Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae received a $250,000 donation from the Oweesta Corp. to assist with the construction of “a permanent village of affordable homes in Waianae Valley,” the village announced Thursday.

Pu‘uhonua O Wai‘anae has a population of about 200 residents, two-thirds of whom are Native Hawaiian. The group aims to house 250 people at a reduced cost through its “community-first” model.

In 2020, the group acquired a 20-acre property on which the village has begun to develop the Pu‘uhonua O Waianae Farm Village.

“The Oweesta Corporation’s hands-on involvement and generous donation means a lot to us. It shows a genuine commitment to Native communities and meaningful collaboration with our villagers,” POW founder and leader Twinkle Borge said in a news release. “Together, we are building a stronger and more sustainable community.”

Oweesta Corp. is a Native Community Development Financial Institution intermediary that assists with creating wealth opportunities for native communities.