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Community Encouraged to Support Homeowner Recommendations for Disaster Recovery Action Plan

Deadline extended to March 31 for comments on Maui County Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery action plan.

Lahaina, HI – As the Maui County Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) action plan nears completion, community members have an opportunity to register their support of eight homeowner recommendations by March 31, 2025, to ensure they are included in the final plan.

Developed by Hawaiʻi Community Lending (HCL) and Ho‘ōla iā Mauiakama Long Term Recovery Group (Ho‘ōla LTRG), the recommendations will specifically benefit Lahaina homeowners with the goal of preventing the displacement of Lahaina residents and supporting individuals and families who lack resources to rebuild.

The U.S. Congress appropriated $1.6 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding on Dec. 21, 2024, to support recovery efforts from the 2023 Maui wildfires. The funding will be provided to the County of Maui through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The eight recommendations are based on data and feedback shared by 503 homeowners impacted by the fires who are enrolled in HCL’s Lahaina Homeowner Recovery (LHRP) and Ho‘ōla LTRG programs. By gathering sufficient support and comments, the goal is to get these homeowner-led recommendations included in the plan so that the needs of Lahaina familes are met.

The County deadline to provide comments for the Maui County CDBG-DR action plan has been extended to March 31 at 4 p.m. Comments may be submitted online at www.mauirecovers.org/cdbgdr, by mail, or in-person at the Lahaina Resource Center or Kāko‘o Maui Relief & Aid Services Center.

Community Encouraged to Support Homeowner Recommendations for Disaster Recovery Action Plan

“This is a kāhea for community members to support Lahaina families staying in Lahaina. We encourage residents to review the recommendations informed by Lahaina residents and consider including them as part of your comments to the County,” said Jeff Gilbreath, HCL executive director. “By integrating these recommendations, the CDBG-DR action plan can effectively address the challenges faced by Lahaina residents, promoting equitable recovery and resilience in the aftermath of the wildfire.”

Maui County CDBG-DR Action Plan Recommendations

  1. Request to Adjust Income Limit for CDBG-DR Upfront. While CDBG-DR seeks to benefit low-and-moderate income households below 80% area median income (AMI), the County of Maui should request to adjust the income limit upfront considering that Lahaina residents are being forced to leave the island due to rising costs of food, rents, and home rebuilds. For example, Puerto Rico successfully requested and secured from the Department of Housing and Urban Development an adjustment above the 80% AMI limit to meet the urgent need of reducing outmigration caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.
  2. Direct Grants for Rebuilding. Allocate funds to provide grants to homeowners through nonprofits for rebuilding their primary residences, covering predevelopment costs such as architectural designs, permits, environmental assessments, cesspool to septic conversions, and cultural monitoring of iwi kūpuna.
  3. Contract Nonprofits. Establish policies that prioritize contracts with nonprofits experienced in disaster case management, affordable housing, and lending to expedite reconstruction, ensure long-term affordability, and streamline application processes so Lahaina residents do not have to complete multiple applications to receive assistance.
  4. Zero-Interest Deferred Payment Loans. Expand the County of Maui’s deferred payment loan program to offer zero-interest loans with deferred payments that do not require repayment as long as the family resides in the home, helping families qualify for construction and mortgage financing that is affordable.
  5. Allow for Owner-Builder Projects. Expand the Single Family Reconstruction Program to include owner-builder projects, which includes volunteer build programs such as Habitat for Humanity and the Ho‘ōla iā Mauiakama LTRG.
  6. Allow for Reimbursements of Grants and Loans. Include the following language to reimburse funds that families have paid already toward rebuilding or from grants and loans provided by nonprofits, the State, and/or the County in accordance with CDBG-DR regulations. Consider this specific language to be inserted into the action plan:
    Maui County recognizes that private nonprofit entities leverage private sector resources to provide grants and short-term bridge loans to impacted homeowners for rebuilding single-family homes as well as for multi-family developments. These organizations are familiar with CDBG-DR regulations and can assist homeowners in remaining in their homes and completing rebuilds promptly. Homeowners collaborating with these entities may be eligible for reimbursement of money they have paid toward their rebuild or for grants and short-term bridge loans provided through the Single Family Reconstruction, Multi-Family Rental Housing Reconstruction, New Housing Opportunities for Disaster Impacted Renters, and Infrastructure and Public Facilities Programs.
  7. Ensure Families Qualify for Homeowners Insurance. Provide grants to homeowners enrolled in nonprofit programs to incorporate fire-resistant design elements into their rebuilding plans, ensuring homes are insurable and better protected against future fires. Establish a program in partnership with the State to provide basic fire insurance coverage when traditional insurance companies will not or costs are too high, offering homeowners financial protection during the rebuilding phase and once the home is completed. Invest in constructing a new fire station in Lahaina and allocate additional resources for firefighters to improve emergency response capabilities.
  8. Ongoing Community Engagement. Continue to hold public meetings to share the progress of the action plan and partnerships and programs that have been developed. Use community feedback and program data to refine and improve programs, ensuring Lahaina residents have a say in the redevelopment of Lahaina.

