Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center Celebrates 30 Years

In 1986, Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center opened the doors to its first facility in a renovated Catholic church on the edge of a cane field in Puʻunēnē. The nonprofit organization will celebrate its 30th anniversary in October.

Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center celebrates its 30th anniversary in October, commemorating three decades of assisting residents in need.

“KHAKO has been a long standing and deep rooted part of the Maui community, the agency has done fantastic work for 30 years to eliminate homelessness and increase affordable permanent housing,” said KHAKO executive director Monique Yamashita.

“We will honor these years of service and partnership through community awareness
and by hosting an anniversary dinner in October for our founders, community partners and stakeholders,” Yamashita said.

In 1986, the nonprofit organization opened the doors to its first facility in a renovated Catholic church on the edge of a cane field in Puʻunēnē. Organization leaders say that in its first five years, the it sheltered, fed and clothed more than 3,600 residents in need.

Since then, KHAKO has evolved into a comprehensive resource center that streamlines the case management process from intake, and building client self-sufficiency with the goal of permanent housing—and all the stages in between.

Low-income housing development Hale Makana O Waiale. File photo courtesy Linda Case.

In 1992, the organization broke ground on a new facility in Wailuku, and one year later, KHAKO Central opened its doors to individuals and families in need.

Next door to KHAKO Central is the 200-unit Hale Makana O Waiale Affordable Housing facility, which provides permanent rental housing to low-income individuals and families, many of whom are former resource center residents.

In 2005, the organization welcomed the addition of KHAKO Westside in Lahaina, and like its Wailuku counterpart, there are affordable housing units next door to KHAKO Westside.

In addition to its emergency housing and transitional housing programs, KHAKO offers a comprehensive chemical dependency education program, housing counseling services and adult education and training, as well as a primary care medical clinic and childcare facilities.

“I’m so honored and in awe of KHAKO and the many years of doing good and breaking the barriers to homelessness on our island,” Yamashita said. “The community is proud of the work that has been done here and we are committed to many more years of service and housing our community members in need.”