When homes at DHHL’s Puʻuhona subdivision became available, Noelani Kanekoa had only a short window to qualify. Fortunately, she wasn’t starting from scratch.

More than a year earlier, Noelani had connected with Hawaiian Community Assets while exploring financing options for another housing goal. During that time, she worked to strengthen her financial readiness, organize important documents, and better understand the homebuying process. When the opportunity at Puʻuhona unexpectedly arose, she was prepared to move quickly.

“I was doing the process for a year already,” Noelani recalled. “If I wasn’t, I totally wouldn’t have been able to make it happen.”
The months that followed tested her patience. Construction delays pushed move-in dates back repeatedly, financial circumstances changed, and every step required careful planning. Still, in July 2025, Noelani closed on her home, and the following month she, her husband, and their three children moved into Puʻuhona.

Today, her family enjoys the peace of having a place to call their own, surrounded by neighbors who share a deep connection to Hawaiian culture and community. Her children each have space of their own, and the uncertainty of renting has been replaced with the comfort of knowing they’re home. For Noelani, that sense of stability has made every challenge along the way worthwhile.

Now, whenever Noelani meets families hoping to one day become homeowners, she shares her manaʻo firsthand: don’t wait until a home becomes available to begin preparing.

“Get started in the process with HCA early,” she says. “Take the classes. Meet with the counselors. You want to be ready to prequalify. It’s never too early to prepare.”