The October 4 Honolulu Star-Advertiser article examined challenges during a period of extraordinary growth for HomeAid Hawaiʻi. We want to share additional context about our emergency housing work, the safeguards built into our contracts and the improvements we have made.
In 2023, the State asked us to expand Kauhale on an emergency timeline. The Maui wildfires then brought an additional responsibility to create housing for displaced families. Between 2023 and 2024, our organization grew more than fifty-fold.
These initiatives brought new housing approaches into operation under rapidly changing conditions. This required HomeAid and the State to anticipate project changes, cost allocations, and billing errors requiring reconciliation. Our contracts included provisions to protect both parties by providing a process to review documentation, correct allocations, and return funds when appropriate.
Kimo has been transparent about the challenges and has worked to bring in the right people and make the necessary changes. That is the leadership we expect, addressing problems openly and following through.
In parallel to reconciliation, HomeAid Hawaiʻi completed independent audits of its 2024 and 2025 financial statements. Separately, independent board directors, supported by legal counsel and a third-party CPA, reviewed vendor relationships and found no evidence of fraud, self-dealing or excess private benefit within that review, concluding that HomeAid generally received value equal to or greater than the amounts paid.
The completed accounting reconciliation and investigation accounted for every transaction within its scope, corrected misclassifications, and resulted in reimbursement to the State. To address control weaknesses identified, HomeAid brought accounting in-house, added senior financial leadership, and strengthened invoice review and board oversight.
The board stands behind the steps taken to improve financial oversight. We took the findings seriously, corrected billing issues and returned funds to the State. We remain committed to following through on these improvements and building a stronger organization.
To date, the Kauhale initiative has delivered nearly 900 beds and provided stable housing and human services to nearly 3,000 formerly houseless neighbors. Behind those numbers are people who now have a place to live and access to support that can help them stay housed.
Our responsibility is to deliver homes, account for the funds entrusted to us and follow through on improvements.
For me, leadership means being accountable when something goes wrong and following through on the work needed. As a leader, I will always do what’s right, even when mistakes are made.
