HONOLULU (DATE)  – It’s not just the building community that’s coming together to help Extreme Makeover: Home Edition make the dreams of the Akana family come true.  The travel and tourism industry is pitching in as well to provide inter-island flights, hotel rooms, and ground transportation to hundreds of volunteer workers that are helping build the Akana’s new home.

go! has provided a significant number of round trip inter-island flights to bring much-needed craftsmen from the neighbor islands to work on the Kalihi Valley project while Outrigger Enterprises Group has provided rooms for the hard-working trade to call home during the hectic week-long construction, as well as meeting venues during the clandestine planning stages and a much anticipated wrap party.  Roberts Hawaii will be shuttling volunteers from the airport to their hotels as well as to and from the build site, operating two shuttles 24-hours a day during the project.

“This project has brought out partners from all sectors of our community and has really shown the aloha spirit to the Akana family,” said Jeffrey Prostor, president of Brookfield Homes Hawai‘i, the builder selected to lead the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build.  “With the help of go!, Outrigger Enterprises Group, and Roberts Hawaii, our neighbor island ‘ohana is able be a part of this wonderful project.”

One such company that is able to contribute to the marathon build is Jade Construction.  Forty-five builders from the Big Island and Kauai arrived yesterday and will be staying until Monday, June 11.  “Everything went smoothly getting here,” said Ben Spencer of the Big Island.  “I’ve never seem so many guys coming together for one project and I haven’t seen anyone who doesn’t want to be here.  Spencer turns 33 on June 9 and intends to spend his birthday working through the night to help build the Akana home.

“Outrigger knows a bit about extreme makeovers,” said David Carey, president and CEO of Outrigger Enterprises Group. “Case in point is the Lewers Street area, which Outrigger has transformed into Waikiki Beach Walk™, Waikiki's hottest new dining, entertainment and shopping district.” Carey continued by saying the company also has experience in making dreams come true. “For the past 60 years, our employees have helped make the dream of a Hawaii vacation come true for millions of visitors to our islands. So, when the producers approached us for assistance with this wonderful, life-changing opportunity, we immediately said yes.”

“Since go!”s launch last year, average fares in Hawai’i have fallen significantly. Low fares mean more people can afford to travel more often, furthering our goal to bring the friends, families and business people of Hawai’i together. In the last year go! has grown to make the Hawai’i community part of our family and now hundreds of local, hardworking people help to make up our co-workers and partners in this exciting journey,” said Mesa Air Group CEO, Jonathan Ornstein. “We are thrilled to have this extraordinary opportunity to further contribute and be part of Extreme Makeover. Home Edition.”

About Brookfield Homes Hawai‘i
Award-winning Brookfield Homes Hawai‘i is a venture between local ownership in Hawai‘i and one of North America's larger home building companies, Brookfield Homes.  Based on O‘ahu, Brookfield Homes Hawai‘i is managed by an experienced team that has a deep love for the islands and for the business, homes, and neighborhoods it builds. Living and working in Hawai‘i provides understanding of the beauty and spirit of each island, which is reflected in what they build and improved quality of life.

About Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), and is in its 4th season on ABC.  The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding.  Denise Cramsey is the executive producer; and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.