Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 4, 1 April 2012 — SENATE HONORS KAPOLEI HOMESTEAD NONPROFIT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SENATE HONORS KAPOLEI HOMESTEAD NONPROFIT

The state Senate honored the Kapolei Community Development Corp. for its efforts to "create a plaee for the community to thrive, learn and strengthen theirfamilies." During a March 2 floor presentation, Sen. Mike Gabbard also commended the nonprofitfounded by homestead leaders in 2008 for "setting an inspiring example for what a small group of determined people ean achieve for the betterment of the community by kūlia i ka nu'u (striving for excellence)." Since 2008, the nonprofit has been awarded two leases in Kapolei by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The leases were awarded through programs that give homesteaders the power to plan, design, construct and fund projects for the community benefit. The first lot was to establish a community center, whieh stalled due to the eeonomie downturn. More recently, the group received a second lease to develop a commercial enterprise that would support the stalled community center and jumpstart its establishment. Pictured, from left, are: Gabbard, KCDC director Clayton Brown, treasurer Homelani Schaedel, president Shirley Swinney, vice president Paul Richards, and Sens. Malama Solomon, Pohai Ryan and Kalani English - Courtesy: Senate Communications