Maui Strong Fund

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Health & Social Services Systems – Areas of Focus

Animal Welfare

Hawaiʻi Animal Kuleana Alliance (8/18/23) - $56,000
Hawaiʻi Animal Kuleana Alliance (HAKA) and its animal-search-and-rescue teams are helping on the ground in Lahaina to search for, capture, and transport animals from the field to veterinarians and the Maui Humane Society. It is also recovering remains of deceased animals and returning them to owners with respectful handling. The organization is assisting in food and supply distribution to community hubs and is partnering with all of Maui’s major animal-related recovery organizations. Funding will support specialized field gear, supplies and tools, administrative supplies, transportation, lodging, volunteer stipends, PPE, and technology for the field.

Hawai‘i Animal Rescue Foundation - $300,000
Awarded 8/14/23 - $100,000
Awarded 8/30/23 - $150,000
Awarded 5/17/24 - $50,000
The Hawai‘i Animal Rescue Foundation (HARF) is providing food, shelter, and medical care for displaced owned dogs, cats, and farm animals evacuated from fire zones. Lack of housing for the displaced families means displaced pets will need care and shelter for the duration. Initial funds were used for emergency sheltering and feed for dogs, cats, and livestock that need temporary housing while residents take care of other necessary things in the wake of being displaced by the fires. The organization also traveled with veterinarians into the Lahaina community to treat animal medical needs on-site, working closely with the Maui Humane Society to coordinate response efforts. As families continue to transition into longer-term housing, subsequent funding provides continued support for boarding needs or surrenders of pets from fire-affected families to ensure that there are no limitations to people finding secure housing options. With a significant increase in animal surrenders and a downturn in adoptions, HARF has proactively initiated pet-friendly programs aimed at alleviating the pressure on pet owners, responding with innovation to address and navigate this new set of challenges facing the community.

Kitty Charm Farm (9/22/23) - $50,000
Kitty Charm Farm (KCF) is a primarily cat-focused animal rescue and hosting organization that has been working with Maui Humane Society and Hawai‘i Animal Rescue Foundation in responding to medical needs, rescue efforts, identification, and reunification for cats in Lahaina, including transport of identified cats to neighbor islands and the continental U.S. if families have relocated. KCF has 30 microchip scanners and volunteers in Lahaina working to scan the estimated 500-700 loose cats in the area.

Leilani Farm Sanctuary (8/14/23) - $5,000
Leilani Farm Sanctuary, located on an 8-acre farm in Haʻikū, provides food, shelter, and veterinary care for rescued animals. Most recently, the organization has received a call about eight giant land tortoises that need safe refuge due to the wildfires. The sanctuary anticipates an increase in animals that need help and will need to bring in additional help to support special care for these animals. Grant funding will go toward feed costs, medication, temporary staffing, and shelter costs.

Maui Humane Society (8/11/23) - $250,000
The Maui Humane Society (MHS) is committed to addressing the animal displacement and injuries resulting from the Maui fires. The organization is receiving animal victims with burns and the effects of smoke inhalation, pets found lost, or those who need housing since the owner’s home was lost. While shelters are open, many displaced pet owners are living out of cars with their pets in need of support, food, and medication. Temporary housing for pets has become a key priority that will directly support families dealing with the loss of their homes.

Maui Youth Rodeo (10/20/23) - $54,000
During the fires, more than 100 horses and 80 goats and pigs were housed at Ka’ono’ulu Ranch-Oskie Rice Arena. Some were returned if barns and homes were not burned, but there are over 100 animals still in these areas. MYRO is partnering with Ka’ono’ulu Ranch, Maui Humane Society, Makawao Vet, and other neighboring ranches in relief efforts to support these animals. Funds will support shipping and costs to purchase feed, hay, and cubes for horses and livestock still displaced by the Upcountry fires. Ka’ono’ulu Ranch will provide all the staff and machines needed to unload and distribute feed from containers.

