Jill Tokuda: “For so many of our Maui `` 'ohana,'' ``family,'' stable housing for their families and the ability to manage mortgages…”

“For so many of our Maui `` 'ohana,'' ``family,'' stable housing for their families and the ability to manage mortgages for lost homes keep them up at night. Earlier this month, the State of Hawaii, Maui County, FEMA, and various philanthropic organizations announced a $500 million interim housing plan to move thousands of families still living in hotels into stable, long-term housing by July 1 of this year. $250 million of this critical funding is coming directly from FEMA. Of all the ways that this plan will seek to provide some stability for ``keikis,'' ``children,'' and ``kupuna,'' ``elders,'' who lost everything, the most critical and urgent are the investments that will be made in more permanent developments. We need shovels in the ground now, and I strongly encourage FEMA to lean into their plans to build modular homes that will house up to 500 households. In talking with constituents and Maui Mayor Bissen, we must also focus immediately on identifying options to help survivors with their mortgages. Absent options, our people will feel they have no choice but to leave Lahaina. As I have said before, Lahaina is not Lahaina without her people. ____________________”