ELEELE — Shana Cruz was thrilled Friday morning as she was joined by her husband Frank and 11 other homeowners at the Kauai Habitat for Humanity Eleele Iluna Neighborhood Project. “This is so exciting because it’s so hard for low-
ELEELE — Shana Cruz was thrilled Friday morning as she was joined by her husband Frank and 11 other homeowners at the Kauai Habitat for Humanity Eleele Iluna Neighborhood Project.
“This is so exciting because it’s so hard for low- and middle-income families to get into homes,” Shana said. “The costs are so high. Habitat for Humanity gives us the opportunity to build and be able to afford homes. It give us hope.”
Ground for the first 12 houses in the Eleele Iluna project was blessed and broken Friday following a long approval process.
“These are the first 12 permits to be approved,” said Stephen Spears, executive director for the Kauai Habitat for Humanity. “Even as we are here breaking ground, there are other permits wandering through the Department of Water on its approval process. We should be turning dirt on the first homes in Eleele Iluna within the week.”
Joseph and Sharolyn Moises of Eleele were relieved to finally break ground.
“It’s been really hard, waiting,” Joseph said. “Finally, we’re here. It’s been a long wait. We were on the list for two years before they called us in July. But finally, we’re moving ahead and we’re excited to move ahead. This is going to be a good experience to learn how to build a home and get to know our neighbors at the same time.”
The Eleele Iluna Neighborhood Project will provide 107 affordable homes, said Kauai Habitat board president Thad Bond.
“I’m proud to be part of the effort to provide more affordable housing for residents so they can build a future right here on Kauai rather than moving away because of limited housing options,” Bond said.
Subdivision approval was granted by the county in late September with the building permits for the first dozen homes being processed. Foundation work on the first homes will commence as soon as permits are issued, and the subdivision work will continue in groups of 12 homes at a time with an estimated build time of between six to nine months for each grouping.
“This is our first home,” Joseph Moises said. “We’re definitely excited. If everything goes as scheduled, our family should be celebrating our home in March or April of 2016.”
The first 12 homeowners include Preston Navarro, Tresame Lagazo, Daryl Martin, Ohia Tangalin, Nicholas Wehrly, Frank and Shana Cruz, Marti Smith, Cory Carveiro, Jeremy and Rebekah Albano, Lefty Kanahele, David and Nicole Pacanas, Joseph and Sharolyn Moises, and Thomas Hall.
“I’ve had the great pleasure of seeing these 12 families sign their paperwork for their future homes,” Spears said. “Our Kauai Habitat homeowners have never sold their homes on the open market. They stay and build the community. This is a legacy for them, and their children — an opportunity for their families to grow and thrive.”
JoAnn Yukimura, Kauai County Council member, said she remembers pounding nails in the first homes built by the Kauai Habitat for Humanity in Anahola, several weeks following Hurricane Iniki in 1992. Since starting with the first homes in Anahola, Kauai Habitat for Humanity has build 117 affordable homes and made critical repairs to 28 existing homes for Kauai families whose household income is between 30 to 80 percent of the median Kauai income.
“I remember when Habitat first came into the office and said, ‘You need us,’” Yukimura said. “They were right.”
