Housing units destroyed by fire are restored, blessed
Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers staff members celebrate Tuesday morning’s blessing of two restored apartment units at Hale Makana O Waiale, a 200-unit apartment complex in Wailuku operated by Ka Hale A Ke Ola. The two-bedroom units had been destroyed by fire in June 2022. Photos courtesy Ka Hale A Ke Ola
Kahu Wayne Higa blesses two apartment units Tuesday at Hale Makana O Waiale.
Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers staff members celebrate Tuesday morning’s blessing of two restored apartment units at Hale Makana O Waiale, a 200-unit apartment complex in Wailuku operated by Ka Hale A Ke Ola. The two-bedroom units had been destroyed by fire in June 2022. Photos courtesy Ka Hale A Ke Ola
Kahu Wayne Higa blesses two apartment units Tuesday at Hale Makana O Waiale.
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The Maui News
Two apartments that had been destroyed during an accidental fire last year at the Hale Makana O Waiale complex in Wailuku were blessed on Tuesday following restoration work.
Kahu Wayne Higa chanted and sprinkled water to bless the restored apartments that were destroyed in June 2022.
"It was painful to experience this fire that temporarily displaced two households and took the life of a service dog," said Monique Ibarra, executive director of Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers, which operates the complex. "Thankfully, none of our residents suffered any physical injuries. Now, we have these beautifully restored units, and I'm very grateful to everyone who put in such hard work to make these apartments like-new, and ready for occupancy."
Approximately 1,400 people live in 200 affordable, low-income units at Hale Makana O Waiale, located on 12 acres in Wailuku, according to a news release.
The two apartments destroyed by fire were two-bedroom units on the first and second floors of a building. The Maui Fire Department said fire in a ground-floor unit extended up to the second floor. Eight other units sustained smoke and water damage.
MFD estimated damage at the time at $400,000 to the structure and $10,000 to its contents.
For more information about Ka Hale A Ke Ola housing programs, visit www.khako.org/programs/housing/.