The Hawaiʻi Community Foundation (HCF), through its Maui Strong Fund, has committed up to $8 million to help restore a vital emergency shelter and affordable housing facility in Lahaina, closing a critical funding gap for Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers Inc. (KHAKO), one of the island's longest-standing service providers for Maui's unhoused.
KHAKO's Lahaina campus, which was destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires, previously offered family shelter units, dormitory beds, and affordable apartments. These services were a lifeline for West Maui residents without housing, the majority of which have been families with children.
With the facility gone, many remain without safe or stable housing.
Now, with support from the Maui Strong Fund, KHAKO will be able to rebuild its Lahaina facility.
"This is exactly why the Maui Strong Fund was created -- to step in where urgent community needs outpace available funding," said Keanu Lau Hee, senior director for the Maui Recovery Effort at HCF. "By closing this gap, we're helping ensure that West Maui families have access to shelter, stability, and a path forward."
The new facility will be built on Maui County land, part of a longstanding public/private partnership to support essential community services, including funding from the Maui Strong Fund, Maui County, FEMA, and private insurance proceeds. The County continues to play a critical role in making these types of projects possible through its commitment to community-serving land use.
The redevelopment will mirror the service model of KHAKO's central Wailuku facility, combining emergency shelter and affordable housing with wraparound support -- including case management, childcare, medical respite, employment readiness and housing-focused education. When the project is completed, it is estimated to provide at least 80 housing units and more than 300 beds.
"This grant is more than funding -- it's a foundation for hope," shared Sue Sadecki, KHAKO executive director. "We're excited and ready to bring back the services our West Maui community has depended on for decades. Rebuilding not only means restoring shelter and affordable housing apartments, it also supports dignity, healing, and belonging."
The award reflects the Maui Strong Fund's current focus on long-term recovery and stabilization. To date, the fund has committed more than $130 million to more than 200 local organizations, supporting critical needs across housing, health care, mental health, education, economic recovery and cultural resilience.
The Maui Strong Fund was activated in August 2023 by HCF to respond to the devastating effects of the wildfires on Maui's people and places. With support from donors across Hawaiʻi and around the world, the Maui Strong Fund quickly mobilized financial resources for trusted nonprofit partners on the ground. HCF uses a four-phase approach to disaster response -- addressing urgent needs while investing in long-term recovery, risk reduction, and resilience.
For resources and more information on Maui wildfire recovery, visit strongerhawaii.org. To learn more about the Maui Strong Fund, or to donate, visit hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/strengthening/maui-strong-fund.