Pukalani Nazarene Compassion Village combats Maui housing crisis

Situated on the lower slopes of Haleakalā, Pukalani Community Church of the Nazarene led by Rev. Mark Gudmunson has a modest congregation of about 70 members who desire to make a big impact in their own backyard and beyond.

Ahead of Hurricane Lala this past weekend, the church handed out essential supplies to the homeless and allowed families without power to use its charging bank. Already in place is its monthly event in partnership with Maui Food Bank’s Mobile Market to provide fresh produce and meals to ʻohana in need, which is slated from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Aug. 27.

The church had become a disaster relief center following the August 2023 Maui wildfires, though, it was “never expecting” to, according to Associate Pastor Dylan Nails.

“We are a small church in Upcountry Maui. But people began showing up, needs were everywhere, and we simply tried to respond to what was directly in front of us,” he said.

During the immediate emergency, Pukalani Community Church of the Nazarene expanded its role in response to widespread displacement, providing shelter to more than 50 Lahaina fire survivors; distributing more than 200,000 pounds of produce and food; and contributing more than $1 million in resources to the affected community.

“Those numbers are meaningful, but the people behind them matter much more to us,” Nails said. “As the immediate emergency began turning into long-term recovery, we realized that handing someone supplies was only one part of the answer. Families needed stability. They needed housing. They needed people who would continue walking with them after the cameras left and the emergency phase ended.”

Rebuilding is ongoing, three years after the fires. As of Aug. 13, 580 residential homes in Lahaina have been completed, 400 are under construction and 680 have issued permits, per the County of Maui recovery dashboard.

With long-term recovery in mind, church leadership begun to develop a transitional housing model with some inspiration from the Mainland, which materialized as The Pukalani Nazarene Compassion Village. Volunteers range from 30 to 40 people, with four paid staff between the church and the Compassion Village.

Located on its campus, the church built four new, two-bedroom homes that come furnished, and feature common areas like a community garden, chicken coop and water station, conducive for connection and healing, as well as practical services such as spiritual care and counseling, with therapists contracted from Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, economic assistance, transportation services, and more. Rent for the first three months is free and gradually increases over time; and you do not need to attend church to apply.

This project is funded by individual donors, including tithes and offerings from the church; private donations from The Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund totaling $660,000; and grants from World Vision and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, among other partners.

“Making those investments with the generosity that was entrusted to us allows us to build real lasting recovery for that community. And so, I’m really thankful we had the discipline to do that, but we also continue to listen and uplift the local leadership that is being demonstrated day in and day out,” said Keanu Hau Lee, HCF vice president of community resilience and strategic implementation, in a separate interview with Aloha State Daily. “That looks like the folks from Pukalani Nazarene Church, who had the vision to meet the community needs, and they had the boldness to design a solution and ask for support.”

HCF funding also went toward a Mobile Compassion Center, or vehicle that provides access to food and basic supplies for those in recovery, per its website.

Nails, who also took on the role of executive director of housing, estimates that the truck has already made over 150 trips to Lahaina, while 60 individuals have received direct housing support from the Compassion Village. Maui Rescue Mission has joined the monthly outreach efforts through showers and laundry services, which aids more than 200 individuals and families.

“As a church, this is our mission field,” he told ASD on a recent visit to the roughly 3.5-acre campus in early August. “Program fees (for the Compassion Village) go right back into the program, which offers housing with dignity.

“We wanted people rebuilding their lives to live somewhere where they were known, supported, and surrounded by neighbors,” Nails said. “Some stayed for relatively short periods. Others needed longer. Some of the relationships that began during the fires continue today.”

No matter how long the stay, The Compassion Village intends to make a house a home, with intentional touches evident in every room from rugs and throw pillows — even outside where two rocking chairs prompt cozy conversation and personal gardening beds have been popular among guests, he added.

However, no one is currently living in the four homes as the church and County of Maui navigate through permitting and infrastructure work, among other requirements. Meanwhile, the church is paying out of pocket for some residents to stay in homes at full-market value, according to Nails.

 “We believe God provided this property, the relationships, the resources, and the opportunity to serve our neighbors for a reason,” he said. “We are going to continue working respectfully through the challenges in front of us, continue pursuing compliance, continue advocating for a workable path forward, and continue serving Maui however we can.”

Looking ahead, the church aims to expand housing with a purchase it made in November 2024 of two residential lots adjacent to its property. The goal is to build smaller homes and studios to support kūpuna, widows and single parents.

With a background in construction, Nails told ASD that he moved to Hawaiʻi from Washington state for a job and stayed after he met a local girl, his now wife, Emma. He recently traveled to Spokane to help establish relief centers in response to the wildfires there and was able to share some lessons learned through the Maui wildfires.

“Perhaps one of the things I am most thankful for is that what Maui taught us is now helping other communities,” he said. “There is something incredibly meaningful about seeing the generosity that was poured into Maui now being carried forward to another hurting community.”

Nails asked for continued prayers and support as the church enters into this next season.

Contribute to Pukalani Nazarene Compassion Village's outreach efforts, here. Follow along on Instagram for future updates.

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.

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