Keaukaha Welcomes Azevedo ʻOhana

Posted on May 16, 2014 in Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Media Releases
Model Home Blessing

Hawaiian home lands beneficiary Anna Azevedo (not pictured here) was represented by her mother Verna Mae Branco and eldest daughter Carla Azevedo (both in the middle) at the dedication of Azevedoʻs Keaukaha homestead home. Also pictured here are HawCC Chancellor Noreen Yamane (far left), and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands NAHASDA Manager Niniau Simmons (far right).

AZEVEDO ʻOHANA DEDICATE THEIR NEW KEAUKAHA HOMESTEAD HOME BUILT BY HAWAIʻI COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS

DHHL-HawCC partnership results in 47th home for Hawaiian home lands beneficiaries

HILO, Hawaiʻi – A home built by students in the Hawai‘i Community College (HawCC) Model Home Program was dedicated yesterday in the Hawaiian homestead community of Keaukaha.

Model Home Home

Keaukaha Hawaiian homesteadʻs newest home on Pakele Lane belongs to the ʻOhana Azevedo.

Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiary Anna Azevedo is the new owner of the three-bedroom, two-bath home. Anna’s mother, Verna Mae Branco, and eldest daughter Carla Azevedo took her place at the dedication ceremony, as Anna was unable to attend. Anna has been on the Hawaiian homes wait list since December 1988.

The Pakele Lane home was built at a cost to Azevedo of $176,650, and utilizes energy-efficient technology including a solar water heater system, a 4 KW Photovolatic system, and Energy Star qualified appliances. The home also includes custom-built cabinets, doors, and windows. Agriculture students also added a hydroponics set-up in the backyard and used native plants for landscaping.

The Model Home program at HawCC provides instruction in drafting, welding, carpentry, electrical, and landscaping. HawCC coordinates the painting, plumbing, carpeting, and drywall subcontracting work. The residential dwelling was the 47th home to be built under the patnership between DHHL and HawCC.

Checking Out House

Verna Mae Branco and her granddaughter Carla Azevedo inspect their new Keaukaha home.

Under the agreement, the DHHL provided space and funding which allowed the students to acquire on-the-job skills in home construction, while also helping the DHHL fulfill its mission of returning native Hawaiians to the land. Since the Model Home program’s inception in 1965, over 3,817 drafting, welding, carpentry, electrical, agricultural and diesel mechanics students participated in the program.