To comment and for more information, visit www.mauirecovers.org/cdbgd

About Hawaiʻi Community Lending (HCL)
Hawaiʻi Community Lending is a U.S. Treasury-certified native community development financial institution (CDFI) that makes loans to homebuilders, homebuyers, and homeowners, along with technical assistance and grants to prevent foreclosure. HCL is Hawai‘i’s premier nonprofit mortgage lender, helping local and Hawaiian families navigate the path to homeownership. www.hawaiicommunitylending.com

About Ho‘ōla iā Mauiakama Long Term Recovery Group (Ho‘ōla LTRG)
The Ho‘ōla LTRG, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, unites local organizations, leaders, and partners to support Maui’s recovery from the August 2023 wildfires. The group focuses on providing resources and coordinating recovery efforts to help survivors rebuild their lives and ensure a sustainable, resilient future for the community. www.mauilongtermrecovery.org

About HCL’s Lahaina Homeowner Recovery Program (LHRP)
HCL launched LHRP in May 2024, eight months after the devasting August wildfires, in partnership with Hawaiʻi Community Foundation (HCF) and Holomua Collective to establish the three-year program to assist up to 500 owner-occupant Lahaina homeowners prevent foreclosure and qualify for financing to rebuild their homes. HCL’s LHRP funding partners include First Hawaiian Bank, American Savings Bank, Bank of Hawaiʻi, Central Pacific Bank, HomeStreet Bank, Hawaiʻi National Bank, Finance Factors, Holomua Collective, and the Maui Strong Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) increased the reach of bank partners with its 3:1 Member Impact Fund, designed to offer eligible organizations critical financial support for affordable housing and community development initiatives in targeted areas of FHLB Des Moines’ district. LHRP expanded from HCL’s Kānaka Anti-Displacement Fund to serve all Lahaina owner-occupant homeowners. The fund launched in September 2023 to help the 104 native Hawaiian homeowners in the Leialiʻi homestead access FEMA/SBA applications and appeals; a grant-funded public insurance adjuster; emergency credit counseling; loss mitigation assistance; and other grants and low-interest loans to help fund their temporary living situations, existing mortgages, and future rebuild.

About Chanel Josiah

Chanel was born and raised on Oʻahu and now resides on Kaua’i with her husband and seven children. As a 5th-generation Hawaiian Home Lands lessee and homeowner, she has firsthand knowledge of the challenges families face in accessing housing, financial opportunities and resources both on and off homesteads. Her lived experiences and professional expertise inspire her passion for supporting others and strengthen her commitment to helping local and native Hawaiian families secure and sustain homes on their ancestral ‘āina, building lasting stability for themselves and generations to come.

Chanel also serves as the Board President of Pa‘a Lima, a nonprofit organization that offers support services and education to address houselessness, mental health challenges, financial literacy, and income instability. The organization is committed to breaking generational cycles and changing lives, with a special emphasis on supporting youth aging out of foster care.

