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HOPE Services Celebrates Blessing of New Housing Program in Kona

November 13, 2026

Attendees of the blessing ceremony pose for a group photo outside the Kani Leʻa Permanent Supportive Housing Program. (Courtesy of HOPE Services Hawaii)

KAILUA-KONA, HAWAIʻI — HOPE Services Hawaiʻi gathered today with community partners, funders, and local leaders in Kailua-Kona to host a blessing ceremony and open house for the Kani Leʻa Permanent Supportive Housing Program, their newly renovated apartment complex offering permanent supportive housing community in West Hawaiʻi. HOPE’s acquisition and renovation of the three-story property marks a major milestone in expanding dignified, high-quality affordable housing on Hawaiʻi Island.

Located in the heart of Kailua-Kona, Kani Leʻa features 12 two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments, each with its own kitchen. Acquired by HOPE Services Hawaiʻi in March 2025, the residential community is designed to offer permanent, evidence-based supportive housing for individuals and families with low or extremely low incomes who are experiencing homelessness. By treating housing as the foundational starting point for recovery, safety, and personal stability, Kani Leʻa offers residents a fresh start and a sense of belonging in the community.

“Tenancy support means that this program does more than just move people into a home,” said Dr. Kalani Spain, HOPE Services Hawaiʻi’s Director of Supportive Housing, who will oversee the program. “Having our team on site every day ensures that our residents will have access to an experienced professional who can support their unique needs, so that they can live with the dignity and stability they deserve. We see success with this approach in our other programs, and we know that this kind of support is key for the people who will live here.”

Residents at Kani Leʻa will be selected through a collaborative effort involving outreach teams, partner organizations, and local shelters. To ensure long-term housing stability and success, HOPE Services Hawaiʻi will provide comprehensive onsite services, including individualized case management and tenancy support.

Meeting our community's housing needs takes a range of solutions, and Kani Le'a adds another important opportunity for individuals and families experiencing homelessness to find safety and stability,” said Hawai’i County Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, who spoke at the blessing.  “Alongside County efforts like the Kukuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center, projects like this help to strengthen the housing continuum and create more pathways for our residents to secure and maintain a place to call home.”

The morning blessing event began at 10:00 AM with property tours and an open house, allowing guests to view select units sponsored and prepared with care by community donors. The program included an opening prayer and special blessing by Father Lio Faletoi of St. Michael The Archangel Church, opening remarks from Hawaiʻi County Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, recognition of sponsors from HOPE Services Board President David Kurohara, community partner remarks from Xan Avendaño of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, and sponsor recognition by Brandee Menino, CEO of HOPE Services Hawaiʻi.

“It is a blessing to see what was just an idea a year ago turn into a reality that will change people’s lives,” said Michael Napeahi, Resident Steward at Kani Leʻa. “Through the hard work, determination, and compassion of our community, 22 people will now have a place to rest their heads and provide for their families. Watching this transformation has changed my life, too. Stewarding this property, from the physical building to supporting our residents’ well-being, is my kuleana, and it’s a responsibility I take very seriously.”

The acquisition and transformation of Kani Leʻa were made possible through generous contributions from public and private partners:

• Acquisition Funders: Oak Foundation Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.

• Renovation Funders: The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation and Nareit Foundation.

• Unit Sponsors: Anonymous, Bank of Hawaiʻi, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaiʻi Community Federal Credit Union, HFS Federal Credit Union, HOPE Services Hawaiʻi Board of Directors, Oasis Church, The Roberts Foundation, and St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church.

For more information about Kani Leʻa and HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, please visit www.hopeserviceshawaii.org.

About HOPE Services Hawaii, Inc.
HOPE Services Hawaii, Inc. is a nonprofit affiliate organization of the Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii. It works to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring on Hawaii Island. HOPE manages nine shelters with 189 beds and 119 housing units across the island and provides outreach, street medicine, behavioral health, housing, prevention, diversion, case management, and more. To make a referral, visit hopeserviceshawaii.org or call 808-935-3050.