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DHHL BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW HOMESTEAD IN WAIMANALO

Kakaina first residential project under USDA, Na Kupaa O Kuhio partnership

July 2, 2012

WAIMÃNALO, O'AHU – Governor Neil Abercrombie, community leaders, government officials, and future homesteaders joined Chair-designate Jobie Masagatani, Hawaiian Homes Commissioners and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in a groundbreaking ceremony today [June 29] to begin construction of what will be the future home for 44 Hawaiian Homes beneficiaries and their families in the new subdivision of Kaka'ina in Waimanalo.

The Kaka'ina subdivision is located on seven acres of Hawaiian home lands approximately a half-mile mauka of the Waimanalo Shoping Center. Future Kaka?ina homeowners were awarded an undivided interest lease for a 5,000-square-foot residential lot in this subdivision back in 2006.

"Today's ceremony marks this administration's commitment toward creating new opportunities for Native Hawaiians to achieve self-determination," Gov. Abercrombie said. "In addition to building affordable homes for 44 families, this project provides an economic boost in the form of  jobs and also creates an arena in which government, the private sector and the non-profit community are able to work together for a brighter Hawai'i."

"We celebrate the roots planted here today that will grow into what we envision will be a vibrant community of Native Hawaiians," said Chair Masagatani. "In order to bring this vision to fruition, we are also fortunate to have financial partners in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Sandwich Isles Communications (SIC), and – for the first time on a residential project – the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Agency (USDA) in conjunction with our community partner, Na Kupa'a O Kuhio. 

The USDA awarded a grant to the non-profit organization Na Kupa'a O Kuhio for the installation of sewer and water lines in Kaka?ina. The telecommunications infrastructure is being financed by SIC and the lot grading and roads are being funded with Hawaiian Home Lands trust funds as well as Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) funds under HUD."

The total infrastructure cost for Kaka?ina is $6.97 million. Construction begins in July and is expected to be completed by April 2013, with home construction to follow.

Paradigm Construction, LLC, is the contractor with Bowers & Kubota providing construction management service, Akinaka & Associates, Ltd. as the engineering consultant, and Fewell Geotechnical Engineering, Ltd. providing geotechnical consultant services.

Kaka?ina is one of two land parcels being developed as part of this DHHL project in Waimanalo. Kaka?ina's "twin" subdivision of Kumuhau was completed last summer, and is now home to 45 Native Hawaiian ?ohana.

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