Ukrainians Fleeing The War Find Refuge In Hawaii But Struggle With Housing 0 A federal sponsorship program offers many benefits but reliance on sponsors to provide housing has proven problematic.
Volodymyr Osypets didn’t plan to travel to Hawaii when he, his wife and their 3-year-old daughter left Ukraine about a week before Russia invaded the country in February. But he knew that he probably wouldn’t be returning to his homeland anytime soon.
The 40-year-old IT project manager got a tip from a friend in the U.S. Embassy that military action was likely imminent and he and his family should leave the country. They had long planned a pilgrimage to India, so that was their first stop.
Visa issues prevented them from staying in the South Asian nation so with no end to the war in sight, Osypets jumped at the chance to move to Hawaii when he met a couple from Maui who offered to host them.
