Johns acknowledges that state parks on the Garden Island are in bad shape but says there isn't enough government funding to fix them up. This loan program, unlike a grant, must be paid back to OHA within 10 years. It has jump started home construction for families formerly living in what can only be described as Third World poverty. I wish OHA trustees and staffers could have seen how the Kaleos of Waimanalo, and the Piis and Gomes of Nanakuli, were living before they became partner families. They are hard-working and pay back mortgages to our organization.
Nobody gets a free ride.
We are devastated by the potential loss of this funding. We are current with all of our loan payments and financial obligations, and are audited every year. It is incredible that this multimillion-dollar agency, whose charter is to assist Hawaiian families, would see it fit to balance its books on the backs of the poorest of their constituency. Our board has just initiated a major push to increase the level of our building program to a goal of 300 homes in five years. We were counting on OHA and the loan program as instrumental in this effort.