Fellows mentioned in this story: Josie Howard

From Hawai‘i Public Radio:

A federal program providing funeral assistance to those who lost loved ones — excluding citizens of Micronesian nations — to COVID-19 is set to end in late September.

But the City and County of Honolulu has funded a $2 million program to assist Pacific Islander migrants on Oʻahu.

So far, only five people have applied, according to Josie Howard, executive director of We Are Oceania. She said the nonprofit has been conducting outreach across the island but is trying to do it respectfully as some may still be mourning.

“I feel like it's been a while, and to all of a sudden have this program, we're reopening wounds,” she said.

Continue reading at hawaiipublicradio.org.