May 27, 2020 | Community
Volunteers with the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center (NVMC) and Maui United Way handed out 8,000 face masks during their GivingTuesday “Be a Hero, Wear a Mask” campaign. GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement, launched GivingTuesdayNow in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I appreciate the effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” said Mayor Michael Victorino. “Our success in leveling the curve comes from members of our community working together to keep each other healthy, especially our vulnerable kupuna. Mahalo to the NVMC and Maui United Way for helping to keep Maui strong.”
The masks are part of Every1neHawaii’s Masks4All campaign. The Honolulu nonprofit successfully brought in 2 million masks, disbursing them to all islands across the State. The goal was to make the face masks available at no charge to those most in need. Free face mask distribution sites included TJs Grocery Outlet, Island Grocery Depot (Kahului and Lahaina) and Pukalani Superette. Mask giveaways were also donated to Hale Makua and Valley Isle Federal Credit Union. Giveaway volunteers included Mayor Victorino, professional surfers Kai Lenny and Ian Walsh, and members of the Maui delegation from the Hawaii State Legislature.
“This was indeed a community effort, and we are thankful to Every1neHawaii for the masks and for the support we received from all of our partners to ensure the masks got to the community,” said Deidre Tegarden, Executive Director of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center. “We initially received 160,000 masks, which we were able to distribute through Maui United Way and other local nonprofit partners. We could not have distributed the masks so quickly if it were not for the amazing team at Maui United Way, who continually work to address Maui’s most vital needs through the impact areas of education, economic sustainability, and health.”
Tegarden added, “The NVMC, whose mission is to ignite human potential by inspiring people to find the hero in themselves, and Maui United Way joined as partners to address the pandemic and inspire people to give, advocate, and volunteer. Stay well. Follow the standard tips for safety. We will get through this together!”
The goal of NVMC and Maui United Way is to bring our community together around a common cause, such as aiding those in need during this pandemic.
Deidre Tegarden, NVMC Executive Director
May 27, 2020 | Small Business
Robert Kawahara, from one of Maui’s largest CPA firms, Kawahara + Hu LLP CPAs, strongly believes in giving back to the community. He has presented workshops on Tax Strategies for Small Business at previous Hawaii Small Business Conferences presented by Maui Economic Development Board and supported by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development. This year the conference was cancelled; however, Kawahara is offering a newsletter with information and strategies for small businesses in the community.
Kawahara explained, “COVID-19 has caused an unprecedented strain on our healthcare and economic infrastructure. Our federal and local governments responded with stay-at-home restrictions and significant economic stimulus. While uncertainty makes it difficult to describe a future outcome—causing anxiety in all of us—our role as CPAs is to provide some certainty to our clients so that they may make informed decisions.”
At the beginning of the pandemic, Kawahara quickly realized that his company needed to communicate effectively with clients, so they created an email newsletter. The newsletter has helped cut down on the number of calls from clients which were relatively similar in nature. Kawahara stated, “The newsletter makes the calls quicker and more to the point since the clients have a better understanding to start with. Right now, all CPAs should be doing tax returns. However, with the new economic stimulus we have been forced into learning a whole new law that affects every individual and business, while still needing to provide guidance. Our roles as CPAs have not changed because of the pandemic, only the sense of urgency for answers. Our role should still be viewed as strategic advisors and decision-makers who assist in making informed decisions.”
Kawahara advises clients to read as much as possible and then email their CPA questions in a yes-or-no format. He added, “Have patience in waiting for responses. Most importantly, realize that CPAs may not have all the answers. Guidance is changing literally by the hour. Our resources are stretched to the limit in addressing the economic stimulus. We appreciate your understanding and offer our newsletter at www.mauicpa.net.”
During this difficult time, most businesses will find relief and support from the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan, SBA Paycheck Protection Program, and Employee Retention Tax Credit and State of Hawaii Unemployment.
Robert Kawahara, Kawahara + Hu LLP CPA
May 20, 2020 | Community
Monique Yamashita, Executive Director of Ka Hale A Ke Ola (KHAKO) Homeless Resource Centers, Inc., has over 15 years of social service experience in Maui County. Currently, as executive director of two homeless shelters, one in Wailuku and one in Lahaina, she has developed emergency COVID-19 protocols to ensure the safety of the clients and staff. “We are committed to doing what is best to protect our guests, tenants, staff, and vendors, and to do our part to prevent the transmission of the virus,” Yamashita said. “The County of Maui recently delivered tests for us to administer to provide reassurance of wellness in both of our facilities. In addition, we are so thankful for amazing friends in our community who have blessed us with handmade and disposable face masks and shields.”
Dedicated to serving the needs of the homeless and hungry on Maui, KHAKO has been providing emergency food and housing for over 30 years. They empower those in need to take responsibility for their own lives and they call on the community to assist in these actions. Yamashita reflected, “We are truly blessed with great community partners. Our approach goes beyond providing basic shelter and sustenance for homeless persons. Through a series of structured programs and services, we focus on instilling the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to support self-sufficiency and promote positive, healthy life choices.”
With all of the COVID-19 concerns, KHAKO is still in operation, bringing in new families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness as well as working with current clients to assist them with obtaining permanent housing. “While the world may be at a standstill, life carries on at our shelters and we are still working to end the cycle of homelessness,” said Yamashita. “On any given day, the KHAKO staff works to create stability in lives and to ensure success in permanent housing. There is already a lot of pressure for the clients, and COVID-19 is not making things easier, but we will continue to assist those in need.”
I do this work because everyone deserves a dignified and healthy quality of life. Poverty is cruel and no one should be without a home because of it.
Monique Yamashita, Executive Director, KHAKO Homeless Resource Centers, Inc.
May 13, 2020 | Community, Education
As we enter graduation season, MEDB congratulates and commends all our Maui County graduates for your hard work and achievement.
We wish you a bright and prosperous future!
May 6, 2020 | Community
The essential community workers that we see every day have become our lifelines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They are our heroes. Possibly those working in supermarkets and other large retail corporations are the only other people we might talk to in person all day or all week. Their jobs have grown to include smiling while politely assisting and defraying the island’s tensions. Now among the island’s most crucial personnel, retail workers as well as other everyday essential workers, are exposed to new dangers. For example, cleaning of stores and check-out stands has ramped up. Store hours have changed to protect workers and customers, including additional hours for seniors to shop, increased closure hours for deep cleaning each night, and more.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Aaron Favila
One supermarket store manager said, “In emergencies like this, we hear a lot about the first responders and those on the front lines. That’s important, and in this case doctors, nurses, firefighters, and everyone else working in that realm of healthcare deserve much honor. But what about the people working in the supermarkets, restaurants, and elsewhere — those handling the pandemonium — with our mad dash for most everything on the shelves?”
Upcountry resident Taryn Feliciano agreed, “From the cashiers, to the meat and fish department workers, and those stocking the shelves, they are all brave souls along with anybody else working in the public while most people stay at home. From replenishing supplies to answering questions, the calm that they exhibit every day in the supermarkets and other open establishments is reflected in the island shoppers, who on the whole remain pretty neighborly.”
Grocery workers, in particular, have also become the front- line during the health crisis─ interacting with potentially hundreds of people every day. They are risking infection every time they come within a few feet of a customer. Of all essential employees, along with the medical profession, the ones who bag groceries at the store, handle cash, give directions to needed products, and restock shelves all day long, are the ones with the most contact. These positions now assume increased risk for these service providers. Still, they remain steadfastly committed to the vital service they are providing to each of us.
Thanks to all those in our community who are continuously providing help and services to everyone.
MEDB Staff
