A Kalihi Valley family came home to someplace completely unrecognizable today.
Their house and children's center were overhauled by the reality television show Extreme Makeover.

The Extreme Makeover team called this their most challenging project, but an army of volunteers pulled it off, and the Akanas' emotional homecoming today made it all worthwhile

The Akanas knew their home and lives would change forever, but they never expected this.

It was just last wednesday when the family was chosen for an extreme home makeover.
Nearly 2-thousand volunteers went to work.

Working around the clock for 106 hours, to build a main house and a new community center for the nonprofit Keiki O Ka Aina, started by mother of six, Momi Akana.

"It was awesome, such a heartwarming event that brought people together," said Karen Nakamura of the Building Industry Association Hawaii.

Down the home stretch, hours before the Akanas returned home, the rain wouldn't let up, and neither would volunteers

"We just completed the last bit of the painting work."

The reaction from Keiki O Ka Aina family?

"By blessing her and her family, the whole State of Hawaii will be blessed. I know we service a lot of families."

Keiki O Ka Aina's dedication to building stronger families made it the perfect partner for our Lokahi giving project.
We'll hear much more from Momi Akana tomorrow and in the weeks ahead as we team up to help out our struggling island families.