Questions Raised Over Safety Conditions at Catholic Shelter in Hilo Receiving Public Funds

A Catholic affiliated emergency shelter for women in Hilo, Hawaii, has come under scrutiny after reports revealed that the facility has not undergone a fire safety inspection since it opened five years ago and may lack required emergency exits in its sleeping areas.

The shelter, known as Hale Maluhia, provides short term crisis housing for single women and is operated by Hope Services Hawaiʻi, a nonprofit organization connected to the Catholic Diocese in the region. The facility, located on Ululani Street in Hilo, has been operating since April 2020 and offers temporary accommodation for vulnerable women, including those with disabilities or service animals.

Despite receiving substantial public funding, questions have emerged about whether the building meets certain fire safety standards. Records indicate that the county’s fire prevention bureau has not inspected the shelter since it began operating. Local officials confirmed that inspections on the Big Island are typically triggered by complaints, and none had been filed regarding the facility.

Hale Maluhia has received financial support from both state and county programs aimed at addressing homelessness. In 2025 the shelter received $575000 from Hawaiʻi County’s Housing and Homelessness Fund to support operations. The organization was also awarded an additional $1.5 million through the same fund in its most recent funding cycle. In addition, the state Office of Housing and Homelessness provided $362000 in funding during the previous year.

Hope Services operates several housing facilities on Hawaiʻi Island that together provide more than 160 beds for individuals experiencing homelessness. Residents staying at Hale Maluhia pay up to $150 per month for accommodation while receiving temporary support services.

Concerns about safety conditions at the shelter were raised by a current resident who questioned whether the building provides adequate escape routes in the event of an emergency. According to the resident, the sleeping rooms in the facility lack accessible exits and none of the housing units contain windows that can be easily opened.

Local building codes generally require that sleeping areas below the fourth floor include at least one exterior escape or rescue opening to allow occupants to exit during emergencies such as fires. However, officials confirmed that a building inspection conducted in 2021 focused only on accessibility features required under disability laws and did not evaluate emergency exit requirements.

Photographs of the interior reportedly show bedroom windows positioned significantly higher than the maximum height recommended by local building codes for emergency escape openings. In addition, the shelter building does not include a sprinkler system or emergency lighting, although smoke alarms and fire extinguishers have been installed throughout the facility.

Officials from Hope Services say the shelter has established safety measures to protect residents. Staff members conduct regular safety briefings and fire drills with those staying at the facility, and emergency procedures are reviewed when individuals move into the shelter. The organization also maintains that personnel are present around the clock to respond to emergencies and assist residents.

The shelter property itself is leased from St Joseph Parish, and Hope Services staff say other facilities owned by the organization have received inspections in the past.

Recent discussions about safety conditions at the shelter come amid broader debates about the effectiveness of public funding programs addressing homelessness on Hawaiʻi Island. Since 2022 the county’s Homelessness and Housing Fund has distributed more than $33 million to nonprofit organizations providing housing and support services across the island.