Ohana Hope Village is now officially open and moving the first wave of residents out of temporary accommodations and into their new homes. Photos courtesy Ohana Hope Village

The Maui News

Nearly eight months after wildfires decimated the historic town of Lahaina and ravaged Kula and upcountry, in what is now the most lethal wildfire in U.S. history in over a century, Maui is still in a state of urgency finding housing solutions and accommodations for the thousands of displaced wildfire survivors in need of a home.

In response to this, the local nonprofit Family Life Center and local architectural firm Hawaii Off Grid, joined by dozens of companies across Maui, came together to build the midterm housing solution, Ohana Hope Village. After much anticipation, Ohana Hope Village is now officially open and moving the first wave of residents out of temporary accommodations and into their new homes.

Ohana Hope Village began as an ambitious undertaking that has since transformed a spacious 10-acre field in central Maui, into approximately 90 homes, which will ultimately house around 500 people. Started as a means to provide midterm housing and essential support to those affected by the fires, Ohana Hope Village will allow wildfire survivors to transition away from hotels, shelters, and other temporary living arrangements to be able to live more comfortably, with a greater sense of independence, stability, and security during this time. Residents will have the freedom to reside in these homes for an extended period, typically a few years, as they work towards seeking more permanent housing options. “Many of our new residents have moved several times since the devastating fires, some have moved up to nine times. At ‘Ohana Hope Village, these families finally have a place they can call their own for a few years while we will work alongside them to heal and plan their next steps,” shared Dr. Ashley Kelly, Chief Operating Officer for Family Life Center.

David Sellers, the Chief Planner of Ohana Hope Village, and Principal Architect of Hawaii Off Grid, a renowned Maui Architectural firm known for their innovative and sustainable off-grid designs, shared his own heartfelt sentiments about the project, stating “This has been the most satisfying and meaningful project that I have ever worked on. I am so grateful that I can assist my community in such a time of need and have gotten to work with so many like-minded caring people. I believe this is a huge step forward helping families move on from recovery to rebuilding.”

Continuing their commitment to sustainable solutions and innovative engineering, Hawaii Off Grid has designed Ohana Hope Village to be an off-grid community, utilizing solar power for its energy. Additionally, all construction that is exposed is non-combustible with hardy board and treated with fire retardant paint, as well as sprinklers installed in both the interior and exterior of the homes. This approach not only ensures a more environmentally friendly community but also provides resilience and self-sufficiency, crucial during times of crisis.

Ohana Hope village is fully funded by crucial donations that go directly to providing rent free tenancy for the duration of the resident’s lease, wrap-around support and social services for its residents, permanent housing navigation and rental assistance, and covering initial living essentials, and ongoing maintenance and operation costs. All funding has been provided from private donations and the community is encouraged to continue to donate to help fund the remaining needs of the project which will not be able to be completed without the generosity of our community.

Thanks to the help of generous donors and local businesses like Hawaii Off Grid that have contributed their expertise, labor, and materials for the construction of these homes, Ohana Hope Village is ready to open its doors and begin welcoming its new residents. These collective efforts, spearheaded by Family Life Center, represent the solidarity and resilience of the Maui community during challenging times, and provide hope for a brighter future on Maui. To learn more about Ohana Hope Village, or for those interested in supporting through donations, volunteering, or other means, please visit: https://ohanahopevillage.com/.