News Release

Honolulu, October 20, 2022 - First Hawaiian Bank today announced it has donated $250,000 to support the construction of Phase I of Pu'uhonua o Wai'anae (POW) Farm Village, a self-organized village of 250 people who live unhoused at the Wai'anae Boat Harbor.

“The Pu'uhonua o Wai'anae community is a shining example of what can be achieved by people coming together to collectively improve their living condition and circumstance through resilience, hard work, and ingenuity,” said Bob Harrison, First Hawaiian Inc. Chairman, President and CEO. “The organizing principle of the village says it all, ‘kuleana wakes up the mana.’ We are proud to support this community as part of our greater effort to enrich communities across the state.”

In 2020, Dynamic Community Solutions purchased 20 acres of land in Wai'anae Valley and began planning a community of modest houses with shared bathrooms and kitchens, and other facilities to serve as permanently affordable homes for the people of POW. This master-planned affordable community consists of homes for 250 people, shared bathroom and kitchen buildings, and a working farm to feed village residents and fuel microenterprises.

“This has been a long journey and there were times I wondered if this dream would come true,” said Twinkle Borge, Pu'uhonua o Wai'anae leader and Dynamic Community Solutions board member. “Mahalo to First Hawaiian Bank for the financial support, but also for taking the time to learn about our community, the project, and our specific needs. It’s through relationship building like this and awareness that we can find support for those who need stable housing within our community and others.”

Construction is underway and the first model home is completed. On Saturday, October 15, project organizers celebrated a groundbreaking for Phase II. Expected to be completed by 2023, this single project will reduce unsheltered residents on O'ahu by more than 10 percent.