$60,000 in vouchers
issued on Maui

---

By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com

WAILUKU >> At least $60,000 in vouchers was issued yesterday as Maui County and nonprofit groups helped residents financially affected by the slump in tourism after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the East Coast.

Maui Economic Opportunity Inc., the lead nonprofit agency administering the program, said hundreds have filed applications in the last two days.

"Lots of them are not used to applying for assistance," said Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez, a spokesman for Maui Economic Opportunity.

He said applicants include those laid off from jobs or who have had their work hours cut, and self-employed people who have seen their businesses drop. Blackburn-Rodriguez said some of the contract players from the Hawaiian musical play "Ulalena" are among them.

Under the Hawaii Emergency Laulima Partnership or HELP, applicants are asked to bring a form showing they have filed for unemployment, and their pay stubs or general excise tax records for August and September.

He said the nonprofit groups have been getting a steady stream of applications between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and they expect the numbers to increase as word about the voucher program spreads through public service announcements and advertising.

Some 160 people filed applications Monday and a little fewer than that number were expected to apply yesterday. As of noon yesterday, $30,000 in vouchers had been issued.

At least $30,000 more in vouchers was expected to be issued by the end of the day, Blackburn-Rodriguez said.

He said on Lanai, there were few applications Monday because many residents thought they had to be unemployed to qualify for vouchers. He said Maui Economic Opportunity is working with groups such as the International Longshore and Warehouse Union to assist in informing people about the vouchers.

Maui County is providing up to $1.5 million in vouchers under a program approved by the County Council and initiated by Mayor James "Kimo" Apana.

Benefits, available up to three times once every 30 days, range from $300 for one to two people to $600 for a family of seven or more people. Applicants are required to reapply every 30 days.