August 15, 2023 updates from Maui Coastal Clubs Assistant Governor Al Weiland
Maui Rotary Clubs is working with the State Dept. of Housing Finance and Development, Maui Economic Opportunity and the Realtors Association of Maui to identify people who need housing and landlords who have housing available. RAM is in contact with all the property management companies. HHFDC has a form online for landlords to identify the nature of their property and people in need of housing to identify what they need.
Today I visited three shelters, South Maui Gym, King's Cathedral, and War Memorial Complex, and brought them copies of the form that HHFDC would like people who need housing to use. All the shelters are moving people into temporary housing, much of it in hotels in Ka'anapali. The Royal Lahaina, Outrigger, Hyatt and Sheraton will be hosting displaced people for the next 30-90 days. Not only are the accommodations a lot nicer than a shelter, but it also will keep employees of those hotels working. Much of the funding will come from Dept. of Housing and Health Services, or federal emergency funds. We are working on the housing after this, as it will be a long time before homes are rebuilt. I found that ALL shelters have experienced some outbreaks of COVID.
If you do any work at a shelter, WEAR A MASK.
The Hawai'i Rotary District 5000 Foundation Board met today to set up a process for the distribution of funds from those sent in to the Maui Fires Relief Fund. A subcommittee of the Foundation Board that includes Maui representation will make recommendations for the prioritization of the money.
- Rotarian Mark Unemori of our Wailuku Club is organizing the architects and engineers to start thinking about the rebuilding effort.
- The Red Cross has a hotline to call to find missing family members: 1-800-733-2767.
- Rotarian Della Nakamoto passed on a note from Carol Reimann looking for volunteers: Volunteers are needed to assist with the intake and distribution of supplies to residents affected by the recent fires. Sears parking lot at the Queen Kaahumanu Center | August 15-19 from 8am until 4pm