KAHULUI (HawaiiNewsNow) - Five fire survivor families are soon to be first-time homebuyers.

It’s all thanks to federal funding granted to the Maui County to help those displaced by the 2023 disaster.

It was a mix of emotions on Monday at the Hawaiian Council’s Kakoo Maui Relief and Aid Services Center in Kahului.

From smiles to tears of joy, five special recipients left the mall to go shopping for their very own home.

The morning started off with a pule, or prayer, from Native Hawaiian leader Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu.

Suede Ducheneau, 8, tightly closed his eyes and visualized a place he can finally call home.

“Our son was born with two rare forms of muscular dystrophy, but his symptoms didn’t onset until December of 2023. So right after the fire when everything was kind of transit

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