Early Monday morning on January 31th, 2005, Quinten and Shannon Cuesta moved into their first home, a three-bedroom duplex at Ke Aka Ho‘ona. Their two teenagers, both straight-A students, took the day off from school to mark this once-in-a-lifetime family event.

Months before, the Cuestas had found themselves without a home after their landlord raised their rent. They moved their family to the beach when there seemed to be no other alternative and continued working their secure jobs. The children did their homework, often by flashlight and kept up the good grades, never missing assignments. This family prayed for a solution while extended family stepped in to help as best they could. Eventually they were able to move to Ma‘ili Land Transitional Housing, operated by Catholic Charities Hawaii. It was here that they learned about Ke Aka Ho‘ona and decided to submit an application for a vacant house in the community. When they got word that they would become the newest members in the neighborhood, it seemed too good to be true.

On their move-in day, the media was there to capture the celebration as Ke Aka Ho‘ona families welcomed the Cuestas with smiles, introductions, food, and balloons.

The Na‘auao Family

Maka and Ho‘onani Na‘auao consider themselves very fortunate to be living at the Ke Aka Ho‘ona community where families practice the same Consuelo values as their neighbors – to be drug free and violence free.

The couple had dreamed of having their own home but didn’t expect this to come true so soon. Maka thought it would be a while before they could even buy a house, especially at the current market prices. The best they could possibly hope for was a “foreclosure home,” he said. When they got the call from Consuelo Foundation inviting them to become part of the Ke Aka Ho‘ona community, “Needless to say we were very happy, very excited,” said Maka.

Both Maka and Ho‘onani are graduates of Kula Kaiapuni O ke ‘Anuenue, an Hawaiian immersion school in Palolo near Honolulu. Ho‘onani is currently a homemaker caring for their 18-month son Makalii and is expecting a baby.

Although they did not build their homes as most of the families here did, they are willing to take every opportunity to learn about maintaining their home and to meet the neighbors. Last year, Ho‘onani participated in Christmas activities and helped paint of the Christmas mural on the community center’s windows.

“She is truly willing to give back to our community,” says Imiola Gora-Aina, Ke Ka Ho‘ona’s project manager and community resident. “They don’t understand our covenants fully but have agreed to their value and to do their best for Makali‘i and their new baby.”

Maka & Ho‘onani’s parents are proud to have children living in their own home. Ho‘onani’s the niece of residents Polly Pokipala and Joey Fredericks.

We welcome the Na‘auao family into our Consuelo Foundation ‘ohana.