Blessing Held for New Hāna Infant and Toddler Center

Dad’s watch as their keiki explore the new Hāna Infant and Toddler Center. Courtesy photo.

By Maui Now Staff

Maui Family Support Services held a blessing on Tuesday of its new Hāna Infant and Toddler Center, located in a classroom at Hāna High and Elementary School in East Maui.

The facility is the first of its kind in the rural town, and will serve children between the ages of six weeks and three years old, the agency announced.

“Maui Family Support Services, is pleased to be able to provide this needed service to the Hāna community after over five years of planning.  It has taken a lot of collaboration with our partners and we are proud to work with this group of people and organizations to turn this center from a dream into a reality”, said Edel Baguio-Larena, Director of Early Childhood Education Services in an agency press release.

Kahu Kalani Wong; Kaina Bonacorsi, Maui County Early Childhood Resource Coordinator, Dr. Vicki Draeger, MFSS, Poni Medeiros, Educational Coordinator, Kamehameha Schools Community Based Early Childhood Education; Rick Rutiz, Director, Ma Ka Hana Ka `Ike, Kim Baker, MFSS; Rick Paul, Principal, Hana High and Elementary School; Edel Baguio-Larena, MFSS; Christine Jackson, Executive Office on Early Learning. Courtesy photo.

MFSS officials say the center will officially open it’s doors to serve the community upon approval of a pending license from the state Department of Human Services.

Agency officials say the project was made possible through a collaborative effort with the County of Maui, Kamehameha Schools and Hāna High and Elementary School.

The mission of the agency is to promote healthy family functioning by providing supportive services that build on family strengths.

The prime directive of the organization is to utilize collective resources toward the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Kahu Kalani Wong of Kamehameha Schools, Maui Campus performs the blessing. Courtesy photo.