DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Wilhelm Kai hugs his wife, Napua Kai, on their newly renovated porch on the side of their home on Tantalus Drive. They borrowed money from the city as part of loan program.
Low-income loan
plugs leaksA Papakolea home gets
a makeover courtesy of the
city's revolving program
Napua Kai's Papakolea home was in terrible shape, barely livable until she got help from a contractor and a little known city loan program.
"When it rained, my house, it was in such bad shape, I really believed my house was going to end up down there in the valley," said Kai, 58.
Enter Kai's knight in shining armor, a general contractor named Mel Takahashi who rode in with details about the loan program and helped transform the house to near-model home condition.
"I wanted people to know that there were other people out there willing to help them," said Takahashi, president of Heeia Construction.
Takahashi said he wants to get word of the loan out to more low-income families who need to renovate their homes to make them safer but who may be intimidated by the home loan process.
"I think people are scared so they automatically think they're not going to get 'em," Takahashi said. "The truth of the matter is that these people have nothing to lose, absolutely nothing to lose."
City Community Services Director Mike Amii said word of mouth is one of the ways people hear about the revolving loan program, but his department also does outreach into the community to get the information across about the program, which he calls a success.
"The loan started off with federal funding ... As money gets reimbursed to the city on low interest loans, we have created this revolving fund over the years," Amii said.
Carol Costa, city spokeswoman, also said that the department places newspaper advertisements once a month. "They do a lot to get the word out."
The Kai home is located within the Hawaiian Homes subdivision on a ridge behind Punchbowl.
The home was built in 1974 to great fanfare when construction of several new houses in Papakolea was completed.
Kai's parents, Alma and Daniel Kaeo, were the first occupants of the home, but in 1982, they died months apart and Kai assumed ownership.
"When it really rains up here, Tantalus Drive looks like the Nile River. Our front yard looks like Niagara Falls," her husband, Wilhelm Kai, pointed out.
Three decades of being pounded by the rain took its toll.
Tarps were put up in place of caved in ceilings and barrels were placed in the living room to catch water falling from the ceiling, "like someone turned on the faucet," Napua Kai said.
The house was tilting because of a sinking foundation and each time it rained hard, she prayed the house wouldn't slide down the ridge.
The shower walls were rotted and sometimes raindrops would fall on people using the toilet.
The home underwent a metamorphosis with new paint, cabinets, floors, tile, ceilings, walls, foundation, porches and other improvements.
Napua Kai met Takahashi through her cousin and he helped her with the loan process.
"He took me through each step, how to fill it in. He walked me through the whole thing," Napua Kai said.
Graham Wood, vice president at City Bank, which provided interim financing until the city loan kicked in, said, "It really takes someone like Mel to walk them through the process. He understates his contribution."
City Council Chairman Gary Okino said that one of the pet peeves of council members is to hear about federal dollars that for some reason aren't used by the city.
"When I heard there was a way to spend (federal money) that can help low-income people like this, of course I'm interested," Okino said. "When you get a success story, it's not only a good story but if other people hear about it, then they wouldn't be so intimidated or at least know the program exists."
City Rehabilitation Loan Program
Name: The city Rehabilitation Loan Program, a $1.5 million revolving fund.What: A $1.5 million revolving fund that provides zero or low-interest loans to qualified low- and moderate-income homeowners wanting to repair and rehabilitate homes, install a solar water heating system and get "fast track" disaster assistance. A similar program is available for landlords who rent to low-income tenants.
Amount: Up to $60,000.
For more information call the Rehabilitation Branch of the Department of Community Services at 523-4207.
Source: City and County of Honolulu
