KAKA‘AKO (Aug. 19, 2023) – Today, in coordination with Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) has opened the Maui Relief Storage Facility, a coordinated donation management center to receive, sort and inventory donations collected for Maui residents impacted by the wildfires and store them until they are ready to be transported and received on Maui. Located in Hakuone at Kaka‘ako Makai, the 30,000 square foot warehouse space is being provided by the OHA.
“Being Maui Strong means giving our Maui ʻohana the space they need to grieve and heal. Healing is a process — and while we’ve received tremendous support in donations, we want to be thoughtful and respectful to how we deploy resources to our Maui ʻohana,” said Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke. “Standing up this donation management center on Oʻahu with support from Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement in coordination with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs allows us to be ready to deploy what Maui needs, when they need it.”
OHA’s 30,000 square foot warehouse space, previously used as a shelter, is located at 200 Keawe Street.
“In the spirit of lōkahi we unite with Lt. Gov. Luke and CNHA in a coordinated effort to provide support in this time of crisis. The use of our warehouse for Maui relief efforts aligns with OHA’s plan to develop Hakuone in a way that improves the quality of life for Native Hawaiians and our local community,” stated Kalei Akaka, OHA O‘ahu Trustee. “We’re here to help. We’re here to serve our Hawaiian people. We stand committed to kōkua in efforts such as this.”
CNHA has selected the O‘ahu-based non-profit organization, Makana O Ke Akua to facilitate the management of both donated supplies and volunteers at the Maui Relief Storage Facility in support of the relief efforts. They will also provide coordination support between state, county and donation centers.
“Right now, there is so much need and our community has really stepped up in support of our Maui ‘ohana during this unimaginable tragedy,” said Kūhio Lewis, CEO of CNHA. “The Maui Relief Storage Facility will help to provide some structure and organization to the relief efforts and make it easier for the teams on the ground in Maui to get supplies to those who need it most.”
The Maui Relief Storage Facility on O‘ahu will work directly with Maui’s donation management center, that opened on Monday, Aug. 14, to ensure that relief supplies are coordinated and prioritized, and that what is needed on Maui is getting there as expeditiously as possible.
“It is all of our kuleana to step-up and do what it takes to help uplift the Maui community in their time of need,” added Lewis.
The Maui Relief Storage Facility is currently set-up to receive donations from coordinated relief efforts/drives across O‘ahu. Businesses, community organizations, churches, schools, etc. who are collecting and receiving large donations should call (808) 341-0622 to coordinate delivery. Once received at the facility, the donations will be sorted, inventoried, and stored until ready to be received on Maui and then transported. Unfortunately, the center is not able to accept drop-off donations at this time. Individuals wanting to donate much needed goods and supplies are encouraged to find a donation drive for Maui fire relief in their area.
VIDEO: View the press conference announcement.
OHA Oʻahu Trustee Kalei Akaka’s full remarks presented at the Aug. 19 press conference in Hakuone
Aloha Pumehana,
I’m Kalei Akaka, and I’m honored to serve as OHA Oʻahu Trustee as well as the Chair of OHA’s Committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment.
We send our heartfelt aloha to all who’ve been affected by these wildfires.
We at OHA, are honored to collaborate with the Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement to provide this space during this time of crisis, located here at OHA’s Hakuone property at Kakaʻako Makai.
The use of this 30,000+ square foot warehouse space for Maui relief efforts aligns with OHA’s plan to develop Hakuone in a way that improves the quality of life for Native Hawaiians and our local community.
This is one of OHA’s many efforts to provide relief due to these devastating fires.
We’re also happy to share about the unanimous vote by OHA’s Board of Trustees to approve the distribution of $5 million in emergency disaster relief funds to kōkua our Hawaiian community affected by these fires on Maui.
In addition, OHA has partnered with Global Empowerment Mission in facilitating the issuance of short term housing vouchers to those displaced by the fires.
One of the special things about Hawaiʻi, is how we care for one another. In times of crisis, in the spirit of aloha, we pull together our strengths. Working with our Lieutenant Governor and CNHA is this embodiment of lōkahi.
Mahalo a nui to all who’ve stepped up to answer the kāhea to support our ʻohana on Maui. Those on the front lines, those in the background, those by sea, air and on the ground in the community, our county, state and federal family, the search and rescue teams and their dogs, and of those around the world helping as you can to provide the services and aloha that is greatly needed.
As the Office of Hawaiian Affairs,
We’re here to help.
We’re here to serve our Hawaiian people.
We stand committed to kōkua in efforts such as this.
E mau ana ka hoʻopōmaikaʻi o ka Haku.
Ke Akua pū me kākou āpau.
