3 days ago
City launches new assistance program for COFA families
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The City and County of Honolulu are providing help to Micronesian families who lost loved ones to COVID-19.
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The Office of Economic Revitalization announced on June 3 the launch of the ʻOhana Memorial Support: COVID-19 COFA Funeral Assistance Program.
The program seeks to provide $1.5 million in direct reimbursement of burial expenses to 'Compact of Free Association' residents on O'ahu.
'This program is about doing right by the families who lost a loved one to COVID-19 and were unjustly excluded from federal assistance,' said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. 'While no amount of funding can ever replace the lives lost, we hope this support demonstrates our deep commitment to caring for the most vulnerable in our community.'
The program contractor, We Are Oceania, will reimburse burial expenses up to $9,000 for each household member who passed away due to reimbursement amount for households experiencing multiple deaths in one family is capped at $35,500 per application.
We Are Oceania is providing both in-person and virtual support sessions for families requiring assistance:
Weekly Virtual Community Sessions: Join Facebook livestreams for community-specific information sessions:
Marshallese Community: Every Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Kosraean Community: Every Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pohnpeian Community: Every Thursday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Chuukese Community: Every Friday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
In-Person Outreach Events in June 2025:
Kosraean Church visits: June 15th at Kalihi Union Church (2214 N. King St.), 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Daily assistance at We Are Oceania Shim Hall (720 N King Street, Honolulu): 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (excluding weekends and June 11)
Marshallese Full Gospel Church: June 15 at Kalihi Union Church, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Chuukese Church: June 22 at Kalihi Union Church, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Pohnpeian Church: June 29 at Central Union Church (1660 Beretania St.), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Community Leader Sessions: June 17 and 19 at Shim Hall
Eligibility requirements are as follows:
Immediate surviving family members of a COFA Citizen whose death was attributed to COVID-19 between January 20, 2020, and September 30, 2024
The deceased family member must have resided on O'ahu and must demonstrate COFA citizenship (FSM, RMI, or ROP).
Applicants must prove a relationship to the deceased through official documents.
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For more information, visit the We Are Oceania website.
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