Mother of 12 Gets New Home

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At the Honolulu Habitat for Humanity’s July 9 groundbreaking in Waimanalo are (from left) Kahu Mark Saito, Jeanie Brown (HHH), Stanley Fuller Jr., Lehua Brown, Kimo Fuller, Kelly Rogers (HHH), Mapuana Fuller, Carlotta Kidder and Hulali Vares. Photo by Norman Shapiro.

By Kelli-Anne Ho

Honolulu Habitat for Humanity welcomed Lehua Fuller to the site of her new home in Waimanalo July 9 with a groundbreaking ceremony.

Fuller and her husband, who passed away in 1994, are the parents of 12 children, and they raised them in a four-bedroom house. Fuller’s new home will have two bedrooms and one bathroom.

“Lehua will be living by herself in her new home, but it will be small enough for her to take care of and have her grandchildren come to visit,” said Maile Alau, HHH development director.

The nonprofit HHH works with low-income families across Oahu to build simple and affordable homes.

It requires families to participate in at least 500 hours of “sweat equity,” which means they must help with the construction of their home.

After it’s finished, Alau said families continue to play an active role in the program.

“Most often, they help with lunches for volunteers on other sites after their home is built,” she explained.

“Their biggest contribution to Habitat is their mortgage payment, which goes right back into the Fund for Humanity, which helps us build more homes.”

For more information about HHH, visit honoluluhabitat.org.