As Operations Director, Chanel oversees marketing, community engagement, technical assistance, and operations. A key aspect of her role is connecting directly with communities to understand their needs and challenges. Drawing on her personal and professional experiences, Chanel approaches these challenges holistically, blending diverse perspectives to create innovative strategies that drive meaningful and lasting change for the communities she serves. “I’m grateful to be able to share our organization’s moʻomeheu (culture), moʻolelo (story) and kaunu (passion) with communities across Hawaiʻi, partners and investors who believe in the work we do.”

Chanel is inspired by her keiki, motivating her dedication to ensuring they can build their futures here in Hawai’i. She is also inspired by her tūtū kāne, Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox. “He was a fearless kānaka ‘ōiwi champion who encompassed the spirit of aloha ‘āina – the love of his land, and home just as we do now.” Outside of work, Chanel enjoys reading, practicing hula, and spending time at the beach with her ʻohana.

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About Aikū’ē Kalima

Aikū’ē Kalima, former Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund Manager for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, joins Hawaiʻi Community Lending as its lending director.
Kalima comes to HCL with more than 25 years of experience in community development and mortgage lending. In his new position, Kalima will direct HCL’s consumer, construction, mortgage and small business lending.
“As a native Hawaiian and Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiary, I understand the financial needs for economic development and quality housing for kānaka is great,” said Kalima, who led OHA’s deployment of $9.8 million in loans to 286 native Hawaiians statewide over the last five years. “For over 25 years, I have worked tirelessly at the grassroots level, educating kānaka on the skills necessary to achieve the dream of homeownership and providing resources to achieve financial sustainability. I plan to continue serving the lāhui empowering ‘ohana and communities as the lending director for Hawai‘i Community Lending.”
Kalima takes the reins of HCL’s $16-million revolving loan fund and will oversee a team of seven staff members statewide. “HCL is honored to have Aikū’ē join us in our mission to help tackle our housing crisis by funding native Hawaiian and local families to build, buy and save homes from foreclosure,” said HCL Executive Director Jeff Gilbreath. “He has proven leadership in both the public and private sectors and has the passion to get families on the land through homeownership.”

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About Sean

Sean Perez loves hearing about the great things Hawai‘i Community Lending is doing for the Hawaiian community. And now as HCL’s new director of finance, he is excited to be part of the team making it happen.

“I enjoy hearing the success stories of new homes that we will soon be building and finding for these families,” he says. “HCL’s mission resonates well with me and my passion to help others and assist our community.”

To this end, Sean will manage HCL’s finances, accounting, compliance, and information technology matters; working with HCL Executive Director Jeff Gilbreath and supervising three division managers. He comes to HCL with over eight years of experience in financial management in the nonprofit and private, for-profit sectors having worked in the legal, social service, health, and telecommunications industries as well as with the US Attorney’s Office of Guam and CNMI. In his previous job as director of operations for the Hawai‘i State Bar Association where he was responsible for directing the organization’s finances, Sean grew his experience in nonprofit financial management and gained extensive background in accounting, grants management, IT and human resources. These skills, in conjunction with his drive to work with the Hawai‘i community through nonprofit assistance, led Sean to HCL.

Currently living in Honolulu, Sean was born in Tamuning, Guam. When he was 10 years old, he moved to Oxnard, Calif., where he attended school and eventually community college. The Air Force Reserves beckoned him after graduation, leading him to serve three and a half years as an aircrew flight equipment technician at March Air Reserve Base. After his military service, Sean returned to his childhood home of Guam, where he went to college to obtain a degree in finance and economics, and then to pursue an MBA.

On O‘ahu, Sean enjoys family life with his fiancée and toddler son; fishing and surfing in his time off. “I look forward to accomplishing great things with HCL and creating new success stories,” he says.

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About Nikki

Nikki Hollern is a mother of five, born and raised in Upcountry Maui, but she spent the last 15 years in the beautiful town of Lahaina. Lahaina stole her heart, with the people and the town being unlike any other. After the fire, her family had to relocate to Kahului.

Her heart remains in Lahaina, and her goal is to help this amazing community get back to where they belong. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to be part of the HCL ‘ohana, helping navigate this incredibly hard time and hopefully serving as a guiding light to assist the community in returning home and coming back even stronger.

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