The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), along with its Honolulu Habitat for Humanity (Honolulu Habitat) partner, has broken ground on its fifth project in DHHL’s Kaka‘ina community in Waimānalo.

A ground blessing was held for William and Cheryl Gramberg and their ‘ohana on May 5, 2021 at 9 a.m. To comply with the Governor’s latest proclamation on COVID-19 restrictions, the dedication was closed to the public.

The two-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom home is anticipated to be completed in early fall.

“We are very humbled to begin groundbreaking in Waimānalo, our home, we are so thankful. After all the hours of paperwork, meetings, and sweat equity it is truly a blessing for us to be here today with our closest family and friends to see the start of a new chapter,” said Cheryl Gramberg. “We are feeling so happy, humbled, thankful, and excited. Our DHHL and Habitat collaboration has been life-changing. We have made new friends that we now consider family, learned new skills and gained a new appreciation for the home building process.”

“This will be our fifth home in the Waimānalo development of Kaka‘ina,” Honolulu Habitat Executive Director Jim Murphy. “As this community comes together, we are blessed to meet families like Grambergs who have persevered through struggles to achieve their dream of owning their own home. Our collaboration with DHHL is vital to addressing the need for affordable homeownership in the native Hawaiian communities.”

“Today is a momentous day for the Gramberg ‘ohana. Getting onto the land as Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole envisioned is in sight,” said DHHL Deputy to the Chair Tyler Iokepa Gomes. “Partnerships with organizations like Honolulu Habitat are invaluable tools for our beneficiaries in building homes that fit their needs. It is always a good day to break ground on another new homestead.”

The Gramberg home is the third home that Honolulu Habitat currently has under construction. The organization is committed to building a total of 40 homes over the next five years.