HUBWA field trip group at Kahauiki Village with Duane Kurisu (third from right)

By Wendie Yumori, Hawaii Betsuin BWA President

Donna Higashi presents award check to Duane Kurisu

It was sunny, Nov. 19, 2018, as our group of Hawaii Betsuin BWA, Jikoen BWA, and Moiliili BWA members and friends gathered at Kahauiki Village, near Sand Island, for a much-anticipated event.  Honolulu United BWA President, Donna Higashi, presented the 2018 Dana Award of $1,000 to Duane Kurisu, a businessman who is carrying out his vision to provide permanent affordable housing for homeless families.  Some of our past Family Promise participants can now call Kahauiki Village home and they say for them, “It is a dream come true.”

Mr. Kurisu, who quickly became Duane to us, explained that he conceived of Kahauiki Village, the first 30 units of which were completed in Jan. of 2018, as a place where families will bond with their community and embrace the values of “generosity, trust, dignity, and honor,” the plantation community values that influenced Duane as he was growing up on the Big Island.  Kahauiki Village is expected, in time, to house over 600 adults and children.

According to Duane, the prefabricated houses were originally emergency homes for tsunami victims in Tohoku, Japan.  Design features were added to give the homes a plantation look and metal roofing was selected which allowed for the installation of solar panels.  The sun is used to generate nearly all of the project’s electricity!  Duane spoke of the many who became committed to his vision and to working with him on the Kahauiki Village project; most of the materials and services to develop the housing units were donated. To us, Duane’s stories about the many who stepped up to volunteer their resources were touching examples of dana, selfless giving, in action.

Russell Yamamoto, General Contractor for Kahauiki Village project.

For me, it’s about the children.

As Duane led our group on a tour of Kahauiki Village, he pointed out a fellow working in his rig in a dirt field.  Duane persuaded him to climb down and meet us. What a surprise to find out that this fellow, Russell Yamamoto, has family ties to Hawaii Betsuin!  His company, RMY Construction, is the general contractor of the Kahauiki Village project.  RMY has done all of the grading, foundations and on-site infrastructure.  Duane described Russell as “a good man with an immense heart.”  Our group watched, delighted, to see Russell play with some of the children nearby.  Russell echoed Duane’s sentiments about Kahauiki Village in saying, “For me, it’s about the children.”  Duane then took us to see the PACT-run daycare center and preschool, part of the plan to provide not just housing but a community network of support for the families.

This visit to Kahauiki Village was eye-opening and inspiring.   Hearing Duane and Russell warmly share stories about the residents picking up trash and the children watering the trees,  we were able to see that the values of “generosity, trust, dignity, and honor” have guided this project all through its development and are now Kahauiki Village community values.

Photos courtesy Wendie Yumori and David Atcheson