30 Women Help to Build Habitat Housing in Happy Valley

Habitat for Humanity Maui.

By Wendy Osher

More than 30 women volunteered over the weekend to participate in Habitat for Humanity Maui’s “Women Build” event at the organization’s Kahawai Street affordable housing project in Happy Valley.

The Women Build event, now in its seventh year, is held in conjunction with National Women Build Week, which challenges women to devote at least one day to help build affordable housing in their local communities, according to Habitat officials on Maui.

“We are so grateful for so many women coming together for this event, working hard alongside Habitat’s Partner Families to complete the next steps of construction,” said Max Tornai, Habitat for Humanity Maui’s community relations and development director in a statement.

Habitat for Humanity Maui.

The three-story, 16 unit condominium project on Kahawai Street in Happy Valley is located on a lot that was formerly occupied by a single-family residence that was demolished in 1993.

“This project will provide genuine affordable housing for 16 low income Maui families,” said Tornai.

In an earlier announcement, Habitat executives said that with a 0% interest mortgage and the support of volunteers who are helping to build the housing, Habitat for Humanity anticipates the average mortgage payment will be between $1,000 and $1,500 a month.

According to Tornai, the organization recently poured the concrete for the third floor and continues to recruit Maui community members and visitors to volunteer on the job site on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Interested individuals can contact Habitat for Humanity Maui by calling 242-1140 for more information.

Volunteers over the weekend helped to measure, cut and assemble door frames at the project site with the help of a $5,000 store gift card donation from Lowe’s as part of it’s national support of the Women Build Week program.

Habitat for Humanity Maui.

“Lowe’s has underwritten Habitat’s Women Build program since 2004, and we are proud to continue to bring together women from all walks of life to raise walls alongside local families in need,” said Marshall Croom, chairman of the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation in a press release.

Additional support was received from Aloha Mixed Plate and Wholefoods, which donated lunches for the group.

The project includes 12 one-bedroom, one-bathroom units, measuring 595 square feet; and four two-bedroom, one- bathroom units, measuring 874 square feet, according to project planning material.

Officials with Habitat for Humanity say each unit will have its own stackable washer and dryer, refrigerator and range. The units also have small balconies with views of ʻĪao Valley and of the ocean.

Habitat for Humanity Maui