County’s Office of Recovery announces partnership with Kako'o Maui at West Maui center

The County of Maui's Office of Recovery and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) are proud to announce a partnership that brings CNHA's Kākoʻo Maui Resource Center to the Office of Recovery-West Maui at Lahaina Gateway.

Under the partnership, which began earlier this week, CNHA will operate its Kākoʻo Maui program out of the Office of Recovery-West Maui, as well as handle the Recovery office's day-to-day operations.

"By bringing in the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement to the Office of Recovery's office in Lahaina, we are able to enhance our services in West Maui and better help wildfire survivors through the immense challenges they face," said Maui County Managing Director Josiah Nishita, who is heading the County's recovery efforts. "Kākoʻo Maui's Resource Center in Kahului has been an invaluable source of support for wildfire survivors, and we look forward to having that same level of knowledge and service at the Office of Recovery-West Maui."

The partnership comes two months after the opening of the Office of Recovery-West Maui, which has helped provide in-person support to wildfire survivors as they navigate the recovery process.

"Mahalo to Mayor Bissen and Maui County for this partnership to serve and support the people of West Maui right in Lahaina," said Kūhīo Lewis, CEO of CNHA. "Our Kākoʻo Maui Resource Center in Kahului has shown us the importance of having a space where our community feels heard and supported. Partnering at the Office of Recovery-West Maui allows us to continue making a difference by providing direct access to the resources our Maui 'ohana need."

The Office of Recovery-West Maui houses several government and community agencies, including the county's Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), providing resident and contractor access passes, Recovery Permit Center (operated by 4LEAF, Inc.), and Office of Economic Development; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Small Business Administration (SBA); Maui County Councilmember Tamara Paltin and staff; Maui AIDS Foundation; Project Vision (SNAP, Med-QUEST); Kaiser Permanente; Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO); United Policyholders; Pono Legal; Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation; and Hawaiʻi Interim Housing Program (Tidal Basin). Those agencies will continue to offer services at the Office of Recovery-West Maui.

The new West Maui location for Kākoʻo Maui will offer a collaborative and cultural approach to help those impacted by the wildfires access direct aid, disaster recovery assistance and services.

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