Maui Disaster Response
Since the Maui fires in August 2023, Pacific Gateway Center (PGC) has been deeply committed to supporting the Maui community with a particular focus on assisting limited-English proficient (LEP) residents. Our approach is rooted in direct, on-the-ground engagement, ensuring that essential immigration, legal, and social services reach the people who need them most.
Through a continuum of personalized care, PGC supports clients in their journeys toward stability, recovery, and resilience through the Maui Embrace Initiative (MEI).
Immediate Relief Efforts
From the beginning, PGC’s response has emphasized swift action and sustained support, shifting from immediate relief to long-term recovery. Funded by the State of Hawaii, key services provided include:
Multilingual Hotline: Available from November 2023 to March 2024, this hotline supported survivors in their native languages, including Chuukese, Ilocano,Marshallese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Tongan.
Local Office in Wailuku, Maui. Our new Maui office at the Cameron Center, 95 Mahalani Street, Suite 13a and 13b, and Lahaina serves as a vital resource with multilingual resources for direct assistance.
Bilingual Case Managers: Offering culturally relevant support in Ilocano, Marshallese, Pohnpeian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Tongan to ensure language is not a barrier to receiving services.
Maui Embrace Initiative (MEI) - Building Long-Term Recovery
In October 2024, PGC’s Maui Embrace Initiative (MEI) received $1.2 million in funding from Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong fund to support the long-term recovery of’vulnerable communities, including immigrants, refugees, and LEP populations. The MEI program is designed to break down complex barriers that prevent these families from accessing essential services, empowering them with knowledge, resources, and confidence to rebuild their lives.
How MEI Provides Critical Support
MEI focuses on the following areas to build community resilience:
Culturally and Linguistically Relevant Communication: Ensuring all services are accessible and meaningful for LEP individuals.
Comprehensive Legal and Social Services: With immigration attorneys and trained bilingual case managers, we help clients establish legal status, determine eligibility, and access public benefits.
Economic Development Support: Assisting immigrant entrepreneurs with business development, financial aid, and federal grants, as well as providing access to land, capital, and markets.
Health and Nutrition Support: Partnering with the Maui Food Bank to addressfood insecurity and promote nutrition within the immigrant community.
PGC remains dedicated to empowering Maui’s LEP communities as they rebuild, reinforcing stability, health, and hope.
Contact for more information
Immigration Legal Services: Ethan Higa, Esq, Deputy Director of Immigration Legal Services | ethan@pacificgatewaycenter.org | 808 762-5953
Immigration Social Services: Maria Rallojay, Deputy Director of Social Services | maria@pacificgatewaycenter.org | 808 762-5952