Unitus Community Credit Union Provides Disaster Relief Assistance to Maui

August 18, 2023

In support of the residents and communities affected by the wildfires in Maui, Unitus Community Credit Union has donated $5,000 to the National Credit Union Foundation’s CUAid relief fund, which supports credit union employees, volunteers, and communities impacted by the devastating wildfires that tore through Maui on Aug. 8.

CUAid is working directly with the Hawai’i Credit Union League (HCUL) to provide funds to disaster victims. HCUL has been assessing the impact the fire had on Maui’s twelve credit unions, which support more than 30,000 members. The Hawai’i Credit Union League is also working with its Valley Isle Chapter to coordinate monetary donations for employees and branches affected by the fires.

In addition to the support of CUAid, the Portland, Oregon-based Unitus has partnered with local nonprofit and community partner Ke Kukui Foundation to launch a donation drive in all branches. The drive, named “Ke Kukui A Maui” (meaning the light of Maui), provides a place for members and the community to come together to bring a light of hope to Maui. Monetary, gift card, and supply donations are currently being accepted at any Unitus branch.

As with many natural disasters, supply donation needs are constantly changing. A current list of needed items can be found on the Ke Kukui A Maui donation page at kekukuifoundation.org/MAUI. Unitus has partnered with the Ke Kukui Foundation since 2022 in support of “4 Days of Aloha,” the largest native Hawaiian event in the Pacific Northwest. The festival, which takes place every July in Vancouver, Washington, welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to learn about Hawaiian arts and culture and to experience the spirit of aloha.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Maui and the communities affected by this heartbreaking tragedy,” said Steven Stapp, president and CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union. “As a community credit union, we strongly believe in the credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people.’ That’s why we’ve come together with our community partners and Indigenous Hawaiian team members to determine how we can best help victims of this natural disaster fiscally, and in action, so the people of Maui can begin to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.”

“No task is too big when done together (aʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia),” says Shay Kealoha, Mill Plain branch manager and Ke Kukui Foundation board member. “Mahalo nui loa to our community for coming together to kōkua (help) and kāko’o (support) the Maui community during this devastating time. Each contribution, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.”

Posted in Oregon, Regional Member News.