Maui Economic Opportunity’s Kahi Kamali‘i infant toddler center is the beneficiary of a $15,000 grant from the Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Charitable Trust, the second year in a row the trust has made a donation to the Central Maui facility.
The Charitable Trust selected Kahi Kamali‘i for the donation “in recognition of its wonderful work providing quality early childhood services to the people of Maui,” said the Charitable Trust’s Executive Director Melissa Pavlicek.
The mission of the Charitable Trust is to communicate and demonstrate Ho‘okipa, generous hospitality, and Malama, deep care, for the community by supporting charitable needs. The Charitable Trust made a donation of $10,000 to Kahi Kamali‘i in November 2021.
“We understand the incredible extra challenges confronted by nonprofit organizations during the pandemic. We applaud the continued good work of your organization,” Pavlicek said.
Kahi Kamali‘i provides services for children ages 1 to 3. During the pandemic, Kahi Kamali‘i remained open and cared for children of first responders, medical professionals and essential workers.
“Affordable quality child care has come up as top priority in public surveys as we develop our three-year Community Needs Assessment,” said Debbie Cabebe, CEO of MEO. “The need for child care has increased since pandemic impacts have waned, but families face costs of $1,000 a month or more with a tightened market of providers.
“We thank the Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Charitable Trust for providing a helping hand to MEO and families in need of child care for their toddlers and infants.”
Cabebe said that the funds from the Trust are vital for the continued operation of the facility amid rising costs due to inflation and supply chain and other issues.
The infant toddler center opened in 2003 as a partnership with the J. Walter Cameron Center, where the facility is located, to address the need for center-based quality care for children under 3 years old. The goal is to allow families to work, attend school or participate in employment training.
The program is licensed by the state Department of Human Services for 15 children and is currently at capacity. Licensing requirements at Kahi Kamali‘i include staffing of one lead caregiver and two other caregivers – to maintain a ratio of 1 adult to 5 children.
The County of Maui provides scholarships to keep costs affordable for families who are income eligible, with teen parents or with children receiving early intervention support through Imua Family Services.
Kahi Kamali‘i is open year round from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to noon on Fridays. For more information about Kahi Kamali‘i Infant/Toddler Center, call (808) 249-2988.
It’s nap time at Maui Economic Opportunity’s Kahi Kamali‘i infant toddler center in Central Maui. The Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Charitable Trust made a $15,000 donation to Kahi Kamali‘i.
MEO’s Kahi Kamali‘i infant toddler center has lots of toys and activities to keep the 15 children at the center busy.
