Waimānalo-based homeless community program Hui Mahi‘ai ‘Āina, run by Aunty Blanche McMillan, is expanding with help from the aio Foundation, which will lead the development of the project's next phase.
“When I learned about the work and saw first-hand the work Aunty Blanche was doing at Hui Mahi‘ai ‘Āina, I knew this was something special that I wanted to support,” said Duane Kurisu, chairman of aio and aio Foundation, in a statement. “… Aunty Blanche has been a critical resource for the homeless by providing them shelter, a community, and a place to call home.”
With support from the state and City and County of Honolulu, the organizations plan to complete 31 new structures, including 24 village-style homes for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, by 2026.
The overall goal for this initial three-acre development on state-owned land is to serve 188 residents with homes, communal and outdoor spaces and essential facilities. The remaining 11 acres “will be used for agricultural purposes to build income-producing capacity for the sustenance of the Village,” according to developers.
“We are so grateful to the amazing partners and donors who are supporting this expansion and saw our vision,” said McMillan in a statement. “Through aloha, faith and laulima, we are creating a place where people can heal, grow, and find hope again. This is what community looks like when we stand together.”
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, McMillan spearheaded the construction of nine tiny homes and two family homes at Hui Mahi‘ai ‘Āina for those who were displaced then from Waimānalo Beach Park.
For more information or to donate, visit huimahiaiaina.org.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
