HONOLULU (March 24, 2020) – Catholic Charities Hawai‘i will continue to provide many of its programs and services as an essential public service as designated by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s emergency “stay at home, work at home” order.

In his emergency order signed Sunday, Mayor Caldwell stated that “service providers for homeless or impoverished individuals” are included under the list of essential businesses in which employees are still allowed to work from their offices. This means all of CCH’s housing and homelessness programs and services, including facilities such as our Family Assessment Center in Kaka‘ako, Villages of Ma‘ili, and Ma‘ililand will remain operating.

Under a similar emergency order signed yesterday by Hawai‘i Governor David Ige, CCH’s neighbor island offices on Maui, Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i remain open at this time as an essential workplace. However, with much of our staff working remotely, please call ahead for an appointment since there will be no walk-in service at our neighbor island locations.

“We are grateful for our local leaders in acknowledging the importance of our work with the most vulnerable; we will continue to provide these services as safely as possible for the community’s sake,” said CCH President and CEO Robert Van Tassell. “We are making every effort to adapt and develop strategies to best carry out our services as changes occur. Our staff is working statewide to ensure all clients impacted by program adjustments or closures continue to have the support they need.”

Listed below are changes to CCH programs and services because of the ongoing COVID-19 situation:

  • Due to health and safety precautions, all clients of Catholic Charities Hawai‘i (CCH) are required to schedule an appointment via email or phone in advance of meeting with CCH staff. CCH will not have walk-in clients at any of its offices statewide for the time being.
  • The Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center in Kalihi is closed until further notice.
  • AARP’s free tax preparation services for all three CCH locations (Ching Campus in Makiki, Lanakila Multi-Purpose Center in Kalihi and Kona office) have been suspended until further notice by AARP.
  • The Healthy Brain Aging and Dementia workshops for caregivers have been canceled.

CCH will provide updates as they occur at their website at www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org.