New place for healing

LIHUE — For almost 13 years, YWCA of Kauai employees have worked to expand their reach and create a place where they could serve more families in the community.

All of that work, bolstered by financial and volunteer contributions, paid off Thursday when nearly 60 people officially welcomed the new YWCA Women’s Center on Hardy Street.

“It has been a very long process getting to this point of having this building,” YWCA of Kauai Board President Emiko Meyers said. “It has been exciting for the agency and the community because I think this will really provide a space for women, children, men, sons, daughters and families for a place to grow, a place to heal and a place to come together.”

YWCA of Kauai Executive Director Renae Hamilton said the building underwent a $200,000 renovation. It is about 90 percent complete and has 14 rooms, including two conference rooms, a kitchen, individual family therapy rooms and a children’s play therapy room.

The last remaining room under construction, Hamilton said, is a technology space that will be used to help people hone their job skills and host economic empowerment classes for women when it is complete.

“We’re here, we’re open and we are really excited about being able to better serve our community,” Hamilton said.

The YWCA’s administrative operations, alternatives to violence programs for domestic violence offenders, and some of the nonprofit’s treatment programs will remain in their existing office space next door.

But other key functions, including the nonprofit’s in-person crisis services, counseling treatment program for sex assault victims and their families, and youth programs, will move into the new space.

• Darin Moriki, county government reporter, can be reached at 245-0428 or dmoriki@thegardenisland.com. Follow him on Twitter at @darinmoriki.