It was the end of a cycle yesterday for Central Oahu home developer Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii Inc. when it handed over the last set of keys in Mililani, a community of more than 16,000 homes and 50,000 residents that has been some 40 years in the making.

Castle and Cooke Mark Mililani Milestone

 

Castle and Cooke are proud to say that they have sold their last Island Courtyards in Mililani Mauka home.

 

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  However, it was just the beginning for Kalei and Jamie Cross and their two-year-old son Teal, who got the last affordable housing unit at the Island Courtyards at Mililani Mauka.

The 20-something couple now will build their life in Mililani, where pineapple fields used to thrive. In more recent years, the fertile lands of Mililani have produced housing developments, neighborhood recreation centers and parks, schools and retail complexes; however the real legacy of the community can be found among its people, said Harry Saunders III, president of Castle & Cooke Hawaii.

“;Thousands of Hawaii families have found Mililani a great place to raise their children. Many of those children have grown to become Mililani homeowners themselves,”; Saunders said. “;We welcome the Cross family to the last new home in this great neighborhood, and we hope that someday young Teal will find a home here or in one of Castle & Cooke's future communities.”;

Castle & Cooke, which converted thousands of acres of pineapple fields to neighborhoods, gambled on the idea that they could lure Honolulu residents west by offering a master-planned community with modern amenities. The company launched the residential community of Mililani in 1968 with a sales team of just four people who offered houses ranging from $21,000 to $29,000.

“;I grew up in Kailua and I didn't even know that Mililani existed,”; Saunders said. “;Everybody kept asking why we would build a community in the middle of nowhere. But, we had dreams.”;

Castle & Cooke delivered on its long-range plan at a rate of about 400 homes a year. The company also made a micro-economy in Central Oahu by creating thousands of jobs and investing nearly $4 billion in community infrastructure. Now, the company is turning to new projects like the recently announced Makalii, affordable housing development in Kapolei and Koa Ridge, a 3,500-home planned community near Costco in Waipio.

In the place where Saunders has seen Castle & Cooke's vision fulfilled, the Cross ohana along with their parents Herb and Simone Barboza and Patricia and Teal Cross, will create new dreams.

“;We are really excited to have this opportunity,”; said Jaime Cross, who along with her husband and child has been living with his parents since their wedding.

“;All of our friends are still living at home,”; she said. “;We are really, really lucky to have a home of our own.”;

The Barbozas helped purchase the last unit in Island Courtyards for their daughter's family with the hope that the couple and their children could put down roots and flourish in Mililani Mauka.

“;The cost of living here is so high that children often have to live with their parents,”; Patricia Cross said. “;Their new home will give them a fresh start.”;

The Barbozas, who live in nearby Waipio Gentry, will carry the mortgage for the first two years allowing the couple time to save money and establish their young family, they said.

“;Every time Kalei goes to the mainland for his job he comes back talking about how much better the cost of living is there,”; Simone Barboza said. “;We wanted our family close by. A home will give them roots and make them stay in Hawaii.”;

The Barbozas said they remember what it was like as a struggling young couple, and they could afford to help their daughter's family since they had already paid off their own home.

“;It's always tough at the beginning,”; Herb Barboza said. “;We bought our first home for $115,000 at 12 percent interest.”;

In those days the family ate a lot of peanut butter, Simone Barboza said.

“;But you know, we've never regretted it,”; Herb Barboza said.