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Contact Us |
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History |
| Background |
Na Hoaloha (“loving friends”) was formed in 1995 wiith the help of a Robert Wood Johnson Grant, and a dedicated group of individuals, including Marie Smith, former President of AARP, a Maui resident at that time.
| The "Puka" People |
Since its inception, the organization has focused its efforts on the “gap group” -- people who fall through the “pukas” (holes) of the government service system. Increasingly, however, we have been serving people who do qualify for community services but are unable to receive them because of long wait lists.
| The "Little Engine That Could" |
Because Na Hoaloha has been continuously under-funded and understaffed, with frequent turnover in leadership, the newly formed 2006 Board of Directors took it upon themselves to roll up their sleeves and run the organization with no paid staff…each taking on a needed role such as staffing the office, bookkeeping, recruiting volunteers, writing reports and grants, and cleaning and painting the office…until County funding enabled them to pay off their bills and fill two part-time positions in early 2007.
| The Strength of Na Hoaloha |
The strength
of Na Hoaloha is in its volunteer base. When other agencies are unable
to hire someone to provide basic services to people in need, Na Hoaloha
has consistently been able to find a volunteer who will provide these
services
“from the heart.”
