CU Hawaii branch stays open in shadow of Kilauea

Employees and members of CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union are taking it a day at a time as they head into a third week of earthquakes, lava flows and sulfur dioxide emissions from the eruption of the Kilauea volcano.

The Hilo-based credit union, which has $292 million in assets and about 28,000 members, has a branch in the town of Pahoa, which is on the eastern side of the Big Island and about six miles from where several fissures and lava flows have been reported. As of Tuesday afternoon, employees were safe and the branch was open, CU Hawaii AVP and Marketing Manager Cheryl Marzo told CU Times.

“When the eruptions first started, they could hear it at the branch,” she said.

Marzo, whose own home is nine or 10 miles from the flow, said members are still coming into the branch in Pahoa.

“Some of them are members that have been displaced. But they’re staying with neighbors and friends. Some of our employees have taken friends into their homes,” she said.

 

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