About two hundred former Del Monte workers packed into Kunia Gym Sunday afternoon to hear about financial assistance being offered by the state.

Janice Takahashi, a chief planner with the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation said the former pineapple workers could qualify for up to $6,000 in benefits if they’re delinquent on their rents or mortgages.

“If they're paying more than thirty percent of their income towards rent or their mortgage they can also get some help,” Takahashi told Khon2. “We're hoping that if they're able to submit their information right away we can verify it (and) the assistance can be pushed out fairly quickly.”

Norm Cabilao was employed by Del Monte for 18 years as a field maintenance worker before the company announced it would cease its Kunia pineapple operation in January of last year. Rent for his home at Kunia Camp, also known as Kunia Village, has gone from about $200 to more than $600 a month. He welcomes the financial assistance from the state but says it’s still not enough.

“It's hard to make it,” said Cabilao. “One paycheck goes to the rent already.”

Representative Michael Magaoay who drafted the financial assistance bill passed last year said a total of $1.2 million is available to former Del Monte workers. “It's $600,000 this fiscal year and $600,000 next fiscal year, just to help them ease their rent and their mortgages.”

Governor Linda Lingle has already released $200,000 for the program and Takahashi said more funds will be made available depending on the need. “The money was appropriated specifically for the pineapple workers,” she said. “If all of the money is not used up, those funds will lapse.”

Meanwhile, former pineapple workers are hoping a deal can be reached for the purchase of Kunia Village and its 115 plantation style homes.

Landowner Campbell Estate is currently in negotiations with a non-profit group for the purchase of 119 acres. However some current residents like Cabilao are concerned there could certain restrictions regarding employment if a deal is reached.

“They saying they want everybody to be a hundred percent agriculture,” said Cabilao, who now works as a security guard. “I'm one of (the residents) that would have to leave and I'm third generation.”

The non-profit group in talks with Campbell Estate asked Khon2 not to release the organization’s name, saying it could jeopardize a deal. Del Monte’s lease with Campbell is set to expire at the end of the year.

Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.