Pohaku Kepler Speaks to South Maui RAM Caravan. PC: courtesy.

Just five more donors are needed to reach a fundraising goal of $10,000 for an affordable housing initiative launched by a high school senior on Maui.

In November, local high school student Pohaku Kepler launched the “100 Real Estate Agents Who Care” program for his senior project at Kīhei Charter High School.

Kepler hoped to encourage 100 local Real Estate Agents to donate at least $100 each to Habitat for Humanity Maui, with the goal of raising $10,000 to help build more affordable housing on Maui that will benefit local low-income families.

“Pohaku has done an incredible job,” said development director Max Tornai. “In about one-and-a-half months, he has motivated 95 individual donors to help support our construction projects. This is an amazing achievement, and he only needs five more donors to reach his goal. Although this project is intended to inspire realtors to donate – anyone who has an interest in supporting affordable housing on Maui (and seeing young people succeed in making a true difference in their communities) can donate.”

Real estate agents who donate can be listed on the program’s website, which can be linked to the agent’s business page.

The program was inspired by the “100 Men Who Care” and “100 Women Who Care” movements.

Kepler made the connection that local realtors – who are often in the profession because of a passion to help people achieve homeownership – can band together and make a much more significant impact as a group to benefit those who are unable to afford purchasing a home through the regular market.

Lahaina partner family. PC: courtesy.