and I think it shows the community truly understands the need for affordable housing.”

Build efforts will continue throughout this week from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., he added.

Kealakehe High School sophomores Vaihere Otare and Luka Wohl were among Saturday’s volunteers to come out for the cause.

“I just wanted to help out,” Otare said. “I feel like I need to make a difference, yeah?”

Wohl said he often runs around the area, but didn’t know there were houses built by Habitat for Humanity in the area.

One day, he said, he noticed there was nothing but the cement foundations and a few days later, some houses were already nearing completion.

“And that, I was just like ‘Oh, I totally gotta do that,’” he said.

Habitat for Humanity, Otare said, makes a big difference for local families who otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to have a home of their own.

“I feel like the difference that Habitat for Humanity makes is that we give an opportunity for people that don’t have that much opportunities and that much chances to get a house here,” she said.

Kevin Ortiz, an Americorps member from Sleepy Hollow, New York, said awareness of the need for adequate housing in Kona is likely a big part of why local volunteers turn out for builds as well as the opportunity for volunteers to see the fruits of their labor.

His fellow Americorps member Joe Diedenhofer of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, extended that to the unique nature of Blitz Build.

“These events are especially cool because on a typical volunteer day, somebody’ll come and they’ll only get to paint a few walls or stand up some walls or do this or that,” Diedenhofer said. “But these people get to come and see the whole process of the home being built from beginning to end. So it’s a lot more fulfilling I think and satisfying.”

Also among those busy at work this week are Aloha Kekauoha and her daughter Napua Kekauoha-Charterand. Kekauoha-Charterand is among those who will move into one of the new homes once complete.

“Even if I’m looking at it, it doesn’t seem real still,” said Kekauoha-Charterand. “Because it’s an unrealistic thing in Hawaii for a middle-income family — even a little less than that. It’s unheard of. So I’m sure the reality will sink in once we step through the doors to a completed home.”

She added that seeing so many people and businesses come together to accomplish a common goal can have a big effect on the people who see it come together.

“It kind of opens your eyes, and you gain a new perspective for how important community is,” she said. “And Habitat, you know, I’ve heard about it many times before we actually got the house, but when you see the big picture of what they’re doing in our community and now it’s gonna be the whole island, it gives a person hope — hope that there are opportunities out there.”

Her mother, Kekauoha, knows how special of an opportunity this is, given that she was among those who received a house during the 2012 Blitz Build.

“You know what the best thing is?” asked Kekauoha, “Everybody is really close; they will be forever friends with their neighbors, just like how I am with the four other families that did the Blitz Build with me.”

And Habitat for Humanity West Hawaii’s efforts won’t end when this group of families move in.

Hurney said the organization’s five-year strategic plan, starting next year, is to build 100 homes from 2018 to 2023 across the island. He said the construction schedule is pretty full for the coming two years, saying there are plans for homes in Waimea, Kawaihae and Ocean View. They are also going to start building on the Hilo side, he added, saying there’s a family in that community on their list.

And when the time comes to put out the call for volunteers, Kekauoha and her Kekauoha-Charterand stand ready to offer help.

“We would never say ‘no’ to Habitat, because they have given us so much,” said Kekauoha.

“Never,” added Kekauoha-Charterand. “Never, never say ‘no’ to them. If they need something, we’ll always be there.”