13 Aug Women Build Homes and Hope on Kaua`i
Women Build 2024 Event Participants
It was an amazing day of building homes, hope and community at this year’s Women Build! On Friday, August 9th, nearly twenty local volunteers showed up to take part in building projects in the Kaua`i Habitat for Humanity Waimea Huakai Subdivision in Waimea, Hawai`i. After a several year hiatus the Women Build event was brought back by popular demand. This empowering event encourages and offers an opportunity for women to address the affordable housing crisis and make a difference in the community by dedicating at least one day to building homes and hope on Kaua`i.
KHfH Executive Director, Milani Pimental and Rev. Kerry Holder Joffrion (Kahu Kerry)
“Our neighborhoods are comprised largely of women and children – with many women heads of household – and they are also the population’s most likely to be affected by substandard living conditions,” shared Kaua`i Habitat for Humanity Executive Director, Milani Pimental. “An event like this provides the opportunity for women to take a proactive step in serving their communities and empowering other women.”
Once attendees were welcomed by Kaua`i Habitat leadership and the gathering was blessed by Rev. Kerry Holder Joffrion (Kahu Kerry), Kaua`i County Managing Director, Reiko Matsuyama spoke to the crowd about the strength and resilience of women and how events like this promote community. Words of encouragement were also shared by State Representatives Dee Morikawa via video.
“I’m inspired by women and our ability to meet life as it presents itself for the sake of people beyond us, including our children,” shared Rev. Kerry Holder Joffrion (Kahu Kerry) Vicar of the Episcopal Church on West Kaua`i. “Habitat provides that vehicle.”
Local Volunteers Tackling Interior Painting Projects
The crowd then dispersed into groups to tackle interior painting projects of five homes of the most recent groups of Habitat homebuyers. The majority of which are women.
“When raised with five sisters and an incredible mother, you appreciate the value of what women do for the world,” shared Ernie Barrera when asked what motivated him to attend the event. “This is great, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. If I had to reshuffle my schedule, I was going to do it to be here today.”
Much of the success of the day can be attributed to the generosity of local businesses that sponsored the event at various levels including Silver Builder sponsors; The Grand Hyatt Kaua`i Resort and Spa and HPM Building Supply. Bronze Builder sponsors; Koa Yukimura of Allstate Insurance and the Bernard & Regina Carvalho `Ohana, and Lunch sponsors; Lawai Beach Resort, MCS Grill and Jennifer Acoba of Oceanfront Sotheby’s International Realty. In-Kind gifts of t-shirts, gift bags and stickers were also provided by Koloa Surf Co., the Aloha Collection, and the Spirit of Can.
The event was picked up by several news outlets including The Garden Island Newspaper and Hawaii News Now Sunrise.
