LIHUE — The Office of Hawaiian Affairs announced a relief package of emergency loans and $500,000 in aid for Native Hawaiians impacted by the natural disasters on Kauai and Hawaii Island.
“Our deepest aloha goes out to the people whose lives have been turned upside down by these natural disasters,” said OHA Chair Colette Machado. “What is being announced today is just the first phase of OHA’s assistance to our beneficiaries on Kauai and Hawaii Island. We will continue to work with these communities to understand their ongoing needs, and we also will be developing initiatives that provide longer term assistance.”
The OHA board approved $500,000 in disaster relief aid that will include funds for one-time, financial assistance to qualified Native Hawaiian households on both islands and qualified kalo farmers on Kauai, and funds to address other health-related issues caused by the eruptions on Hawaii Island.
The elements of the disaster relief package were based on specific requests from the Kauai and Hawaii communities. Kauai and Niihau Trustee Dan Ahuna led a team of OHA staff on a site visit in May to assess damages sustained by the Native Hawaiian communities in Wainiha and Haena.
“We mahalo the many in our community, from the individuals to the grassroots organizations, who came forward immediately to provide kokua to those in need,” Ahuna said. “Our community has thrived through crisis before because we always come together. We understand that our role here at OHA is to follow the lead of the community and provide assistance as appropriate.”
In addition, OHA’s Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund Board of Directors approved a new disaster relief loan program. Native Hawaiians experiencing losses as a result of the disasters are eligible for loans of up to $20,000 at 4 percent interest with up to six months of deferred payments.
The emergency proclamations Gov. David Ige signed for Kauai and Hawaii Island will allow OHA to expedite contracting with vendors to provide relief services. OHA is in the process of securing vendor contracts for Kauai.
Meanwhile, forms for flood relief assistance are available at www.oha.org/kauai and can be submitted to OHA starting on Tuesday at OHA’s Kauai office, 4405 Kukui Grove St., Suite 103.
OHA staff will be providing information on relief aid efforts at several events on Kauai next week, including the Kauai Flood Relief Resources Fair on June 16 at Hanalei School.
