what do ye think of this lad

mickith

http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/?jp=MHAUMHMHCWKF


Billionaire gives Hawaii mansions to homeless
23/03/2007 - 09:01:05

Japanese property mogul Genshiro Kawamoto has handed over three of his many multi-million-dollar homes in Oahu’s most expensive neighbourhood to homeless and low-income native Hawaiian families.

Tears ran down Dorie-Ann Kahele’s cheeks as she accepted the key to a white-columned house worth nearly €3.8m. Her family will live in the mansion rent-free.

Kawamoto plans to open eight of his 22 Kahala neighbourhood homes to needy Hawaiian families, who will be able to stay in the homes for up to 10 years.

Kahele, 39, and her five daughters had been living in one small room at a homeless shelter for the past five years.

“What we need to do is appreciate,” said Kahele. “As fast as we got it, it could disappear.”

Kawamoto, whose eyes started welling up when Kahele cried, said he would not charge the families anything to live in the homes. They will, however, have to pay their own utility bills.

The billionaire, one of Japan’s richest men, said he was embarking on the unusual venture because it made him happy.

Native Hawaiians are disproportionately represented among the state’s homeless and working poor.

Kawamoto owns dozens of office buildings in Tokyo and his been buying and selling property in Hawaii and California since the 1980s.

He has been criticised for evicting tenants of his rental homes on short notice so he could sell the properties, as in 2002, when he gave hundreds of California tenants 30 days to leave.

Two years later, he served eviction notices to tenants in 27 Oahu rental homes, saying they had to leave within a month. He said he wanted to sell the houses to take advantage of rising prices.

Kawamoto selected the eight low-income families from 3,000 people who wrote him letters last year after he announced his plan. He said he tried to pick working, single mothers.

Kawamoto laughed when asked if he was concerned about losing money on the effort, saying: “This is pocket money for me.”

Kahele became homeless two years ago when her landlord raised her rent from €620 to €930, putting the apartment beyond reach of her salary as a customer service representative.

But some neighbours are unhappy with Kawamoto’s plan, saying he is trying to drive down property values so he can buy even more homes.

“Everyone’s paying homage to him, but in reality, he’s the problem,” said Mark Blackburn, who lives down the street from Kahale’s new home.

“Houses are homes. They’re made to live in; they aren’t investment vehicles.”

But an unrepentant Kawamoto said: “The people who don’t want to live near Hawaiians should move.”

is he doing a good deed or is it all to do with business?

rooney8

fair play!

humanji

In fairness, it doesn't really matter what his ultimate goal is (unless it's world domination, in which case he could be a problem), he's still doing a great thing for those 8 families.

Mackleton

Absolutely agree with you, it doesnt matter what his motives are he is doing something extremely generous for those misfortunate families, albeit he could have given them nice little picket fence, three bedroom style houses but who cares, for those families their lives have changed enormously for the better. Its probably fair to say that there are hundreds of thousands of uber rich people who could easily afford to take part in a similar scheme but they dont bother lifting a finger. I say fair play and well done to the guy for giving something back.

But an unrepentant Kawamoto said: “The people who don’t want to live near Hawaiians should move.”

I laughed at this, and it's true. Bout time somebody rich did something worthwhile with their money, instead of all this celebrity "I think such-and-such should be stopped, but I aint giving any of my money to the cause"

Sabre0001

And anyway, if he does acquire more houses, maybe he'll do the same again - he did get plenty of letters.

Perhaps it could have been a house sharing scheme though. I'm sure the houses aren't that small and could easily suit two families...But fair play all the same, a really nice thing to do. The fact that people are questioning motives just shows how suspicious people are now and that the old expression of "never look a gift horse in the mouth" is long gone! (that's the expression right )

Archeron

Its certainly a great thing he is doing, but I would have thought selling the houses and building (as someone above said) a pile of nice 3 beds for many more people instead would be nice. Imagine how hard is would be to pick 8 families from the thousands of letters received?
I would partially suspect there could be a little megalomania involved, and if this guy has been previously known to evict tenants at the drop of the hat for financial gain, then my "Hmmmmmmmmmmm...." would be long indeed.

scojones

They have to pay their own utility bills, but do they even have jobs? If they do not, this is an excellent way for them to clean themselves up and totally change their life around. They will be out of the house in ~10 years time, this is perfect motivation for them to find a good paying job that they can keep - so that when they have to leave the house they might be able to afford one like it, as they will be accustomed to living in a house like this.

Sabre0001

Some have jobs - one was a customer service representative but had to move out of last place cos rent went up...
Article also says he tried to pick working, single mothers...

humanji

Archeron wrote:

Its certainly a great thing he is doing, but I would have thought selling the houses and building (as someone above said) a pile of nice 3 beds for many more people instead would be nice.

I would imagine with all the rich neighbours, he'd never get the planning permission to do something like that.

seamus

Publicity stunt. Makes him look generous.

The fact is that nobody needs a €3.8 million house. Why not convert them into luxury "hostels". Give each family two rooms to use/sleep in, a bathroom, and a shared cooking area. How many families would you fit in then?

biko

But some neighbours are unhappy with Kawamoto’s plan, saying he is trying to drive down property values so he can buy even more homes.

But an unrepentant Kawamoto said: “The people who don’t want to live near Hawaiians should move.”

Kawamoto laughed when asked if he was concerned about losing money on the effort, saying: “This is pocket money for me"

^^I think this is the master plan.

If he's so worried about the homeless, why not sell these flash houses and buy a whole estate to fit 80 families in?

Japanese business men haven't really made a rep as altruists.

jor el

biko wrote:

If he's so worried about the homeless, why not sell these flash houses and buy a whole estate to fit 80 families in?

Mmmm, because putting all the poor/needy/homeless in one big housing estate has worked so well elsewhere hasn't it?

You're right though, he could have sold these three houses and bought dozens of normal houses all over Hawaii with the money.

brianthebard

jor el wrote:

Mmmm, because putting all the poor/needy/homeless in one big housing estate has worked so well elsewhere hasn't it?

That's due to poor planning and a lack of facilities. If towns were planned out like say Poundbury then perhaps the same problems would not be encountered.

AbusesToilets

That looks very interesting.I know form living here in the States in the midst of Sprawlsville that having everything close by in walking distance would make a bg difference to quality of life.