OHA Arranges Free Tax Help in Hana

OHA Chairperson Colette Machado. Courtesy of Hawaii News Now.

By Sonia Isotov

Native Hawaiian residents who live in Hana can get free help with filing their income-tax forms from volunteers traveling to Maui this weekend.

The free tax assistance is part of a two-year pilot project in Hana, where OHA has placed increased importance on helping to improve the economic well-being of native Hawaiians.

“This face-to-face assistance with tax preparation is the latest example of our commitment to helping create more opportunities for native Hawaiians,” said OHA Chairperson Colette Machado, in a written statement.  “It’s part of a wider strategy to create broad lasting change in the native Hawaiian community.”

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has arranged for a program staffed with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance helpers to offer the service to qualified residents who make $57,000 or less and need help preparing their own tax returns.

Volunteers are expected to assist native Hawaiian families from Hana in filing 2011 tax returns that could result in up to $5,000 in refunds per family through income earned from various tax credits available to their households.

The free tax help will be offered between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Saturday, March 17, 2012 in the library at Hana School.