Meeting real needs of immigrants in Hawai’i
Immigration and Naturalization Services
Pacific Gateway Center is considered a safe haven for our immigrant and refugee population. Given the compelling legal needs for our immigrant community, Pacific Gateway Center has current agency recognition and staff accreditation by the Board of Immigration Appeals of the Department of Justice. PGC provides legal immigration services as an agency by an accredited staff representative to our immigrant community as a non-attorney:
https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/942306/download#HAWAII
(see page 165)
Newly-arrived Ukrainian families are welcome to call us for consultation on legal immigration and social services.
PGC has full access to additional expertise of immigration attorneys outside of our agency as a partner affiliate of the Catholic Legal Immigation Network to provide counsel, guidance and assistance.
PGC has adopted a Fee Waiver / Reduction Policy and will waive or reduce fees for immigration services on a sliding scale as determined with reference to the current Hawaii Poverty Guidelines for clients who formally request and prove that they cannot afford to pay the fees.
Immigration services are located at 723-C Umi Street, Honolulu, HI 96819 in Kalihi or at 653 Ala Moana Boulevard in Kaka‘ako (the site of Nā Kūpuna Makamae) by appointment only.
North Shore residents: Thanks to our partnership with Hau’ula Community Association (HCA), Pacific Gateway Center will have office hours on Tuesdays beginning on July 19, 2022 to serve immigrant and refugee populations living on the North Shore. Details forthcoming.
For specific needs other than those listed above, please call (808) 762-5952 or email to terrina@pacificgatewaycenter.org for confidential assistance and consultation.
For specific needs other than those listed above, please call the PGC office for assistance and consultation.
Social Services Programs
PGC social services programs are designed to address the critical and financial assistance needs of refugee and immigrant communities that support families and rebuild livelihoods.
PGC also supports civic engagement to support clients becoming productive, caring and contributing to a healthy and vibrant local community, and feeling a deep sense of belonging.
Pacific Gateway Center offers key social services and bilingual assistance in the following:
Shelter/Housing Assistance
Food
Clothing
Healthcare
Employment and entrepreneurship
Immigration legal services
Education services and job training opportunities
Interpretation and translation (See Hawaii Language Bank)
Transportation
Religious and spiritual needs
Outreach services
Cultural and community orientation
Hawaii Health Access Program (HHAP) funded by Kaiser Permanente
Are you an O’ahu resident without access to health coverage?
You may qualify for the HHAP Program and receive high-quality health care and pay no premiums, no co-pays, and no out-of-pocket expenses.
Do you qualify?
You must be an O‘ahu resident living in a Kaiser Permanente service area;
You do not need to be a US Citizen or nor have legal status to qualify;
Your household income must be no more than 300% of the federal poverty level (for example, up to $51,930 for a single person or $107,640 for a fammily of 4 in 2024;
You must not have access to other health coverage — including QUEST (Medicaid), Medicare, a job-based health plan, or coverage through the health benefit exchange.
You can choose your doctor and change at any time.
Enrollment period is from November 1, 2024 to January 15, 2025.
Contact Maria Rallojay at maria@pacificgatewaycenter.org or Terrina Wong at terrina@pacificgatewaycenter.org or call 808.762.5952 for questions or to enroll. Speak another language? Let us know and we’ll have an interpreter for you.