Many Native Hawaiians said they'd be grateful to live in 10 Gensiro Kawamoto homes on Kahala Avenue, a day after the Japanese real estate tycoon said he'd like to rent the million-dollar properties to needy Hawaiians for $100 to $200 a month.

But a few local residents criticized the billionaire's plan, characterizing it as a publicity stunt, or accusing Kawamoto of trying to depress area real estate values to help him buy more Kahala homes for less money.

Kawamoto, in an Advertiser interview on Monday, appeared sincere in floating his idea that also includes turning five of his 18 homes on the same street into public museums displaying his art collection, though the eccentric investor has announced previous affordable housing plans in Hawai'i that he has not realized.

Much uncertainty still surrounds Kawamoto's latest vision, including a likelihood that renting only to Native Hawaiians would violate state and federal fair housing laws.

Kawamoto also has yet to formulate a process to select renters, saying that he planned to discuss this issue with leaders of Native Hawaiian organizations.

More than 75 people called or e-mailed The Advertiser yesterday seeking more information on how to rent one of the Kahala homes or to encourage Kawamoto in his effort to provide needy Hawaiians affordable housing in an area populated mostly by the rich.

"We as Hawaiians no doubt continue to struggle in Hawai'i, and any time someone like Mr. Kawamoto is willing to come forward and offer a gesture like what he's offering, it is very noble," said Jim Torio, executive director of the Anahola Homesteaders Council on Kaua'i.

"Something like this would be a great blessing, both spiritually and economically for us," said Mark Kahele, a 43-year-old Native Hawaiian who moved back to Hawai'i from the Mainland two years ago and is paying $1,100 a month for a Makiki studio for his family of four.

Another Native Hawaiian, Lehua Robertson, 46, is renting a house with her husband in Kapahulu on a low income and is ready to pack up their belongings and move east toward the beach. "I would move tonight," she said. "That's a dream come true."

Robertson added that she wouldn't be opposed to Kawamoto making the rent offer to non-Hawaiians.

Rita Schmid thinks that would be great. Originally from Germany but living in Hawai'i for the past five years, Schmid rents a small Makiki apartment with her 14-year-old son and makes a living greeting visitors at the airport and delivering telephone books.

"I'm not Native Hawaiian, but does it really matter what kind you are?" she asked. "I would be real interested in renting (a Kawamoto house) for $100 to $200 a month. Everything else is so expensive."

Dorothy Hazlett, a retiree with a daughter and Hawaiian son-in-law who could use help with their rent, said she's not quite sure how serious to take Kawamoto's plan. "I don't know what's realistic or what's not," she said. "It just sounds so incredible."

Puka Asing, a part-Hawaiian entertainer who does regular business in Japan, said his impression is that Kawamoto is genuinely trying to show some aloha.

"He's really trying to show ... the Japanese custom of omiyage ... to leave you with a gift," he said. "I know this is one blast to the (Kahala) community. It's not about that."

Asing urged Kawamoto to work with Hawaiian kupuna, or elders, in formulating details of his plan instead of political Hawaiian organizations.

Others would rather not see Kawamoto advance his plan, in part because of what happened after he bought nearly 200 O'ahu homes in the late 1980s.

Many of those homes fell into deplorable conditions and upset neighbors. Four years ago, Kawamoto claimed that property managers didn't inform him of conditions, while property managers argued Kawamoto was well informed and refused to authorize repairs.

Bob Dusendschon, a 61-year-old cable company employee from 'Aiea who was born and raised in Hawai'i, suggested that Kawamoto find another way to help, such as donating art to the Honolulu Academy of Art, instead of again upsetting the real estate market.

"I don't think we need his 'creativity' or his absentee landlord property mismanagement," Dusendschon said. "I think spoiled brat billionaires like this guy should keep his money and his hare-brained ideas at home."

In the past, Kawamoto floated plans to develop affordable housing, including one project on Maui with 531 units, a Kaka'ako high-rise with 230 units, and another O'ahu project with 50 homes. But he blamed government requirements for derailing those plans.

David Wicker, a former renter in Kahala, encouraged the billionaire to move forward with his newest proposal.

"I applaud Kawamoto," Wicker said. "He's a real breath of fresh air for Kahala, and I admire his spirit."

Kawamoto on Monday said his idea came to him about a year ago after feeling that the Kahala Avenue neighborhood, largely owned by speculators and wealthy mansion dwellers, had no sense of community.

Kawamoto also said that renting 10 of the 18 homes he has bought there since 2002 and converting five others into public museums would be a way to shape his legacy in Hawai'i.

Kahele, the father of two renting the $1,100-a-month Makiki studio, said Kawamoto can help a lot of people and himself with his offer. "I believe legacy makes a person," he said. "What you leave behind after you leave this world is what makes a person."

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.