Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
In the aftermath of the devastating 2023 wildfires that swept through Lahaina and other parts of Maui, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) launched the K\u0101ko\u02bbo Maui Program to meet the urgent and evolving needs of the community. Guided by kuleana, aloha, and l\u014dkahi, this initiative centers long-term, community-led recovery\u2014ensuring that the people of Maui are not just surviving, but thriving.<\/span><\/p>\n One powerful story of hope comes from Ikaika and Janelle Hiapo, whose Lahaina home was lost just five years after it was built. With nowhere to go and their future uncertain, the couple received critical support through K\u0101ko\u02bbo Maui. They were not only connected to stable housing but also received a grant that helped them begin rebuilding. Today, as construction nears completion, their home stands as a symbol of strength and the deep care of a community committed to lifting one another up.<\/span><\/p>\n That same care is echoed in the words of Kukui Keahi, Associate Director of K\u0101ko\u02bbo Maui and a wildfire survivor herself:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWorking at K\u0101ko\u02bbo Maui has given me the opportunity to create and administer programs that I know\u2014through my own experience as a survivor of the Maui wildfires\u2014will make a meaningful impact on our community. As a multigenerational resident of Lahaina, this work is deeply personal; it’s an honor to serve the very people and place that shaped who I am. What makes this journey even more powerful is serving alongside fellow survivors. Our shared experience creates a bond that fuels trust, compassion, and a deep commitment to ensuring our recovery is led by and for the community we love so dearly.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n K\u0101ko\u02bbo Maui is more than just a program\u2014it\u2019s a community of passionate individuals, like Kukui, who have lived through the aftermath of tragedy and turned that experience into a source of strength, connection, and purpose. From the beginning, K\u0101ko\u02bbo Maui has served as a trusted recovery partner, guiding thousands of wildfire survivors toward stability and hope. One of its most impactful milestones is the opening of the K\u0101ko\u02bbo Maui Relief and Aid Services Center in Kahului\u2014a trauma-informed, culturally rooted hub offering wraparound services, navigation support, and a safe space for healing.<\/span><\/p>\n To build back stronger and ensure Maui\u2019s future is rooted in local leadership, CNHA expanded its workforce development efforts. Through the Hawaiian Trades Academy, nearly 400 Maui residents have earned certifications in debris removal and construction\u2014gaining meaningful employment while contributing directly to rebuilding their island home.<\/span><\/p>\n K\u0101ko\u02bbo Maui also provides:<\/span><\/p>\n Throughout this journey, CNHA has remained deeply committed to listening to the community, evolving with their needs, and staying rooted in its mission. With three active service locations on Maui\u2014the Kahului Resource Center at Maui Mall, the Lahaina Gateway Resource Center, and the Distribution Warehouse near Seafood City in Kahului\u2014K\u0101ko\u02bbo Maui continues to serve as both connector and provider.<\/span><\/p>\n To date, the program has delivered:<\/span><\/p>\n At its core, K\u0101ko\u02bbo Maui represents the strength of collective aloha\u2014a recovery led by the people, for the people.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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