It's hard to believe but the Kaneakua kids, ages  2 to 10, have never lived in a home.

Their mother, Rose, and their father, Kaulana, raised them raised them on the beach. They were close to renting several times.

"We'd get as far as the deposit down and when they'd find out we have six children we were turned away," Rose Kaneakua said.

Homeless but never without hope, the Kaneakua's are finally leaving the beach thanks to Habitat for Humanity.

"The children will have a place to call their own and they won't ever have to go homeless again," Kaulana Kaneakua said.

Their house is brand new. Seven bedrooms, two bathrooms on Hawaiian Homestead land in Nanakuli.

"They're willing to partner and it's not a sense of entitlement. It's a sense of we want something better for our family and for our kids," said Susan Hughes, executive director for Habitat for Humanity Leeward Oahu.

The Kaneakuas met all the requirements: being employed, being responsible, being willing and able to work. For the past year, they, contractors and volunteers build their dream home.

"Without them our home wouldn't be standing today so we're really grateful," Rose Kaneakua said.

Friday was for finishing touches. Painting the porch. Wiping away smudges on walls and doors. Setting up the space that is finally their space with a kitchen, a bathroom, and four walls and a roof that aren't the top and sides of a tent.

The Kaneakua's call it a Christmas gift for their kids.

"They're very excited. They're happy to know that this is theirs," Rose Kaneakua said.

It took a long time to get off the beach. Rose and Kaulana have been homeless a combined 20-plus years.

That ends Saturday.

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