Ask the Mayor: What Can Be Done About Our Screaming Neighbors?

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the questions submitted to his office staff.

Submit your own questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at [email protected], call 270-7855 or send them by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.

Dear Mayor,

File photo from Domestic Violence awareness vigil held on Maui in June, 2012. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Q: There is an almost nightly commotion at my next-door neighbor’s house, and with all the yelling and screaming, I’m worried that something very bad might happen soon. The police are often called, yet from what I can tell, the situation remains unchanged. What kinds of resources are available for this family? I feel so bad for the children.

A: While it would be too long to list all the available community resources in this column, I would like to point out a few.

First, there is a domestic violence crisis hotline that anyone can call 24 hours. a day, seven days a week: (808) 579-9581. This hotline is a service provided by Women Helping Women, which also lists phone numbers in West Maui, Hāna and Lāna‘i.

You can visit https://hawaiisaysnomore.org/resources/ for a list of support agencies on each island.

I also want to encourage everyone to learn more about domestic violence and the resources and support available by dropping by the Domestic Violence Awareness Fair this Saturday, Oct. 15, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Queen Kaahumanu Center.

This educational fair is being coordinated by the Maui County Committee on the Status of Women, and will feature displays and information from many local agencies and offices including Women Helping Women, PACT (Parents and Children Together), Child & Family Services, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney – Victim Witness Program, and the Maui Police Department’s Domestic Violence Unit.