Rep. Gabbard Visits East Hawai‘i

On Saturday, June 30, 2018, on Hawaiʻi Island, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard attended a Hilo Pride event at the Hilo Moʻoheau Bandstand, supported the opening of a new micro-homes transitional housing project in Pāhoa, hosted a community town hall with Puna’s local and state officials and attended “Imua Puna,” a benefit for those displaced by Kīlauea’s eruptions.

After visiting with constituents at the kick-off of the Hilo Pride Parade, the congresswoman participated in the blessing and opening ceremony of the micro-homes project in Pāhoa that was built in just 30 days, through the support of community, county, state and National Guard. The housing village opened 20 units that will provide transitional shelter for seniors and disabled individuals who have lost their homes to Kīlauea’s lava flow.

Rep. Gabbard at Hilo PRIDE Day. Courtesy photo

The village will include an office, storage space, and a covered community pavilion on an acre of land owned by the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu. In her comments, the congresswoman recognized Gilbert Aguinaldo who came up with this idea, Darryl Oliveira, Brandee Menino of Hope Services Hawaiʻi , the Hawaiʻi  Army National Guard 230^th Engineer Company, and all the businesses, workers and volunteers who came together in the spirit of aloha to build 20 units in less than one month.

The congresswoman also visited a future transitional housing site for families being organized by Ikaika Marzo, which aims to start by building 50 temporary units.

Rep. Gabbard in Pāhoa. Courtesy photo

Later in the afternoon, Rep. Gabbard joined Sen. Russell Ruderman, Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara, and Rep. Joy San Buenaventura in hosting a town hall for the Puna community to share legislative updates, hear community concerns, and answer questions about what is happening at the local, state, and federal level to help those displaced by Kīlauea’s eruptions. The representatives answered questions on FEMA and Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance, insurance claims, the Disaster Recovery Center, access to homes and property, and much more.

Rep. Joy San Buenventura, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Sen. Russel Ruderman at the town hall held in Pāhoa on Saturday, June 30, 2018. Courtesy photo

In the evening, the congresswoman attending the “Imua Puna” benefit hosted at the Eagles Club. The event raised money for those displaced by the Kīlauea lava flows.