[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 201 (Wednesday, December 6, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H6157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                              {time}  1215
                    IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN LAHAINA

  (Ms. TOKUDA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, Hawaii has a proud immigrant tradition, with 
many of us able to trace our roots across the globe.
  Few places in Hawaii exemplify our diversity more than Lahaina, where 
nearly a third of the residents are foreign-born. They came from the 
Philippines, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, the Marshall Islands, 
Micronesia, and more. They are the backbone of Maui's economy, working 
in hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and golf courses. They clean 
homes and are caregivers for ``keiki,'' ``children,'' and ``kupuna,'' 
``elders,'' alike.
  On a day when fire did not discriminate what it took, Lahaina's 
immigrant community bore more than its fair share of loss. A quarter of 
the deceased had ties to the Philippines. Too many lost documents and 
lifesavings.
  Now, immigrants in Lahaina face impossible decisions. They are too 
scared to seek out the help that they need, and they are afraid to 
travel or relocate due to their legal status.
  They need our help, and we have to meet them where they are through 
trusted partners so they can focus on healing and rebuilding.
  Four generations ago, my family immigrated to Hawaii with the same 
hopes and dreams many in our Lahaina ``ohana,'' ``family,'' have. We 
can't forget our roots, and we must meet this moment with the aloha 
that they would have wanted.

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