HONOLULU – The nonprofit PAL Hawai‘i (Permanently Affordable Living Hawai‘i) today received a $75,000 grant from the Nareit Foundation that will improve the quality of life for residents of the Kauhale O Kekaha affordable living community in Kekaha, Kauai.
PAL Hawai‘i will utilize the grant to replace an aging 53-year-old roof and to install rooftop solar panels that will help lower utility costs for the kauhale’s residents and also reduce the impact of the building’s energy usage on Kauai’s environment.
Kauhale O Kekaha is a 13-unit apartment complex owned and operated by PAL Hawai‘i, which is providing permanent affordable rental housing for formerly houseless residents, along with case management, needs assessment, and referrals for social services, education, and other programs, all with the goal of having the residents be self-sufficient and work toward a better life on Kauai.
PAL Hawai‘i Executive Director Larry Graff said the roof replacement is key to the nonprofit’s plan to make the kauhale a place to restore hope for the residents and put them on a path to realize a brighter future. “We acquired this property two years ago and have been steadily working to rehabilitate the structure inside and out to give the residents a greater sense of confidence and purpose in their daily lives and to be proud, contributing members of Kauai.
“This Nareit Foundation grant is helping us fulfill an important objective to ensure the kauhale’s residents have a strong and stable roof over their heads for many years to come,” Graff said.
Nareit Hawaii Executive Director Gladys Quinto Marrone commented that the Nareit Foundation’s focus is to support nonprofits dedicated to providing Hawaii residents with affordable housing and that PAL Hawai‘i epitomizes how this is being accomplished.
“The strength of every community statewide begins with the satisfaction of families and individuals having a place to call home and being able to rise up and meet the challenges and opportunities that life presents us,” Marrone said. “PAL Hawai‘i is doing an incredible job with its efforts to provide those in need with affordable homes, and we are honored to support their mission with this grant to help the residents of Kauhale O Kekaha.”
Based on Kauai, PAL Hawai‘i provides services statewide and is working to change the paradigm from affordable housing to affordable living, and to prevent the displacement of Native Hawaiians and multi-generational families. Its mission is to establish a foundation of hope by providing affordable homes and services for the people of Hawaii. The organization serves houseless and extremely low- to middle-income workforce households by offering permanently affordable living pathways through rental housing, fee simple homeownership, and leasehold homeownership through its Ho‘omaluhia Community Land Trust.
Also participating from PAL Hawai‘i in today’s grant presentation was Leilani Spencer, board president; Taylor Kaluahine Lani, chief operating officer; Racquel Segato-Figueroa, communication and fundraising director; Crystal Caday-Bargayo, programs director; and, Kaiulani Kauahi, office manager. Graff added, “Also here in spirit with us today was our founder and benefactor, Jim Edmonds, who we are forever grateful to for his vision and generosity in supporting affordable housing on Kauai.”
The PAL Hawai‘i grant is funded by the Nareit Foundation and REITs in Hawaii as part of the Nareit Hawaii Community Giving Initiative, which supports affordable housing projects provided by nonprofit organizations. Hawaii REITs are long-term property holders that own, renovate and manage affordable housing projects, commercial buildings, medical facilities, shopping centers, logistical spaces and warehouses for small businesses, cell phone towers, public storage facilities, and hotels.
For more information about the support of nonprofit affordable housing projects and other charitable causes by the Nareit Foundation and Nareit Hawaii, please visit www.nareithawaii.com.
