J. Walter Cameron Center

A History of Service

Four decades ago two extraordinary men had one vision – to significantly increase the impact of organizations serving those in need on Maui. These men – J. Walter Cameron and Douglas Sodetani – turned their vision, simple in concept, into a reality.

In so doing, they addressed a critical need by establishing a central location dedicated to providing affordable program and administrative space to non-profit organizations that supplied health, education and human services to Maui residents.

With generous support from government agencies and private supporters, the J. Walter Cameron Center became home to sixteen
agencies in 1973. It is one of the most established social-service headquarters in the nation, and the oldest and largest in Hawaii.
Interwoven within the fabric of the community, the JWCC today is recognized as being at the crossroads for programs and services for Maui
residents of all backgrounds. Even more, it has become a safe environment for people with special needs, and a home for the health and
social service organizations dedicated to serving them.

It is where neighbors take care of neighbors and it is a manifestation of Maui’s deeply rooted value of kokua (helping others) and laulima (working together). Committed to our Mission Today the J. Walter Cameron continues to be at the crossroads of the Maui nonprofit community:

15 Resident Agencies on site
100+ programs & services
30,000 Maui residents served by
Resident Agencies annually
600 workshops, seminars, trainings
hosted at the Center and attended by
40,000+ Maui residents annually

Agencies currently housed at JWCC:
• American Cancer Society
• ARC of Maui
• American Red Cross
• Best Buddies International
• Credit Counseling Service
• Hui No Ke Ola Pono
• Kahi Kamali’i-MEO
• Ka Lima O Maui
• Maui Chamber of Commerce
• Maui County-Office on Aging
• Maui Mediation Services
• Maui Mental Health Center
• Mental Health Association
• Nā Keiki O Emalia
• Pacific Cancer Foundation

We are proud to have incubated the growth of some of Maui’s prominent nonprofits, such as:
• Imua Family Services
• The Maui Arts and Cultural Center
• Maui Hospice
• Maui Family YMCA

Vision for the Future

Growth in population, as seen on Maui over the last 30 years, is reflected also in the increasing growth of nonprofits in the United States. Many of these organizations assume an ever-increasing and critical role in the health and social safety net of society.

The Cameron Center must have both the infrastructure and vision to meet this need for current and future resident agencies. It, too, must undergo a growth in its purpose beyond providing physical space.

The Cameron Center over the next 40 years will focus on not only upholding its original mission to provide space for Maui’s social
service agencies, but also on increasing its capacity to nurture the growth of its Resident Agencies.

The next few years present a critical transition point for the Cameron Center: planning for and implementing a comprehensive campaign
that addresses the physical improvements required to incubate, support, and accelerate social good in the Maui community.

Incubate
by providing best in class infrastructure and technology
at 21st century standards

Support
by meeting the administrative & operational needs of
Resident Agencies

Accelerate
by partnering with organizations & professionals to host Best Practice workshops on topics relevant to Resident Agencies and the general Maui community