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Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

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EVENTS & INFORMATION

Maui Relief TANF qualifiers reminded to access long-term housing, appliance help

June 23, 2025

Maui Economic Opportunity has been administering the predominantly federally funded Maui Relief TANF Program in partnership with the state Department of Human Services since shortly after the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires. The program provides housing, vehicle, utility, clothing, school supply and appliance assistance for those whose home or place of employment was damaged or destroyed by the wildfires or who lived or worked in the burn zone and were unable to return home or work due to the recovery efforts.

Kupuna Aloha Luncheon set for July 26; RSVP deadline approaching

June 20, 2025

Radio personality Kathy Collins and Lahaina Honolua Senior Citizens Club President Hedy Udarbe will be honored as Kupuna Advocates of the Year at the 53rd annual Kupuna Aloha Luncheon on July 26. The event is sponsored by the Maui County Planning & Coordinating Council, an umbrella organization made up of kupuna club officers countywide, with assistance from Maui Economic Opportunity. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Grand Wailea.

MEO job program for kupuna, SCSEP, suspended as federal funds cut

June 18, 2025

Maui Economic Opportunity will be suspending a three-decade-old on-the-job training program for Maui County kupuna on June 30 after receiving notification Monday that its contract had been terminated due to the uncertainty of federal funding. Eleven kupuna will be losing their positions in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which was established by the federal Older Americans Act to assist income eligible seniors, 55 years or older, who are unemployed...

MEO’s teen financial literacy class set for July 8-9

June 13, 2025

The two-day Financial Literacy for Teens workshop, covering topics such as budgeting, saving and credit, will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, July 8 and 9, at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku. The teen financial literacy workshop is offered at no cost and is put on by MEO’s Business Development Center. The in-person workshop runs from […]

MEO Core Four Business Planning Course set for July

June 12, 2025

The fourth Core Four Business Planning Course series of the year, presented by Maui Economic Opportunity’s Business Development Center, starts Tuesday, July 1., and runs twice weekly through Thursday, July 31. Classes are in-person only at MEO’s Wailuku classroom, 99 Mahalani St., behind the J. Walter Cameron Center. The Core Four Business Planning classes focus […]

MEO seeking more responses to survey on causes of poverty in county

June 10, 2025

Maui Economic Opportunity has been gathering community’s input on the “causes that could lead to poverty” in Maui County and encourages more submissions before the survey’s deadline of Wednesday, June 25. So far MEO has received more than 200 responses, which will be used to develop a Community Needs Assessment and a three-year Community Action […]

Lolita Bucaneg, Reynaldo De Leon honored by Lahaina-Honolua senior club

May 28, 2025

Two octogenarians born 28 days and worlds apart ­– Lolita Bucaneg and Reynaldo De Leon – were honored at the Lahaina-Honolua Senior Citizens Club Older Americans Luncheon on May 21 at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku. More than 30 members attended the annual event with Mayor Richard Bissen offering a few remarks and presenting certificates […]

MEO accepts H-HEAP utility credit applications June 1-30 countywide

May 23, 2025

The annual Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program (H-HEAP), which offers credits on utility bills for income-qualifying households, will accept applications between June 1 and June 30 at Maui Economic Opportunity offices in Wailuku, Hana, Lana`i City and Kaunakakai, Moloka`i. H-HEAP provides a credit on electricity and gas accounts through Hawaiian Electric and Hawa`i Gas based […]

Hawaiian Electric teams collect toiletry/hygiene items for MEO clients

May 15, 2025

Hawaiian Electric donated to Maui Economic Opportunity a total of 150 toiletry and hygiene items, including shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and laundry soap, to be given to Head Start preschool families and Community Services clients in need. The two-week drive in April was organized by the utility’s Revenue Management and Customer Ombudsman teams. Larson Gascon […]

NEWS

FACEBOOK POSTS

Those impacted by the August 2023 wildfires, who have qualified for the Maui Relief TANF Program, are reminded to apply for unused benefits, including long-term housing and appliance assistance.Maui Economic Opportunity has been administering the predominantly federally funded Maui Relief TANF Program in partnership with the state Department of Human Services since shortly after the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires. The program provides housing, vehicle, utility, clothing, school supply and appliance assistance for those whose home or place of employment was damaged or destroyed by the wildfires or who lived or worked in the burn zone and were unable to return home or work due to the recovery efforts.Each applicant can access all of the services, reapplying as needed over time.The appliance replacement option, which was recently added, provides a one-time replacement of a refrigerator (up to $1,000), a range (up to $1,000), a washer (up to $1,000), a dryer (up to $1,000) or a washer-dryer unit (up to $1,750), and microwave or toaster oven (up to $200). This benefit can be used by families moving back into their homes; the items replaced must have been owned by the applicant.Many applicants tapped the short-term rental benefit, which provides housing support up to $5,000 per month for up to four months, shortly after the wildfires. Those same housing benefits can be accessed again for long-term housing, which is defined as a lease of 12 months or longer.For the full list of benefits, qualifying information and an application, go to the MEO website at www.meoinc.org, call (808) 243-4404 or visit MEO Wailuku in-person weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 99 Mahalani St.Since the inception of the program in November 2023, MEO has assisted 3,154 families and 9,477 household members and provided more than $18.4 million in assistance as of this week. The program is primarily federally funded but also received money from the Hawaii Community Foundation.Caption:Monni Nash, Maui Relief TANF Program manager, helps an applicant for the program that assists those directly impacted by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires at Maui Economic Opportunity offices in Wailuku. MEO reminds qualifiers that they may access all of the benefits as they need them, including long-term housing and appliance assistance. ... See MoreSee Less
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Radio personality Kathy Collins and Lahaina Honolua Senior Citizens Club President Hedy Udarbe will be honored as Kupuna Advocates of the Year at the 53rd annual Kupuna Aloha Luncheon on July 26.The event is sponsored by the Maui County Planning & Coordinating Council, an umbrella organization made up of kupuna club officers countywide, with assistance from Maui Economic Opportunity. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Grand Wailea.Collins’ career on the airwaves spans decades as a radio DJ and TV news reporter. She also has won acclaim as a pidgin English storyteller and stars on the streaming series “Moku Moku.” But kupuna have a special place in her heart, having worked at Kaunoa Senior Services and bringing her emceeing talent to events such as the Kupuna Aloha Luncheon and the Maui County Senior Fair.Udarbe leads one of the island’s historically active senior clubs, the Lahaina Honolua Senior Citizens Club, and follows in the footsteps of past presidents Mae Fujiwara and Arleen Gerbig. The club has been a critical network in the kupuna community on the west side following the August 2023 wildfires, which claimed the life of one member and destroyed the homes of more than 40 others. The club has assisted members impacted by the fires and gathered them, many scattered across the island, for fellowship at meetings.Kupuna are invited to attend the event that has recently drawn more than 400 people.The cost is $55 per person, which includes a lunch prepared by the Grand Wailea. Payments may be made by credit card by contacting Executive Assistant Lauren Amano by phone at (808) 243-4306 or by email at [email protected], by check to Maui Economic Opportunity or cash. Cash and checks may be dropped off at MEO Wailuku office at 99 Mahalani St.The deadline to make a reservation and to make payment is 4 p.m. Friday, June 27. Call (808) 877-7651 to RSVP for the event. No late payment will be accepted.Transportation to and from the luncheon is available for kupuna club members and MEO clients. To schedule a ride contact MEO Transportation at (808) 877-7651 to make arrangements no later than June 27. ... See MoreSee Less
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