Last month, the Nareit Foundation, on behalf of local real estate investment trusts including A&B, awarded a $120,000 grant to Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity (KHFH). A&B was instrumental in the selection of longtime partner Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity for the Foundation’s “REIT Way Hawai‘i Community Giving Initiative.” The program seeks “shovel-ready” affordable housing projects, and we knew from decades of experience with KHFH that they were a well-deserving organization poised to make a life-changing impact on local residents.
Chris commented, “A&B has been a longtime supporter of the Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity, providing land, cash and sweat equity dating back nearly 30 years, and we are thrilled to join our fellow REITs in supporting the continued good work KHFH is doing for families and communities on Kaua‘i.”
Stephen Spears, KHFH’s executive director, said the grant will be used to build a self-help house in ‘Ele‘ele for a low-income family. “We are grateful for the generous grant of $120,000 from the Nareit Foundation’s REIT Way Hawai‘i Community Giving Initiative that will enable a local family to be able to build for themselves a lasting and truly affordable home here on Kaua‘i,” he said. “This home will provide many decades of stability where they can not only live, but thrive and contribute to the community.”
In 2018, A&B worked with KHFH after the tragic April 2018 flooding incident on Kaua‘i. Through extensive research and consulting with key opinion leaders on the island, A&B determined the most effective way to provide disaster relief support was to partner with KHFH to help those affected by the floods. The company provided a $25,000 grant to support the flood recovery efforts in the areas with most dire need—Koloa, Anahola, Anini and Kalihiwai.
Over the past 30 years, we have provided over $100,000 in grant support KHFH and more than $156,000 to Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the state. We even were the source of the land for KHFH’s headquarters and have also provided in-kind support through the years such as drainage and utility easements.
Team A&B volunteers presented a $25,000 check to Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity at the ‘Ele‘ele Iluna “Build Day” 2018 worksite to help support flood recovery efforts.
On November 17, 2018, A&B also hosted a Build Day with KHFH to contribute “sweat equity” to the flood recovery efforts. Over twenty employees from A&B, Grace Pacific, Kukuiula and McBryde Resources attended the workday at Kaua‘i Habitat’s ‘Ele‘ele Iluna subdivision project. Wielding hammers, paintbrushes, and power tools, the volunteers helped with interior paint priming and the construction of stairs and porches for several homes.