Kahikolu Ohana Hale O Waianae is a homeless shelter without a stigma. It looks like a small subdivision in a middle-class setting.

"We're not providing another welfare system here," said Pastor Wade "Boo" Soares.

The buildings and units are attractive and new with wood and carpeting and tile.

Soares wanted to build a three-in-one homeless shelter, one part emergency housing, one part transitional center, one part affordable rentals.

"We don't have enough housing," Soares said. "We have one house on our coast that has over 75 people in one house."

The state gave $13 million. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation donated $3 million. That covered construction.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is helping meet operating costs. Some building materials were donated. The shelter still needs furniture and computers.

"He has 72 family-type units It supposedly will take twenty families off of the beaches or unsheltered roles," State Comptroller Russ Saito said. Saito also heads HEART, the state's homeless solutions grouup.

Soares thinks he can house 400 homeless -- singles to families. And he has a bigger vision. There are 425 empty acres on an adjoining site. Soares want to build affordable housing on it. Kahikolu could be the stepping stone, providing skills training and job opportunities.

"In addition to building this we're looking at creating about eight companies so that we can have an employment component in place so that the people can have jobs," Soares said.

He has been housing homeless in his Waianae home for nearly twenty years. With the help of the Hawaii Coaltion of Christian Churches, Soares sees Kahikolu as the same thing on a much bigger scale.

The shelter plans to open in July.

Pastor Wade "Boo" Soares
Hawaii Coalition of Christian Churches
668-8080

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