WAIMĀNALO (KHON2) – Hui Mahʻiʻai ʻĀina and the Aio Foundation held a blessing and groundbreaking in Waimānalo Saturday morning, Nov. 15, to celebrate the next step in their homeless community project.
The event started at 9 a.m. and brought together community members, leaders, and supporters. This project will add 31 new buildings to the village and 24 of them will be used to house kūpuna, families, and single adults.
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When the expansion is finished, it is expected to help about 188 people, with a goal of completion by 2026.
Aunty Blanche McMillan, who leads Hui Mahʻiʻai ʻĀina, thanked everyone who helped make the expansion possible. She said the village is a place where people can heal, grow, and find hope.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi shared about Aunty Blanche’s dedication and how important this project is for the Waimānalo community.
Hui Mahʻiʻai ʻĀina first started building homes during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to help people who had nowhere else to go. Since then, the group has added a food farm, a kitchen, and partnerships that bring health and social services to residents.
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The expansion will continue to give families and individuals a safe place to live, along with support services that help them move forward…