HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0074.066 2024-2026 P/GOunC 1
f .51-25
CAW.74
1/30/2025
Hawaii Council Members
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1402
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Subject: Support for Res. 51-25, Hualalai Court Workforce Housing Project
Aloha Council Members,
Thank you for your approval to move Resolution 51-25 for Hualalai Court Affordable
Workforce Housing through committee. Thank you for your commitment to finding
affordable housing solutions within our community.
I am writing in continued support of Res. 51-25 to build 104 affordable apartments in
Hilo.
17441-
Kekoa Meyer
K3koameyers@gmail.com =
Comm. CA
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Docusign Envelope ID:7E647F64-1 D43-4236-8EC0-A00484253628
September 11th, 2024
Council Member Kagiwada
info@hualalaicourt.com
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1402
Hilo,Hawaii 96720
Subject: Support for Hualalai Court Workforce Housing Project
Aloha Council Member Kagiwada,
I am writing in support of the Hualalai Court Affordable Workforce Housing application to build 104
affordable apartments in your district.
My name is Kekoa Meyers,I am 21 years old and a junior at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma,
Washington. I am planning to graduate in May of 2026 and want to move back home to the Big Island of
Hawaii. I was born in Olympia,Washington and moved to Hawaii at the age of 12. I was raised in several
different homes growing up and my family continues to move houses when necessary. I am writing this
letter in support of this project in hopes that 1 can live on my own and my family can finally have a stable
home. Due to the high cost of living,my mom always had a hard time keeping up with rent as well as
trying to provide for 3 children at the same time with no support. She was doing this all on her own. She
was working all the time trying to keep us fed and safe. When I started high school,we moved in with my
aunty and her family because rent became an issue for us. I commuted 30 minutes to Kealakehe high
school from Captain Cook because that's where we were staying.A year later,we found different
apartments and motels but it didn't last very long. We ended up having to move back in with my aunty.
She was finally able to find a place that charged a price that she could afford. We lived in a duplex home
for 1 year because the landlord continued to raise the rent and it became unaffordable. By my senior year
of high school, she became pregnant with my baby sister leaving her with 4 children now to support all on
her own.After I graduated from high school,we got evicted once again, and moved into a condo near
Kealakekua. I took a gap year before going to college because it had come to my knowledge that I would
Docusign Envelope ID:7E647F64-1 D43-4236-8ECO-A004B4253628
not have the help of my mom as she was barely getting by at home. A year later,they had to leave the
condo because the owner was coming back early and struggled to fmd a new place. They ended up having
to move to Hilo with some of our family.All four of them,living in one bedroom and commuting back to
Kona for work and my brother's school. Through friendly connections, a one bedroom place became
available back in Kona and they took it. It was evident that there was work still needed to be done to the
house(no hot water, cabinets not installed,bathroom faucets had no water,etc.)and they were told it
would get done.Now to the present day,those things still have not been worked on and they are in the
process of possibly needing to look for another home. Rent is increasing and it is not equivalent to the
quality of the home.My mom, still taking care of three children,is still having a hard time finding a place
to finally call home. She has difficulty paying for groceries and paying other utility and phone bills. I can
advocate for my family and say that we would really love the idea of this project and finally be able to
live somewhere where she can afford with the money that she makes. I also hope to one day live in a
home on my own where I can support my future family and not have to struggle the way my mom did. I
hope to provide for my family and not have to worry about packing up and moving to new houses every
year. Being able to pay for a home without having to work multiple jobs would be a dream.
Regards,
Kekoa Meyers