Frequently Asked Questions
GENERAL FAQs
What is Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae?
Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae (“POW” or “the village”) is a self-governed village of houseless people, currently living next to the Wai‘anae Boat Harbor. We say “houseless” not “homeless” because nearly all of the people of the village call Hawai‘i home, but cannot afford a house here.
Roughly 200 people live in the village, including keiki, kūpuna, and working families, two thirds of whom are Native Hawaiian. The village is led by Twinkle Borge and a group of Captains selected by her, all of whom are residents of the village.
POW is a role-model for other communities, with residents actively participating in community service, a nightly neighborhood watch, caring for keiki and kūpuna, and even conducting outreach to other houseless people across O‘ahu.
“Puʻuhonua” means “place of refuge” and many people find safety, healing, and purpose through the relationships and community at the village. Some people only stay temporarily, and Twinkle helps people get into permanent housing and connect to social services. However, like any neighborhood, the village is anchored by many people who have made it their long-term home.
What is Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae (POW) Farm Village?
In 2020, POW completed fundraising and successfully purchased a 20-acre parcel of land in Wai‘anae Valley to serve as the site of its permanent home. Village leaders spent 2020 refining plans and designs for the site and structures, and cleared and cleaned the land, which was badly in need of rehabilitation. With help from Dynamic Community Solutions (DCS), Hui Aloha (HA), and many others, the people of the village refined the plan for Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae (POW) Farm Village, an agricultural and communal living project.
POW Farm Village will provide permanent homes for 250 people, which is the average census of the village at its current site. Structures include communal bathrooms and kitchens, and a gathering hall or Hale Hālāwai surrounded by clusters of modest homes. Half of the site will be dedicated to farming of ‘ulu (breadfruit), mai‘a (banana), papaya, mango, and other crops to feed people of the village and others across the Wai‘anae Coast. Many design decisions still need to be made. You can see a preliminary rendering on our website. Please keep in mind this is preliminary, and provided to illustrate some of the ideas we’ve discussed to date.
Why buy land and build a new village instead of staying where you are?
The village currently sits on State land and the State has said that the village cannot stay there. There are plans to use the area as a learning resource for neighboring schools. In 2018, the State planned to “sweep” (evict) the village. Thankfully, people across Hawai‘i and beyond rallied to defend the village, and Governor Ige intervened to give the village time to plan its own transition to another, permanent location.
People of the village live in tents. They have no running water or electricity, use the public boat wash for bathing and cleaning, and share a few public restrooms in the area (which they also help to clean and maintain). The porous nature of the land at the current site (with honeycomb-like, ancient coral under the surface) means the village cannot build real homes or infrastructure.
Purchasing land has secured a home for the people of Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae and their good works, from which they will never be evicted. Building houses, bathrooms, communal kitchens, and other shared amenities will provide them basics, including safety through extreme weather, hot showers, and reliable access to bathrooms and regular trash pickup. Furthermore, owning land with access to water is enabling the village to grow its own food -- a goal they’ve long aspired to.
Who is leading this work?
Twinkle Borge and her Captains lead daily operation of the village and the “programs” of POW, such as neighborhood watch, houseless outreach, park beautification, coastal cleanups, and other community service projects. Twinkle and the Captains also drive the design and planning for POW’s permanent home. They are assisted by Dynamic Community Solutions, a nonprofit created by and for the village, and Hui Aloha, a volunteer network that works to grow Aloha with houseless people across the islands. Both organizations help with fundraising, communications, government relations, and community partnerships. Everyone driving the project are unpaid volunteers. The construction of POW’s permanent home is assisted by many other people and organizations, some of which are highlighted below.
How can I stay updated?
We created this website for our fundraising campaign to build Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae’s permanent home. Click here to sign up to receive updates and news by email.
We will also be posting updates on the Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae Facebook page. As this entire effort is run by volunteers with jobs and families, we ask for your patience as we make updates as fast as we can!
Will POW Farm Village provide permanent housing or is it temporary/transitional?
POW Farm Village will not be a shelter or transitional housing -- it will be home for people who need it, and who cannot afford a home in Hawai‘i’s expensive market. There will be no time limits and people will be able to stay as long as they respect village rules and are willing to contribute to the community (rules and expectations discussed more below). There is an abundance of temporary shelter and transitional housing in Hawai‘i. What is lacking are truly affordable homes for people and places to build community. Like any neighborhood, some people will stay a short while, but the village will continue to be home to many long-term residents who anchor its leadership and its spirit of service.
What contributions will people be expected to make? Will people pay rent?
We are trying to make the new village as affordable as possible. We are aiming to keep average community contributions, or rent, at about $250 per month, per household. That, in our experience, is a level that most village residents can afford on their existing income, without a need to qualify for housing vouchers, which are in terribly short supply.
Each adult resident of the village is currently expected to contribute hours of community service each month, even if they are employed (which many residents are). To fulfill this expectation, residents can work in the village’s donation center, gardens or farm areas, neighborhood watch, outreach, or other community service projects.
How will you be able to operate the village with rents of only $250 per month?
By having shared bathrooms and kitchens (instead of one for every home) we are keeping development costs low. And, because the village provides its own groundskeeping and security, we also keep operating costs low. Keeping costs down in these ways will enable us to keep rents very affordable—even more affordable than other “affordable housing” projects. In addition, we intend to grow our own food for the village residents which will further reduce the cost of living.
What permits are required for development of this project?
POW Farm Village is being developed pursuant to Governor Ige’s Emergency Proclamation on Homelessness. The Proclamation provides relief from various laws, ordinances, and approval processes to expedite housing projects that address homelessness. Kahauiki Village and Kamaoku Kauhale are examples of other projects developed under the Proclamation.
Under the Proclamation, permits are not required to begin construction, and certain land use limitations are suspended. Existing structures from the previous owner (e.g., containers/trailers, also exempt under the Emergency Proclamation) will be repurposed, first for temporary use during construction, and later for permanent communal buildings. New buildings will conform to applicable building codes and will be constructed in accordance with plans stamped by licensed professionals.
Although POW Farm Village is exempt from most requirements during construction, we are voluntarily complying with best practices in planning, construction, and environmental conservation. For example, we performed a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, Botanical (Flora & Fauna) Survey, Archeological & Cultural Review, a site inspection by the PUEO Project, and other assessments to identify any risks posed by development. None were found. We are also a cooperator with the West O‘ahu Soil & Water Conservation District, and have engaged the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service to help us develop a conservation plan for our farm. And, of course, the entire development will comply with all life safety requirements including fire, flood, and emergency access.
What is the timeline for the project?
Construction began in September of 2021. We aim to move the first group of 25 residents into “Phase I” of POW Farm Village by the first quarter of 2022. Phase I will include the construction of homes and a shared bathroom and kitchen facility for this first group of people. The rest of our people will most likely move in phases, through 2022. Twinkle and POW leaders have intimate knowledge of who is most willing and able among the current residents to make the move, and the preliminary plan is for families with keiki and kupuna to move to the new site first.