Nareit Foundation Awarded $100,000 to Honolulu Nonprofit
The grant will fund renovations to a Makiki transitional home for youth in foster care.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Commercial
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The Nareit Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to the nonprofit Residential Youth Services & Empowerment. The funds will support the renovation of the Hale Koko transitional home in Honolulu.
Why it matters
The grant aims to provide affordable housing for former foster youth and young adults with children. The project aims to expand support services by creating stable living conditions in a renovated space.
The Hale Koko facility in Makiki features seven housing units and will provide 12 beds once renovations are complete. Planned improvements include a new electrical system, plumbing, kitchen cabinets, and windows.
The players
Nareit Foundation
This organization supports charitable causes and community development initiatives.
Residential Youth Services & Empowerment
This nonprofit organization provides housing and support services for vulnerable youth.
Kim Coco Iwamoto
She is a State Representative who donated the property used for this transitional housing project.
The details
State Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto donated the two-story building to the nonprofit to facilitate the project. The upgraded facility will feature a live-in staff member to provide ongoing guidance and care for the residents.
Timeline
The nonprofit plans to open the renovated facility by mid-December 2026.
Culture Shift
This project reflects a growing societal focus on supporting the transition of foster youth into independent living by leveraging donated real estate. It signals a move toward community-driven solutions that convert underutilized local buildings into essential residential infrastructure.
Residents in the Makiki area will see the activation of a new transitional home designed to house up to 12 young adults and their children. The facility provides a specific local resource for those aging out of the foster care system, helping to address local housing instability.
The takeaway
The addition of twelve beds to the local housing supply for youth highlights the critical role of private grant funding in repurposing existing property. Local residents can monitor the progress of similar community-led housing initiatives to understand local infrastructure growth.
Further reading
For more information on market developments, visit the Honolulu Commercial section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hawaiinewsnow.
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