Baby and Maternal Care

Aloha Diaper Bank (8/11/23) - $100,000
Aloha Diaper Bank is purchasing two containers of diapers, wipes, and critical supplies and shipping them to Maui, where these supplies will be delivered door-to-door to families of low-income, the unhoused, and others in crisis. Aloha Diaper Bank is working closely with Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, the National Guard and other grassroots partners to get the diapers into the hands of those with the most urgent need. The organization anticipates delivering diaper assistance to more than 4,000 families.

Baby2Baby (8/17/23) - $20,000
Baby2Baby (B2B) is partnering with local organizations Aloha Diaper Bank and Pacific Birth Collective to ensure families have supplies. B2B is focusing its work now on the first six weeks post-fires, trying to get supplies where they are needed. It flew a cargo plane to Maui with requested supplies the day after the fires, and then another one on August 15, a week later. Funds will be used to buy supplies and transport them to the Maui organizations. The most requested items are diapers, wipes, hygiene products, formula, and baby food. Distribution partners are Aloha Diaper Bank, Pacific Birth Collective, Maui Rapid Response, and Maui Food Bank.

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaiʻi - $250,000
Awarded 8/11/23 - $100,000
Awarded 8/30/23 - $150,000
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHBC) is a designated disaster relief site working with Direct Relief to deploy emergency medical backpacks for triage care and distribution of medical supplies. The organization’s Mana Mama Mobile has been shipped to Maui to be used as a vital medical resource on-site in Lahaina. Key partners in this effort include the National Guard, the Red Cross, and grassroots partners assessing medical needs and distributing supplies. In addition, HMHBC is providing direct resources and remote clinical guidance and support through a 24/7 telehealth line. HMHBC will remain on Maui to ensure women's health gaps are filled as long-term recovery continues. Funds will support staff time, travel, accommodations, shipment and operation of the mobile clinic, on-island transportation costs, supplies, and more.

Pacific Birth Collective (8/14/23) - $150,000
Pacific Birth Collective is establishing a mobile unit dedicated to providing essential care and support to pregnant, birthing, and postpartum families currently displaced and negatively impacted. The mobile unit will transport medical supplies and other necessities while responding to needs in Lahaina and Kahakuloa with door-to-door medical support. The organization has already brought in a pediatrician for health care needs in Lahaina, but staff have been using their own vehicles. The mobile unit will provide much needed maternal, child, and general medical support during this crisis response effort.

Child Care

Maui Family YMCA - $451,884
Awarded 9/27/23 - $250,000
Awarded 1/12/24 - $102,780
Awarded 7/12/24 - $99,104
The Department of Education (DOE) recognizes a need to provide enrichment programs and activities to the K-8th grade youth through the fall break, before schools return students to campuses in Lahaina. The DOE is working with the Hawai'i Afterschool Alliance (HAA) to implement a coordinated approach to activate community-based organizations that can provide programming in areas of Maui where displaced families have re-settled. As one of these organizations, Maui YMCA implemented a day camp program at the Westin Kā’anapali for over 200 youth temporarily housed there, with programming supported by initial funding.

The second award supported Maui Family YMCA’s daycare program through the first quarter of 2024 at the Royal Lahaina Hotel, where it hopes to remain until a permanent location is secured. The third award supports Maui Family YMSA’s West Side Summer Camp program for children ages 5-12, a direct response to a need identified by the DOE and one of the only day camp options for working parents on the West Side of Maui.

Children and Family

Albion SC Hawaii (9/6/23) - $10,000
The Maui United Soccer Club dba Albion SC Hawaii is supporting over 60 youth players who have lost everything. The organization has been coordinating support with direct communication and has confirmed about a third of its members face significant losses due to the fire. With these funds, the club will waive training fees to ensure that the youth can continue playing soccer. It will also replace all gameday and training gear for the youth players.

Alexander Academy Performing Company (11/3/23) - $39,326
Awarded 11/3/23 - $16,510
Awarded 3/1/23- $22,816
Alexander Academy Performing Company (AAPC) is a well-known and well-respected dance studio in Upcountry Maui with 275 students from age three to adult. Funds support a program serving West Maui and Upcountry families with scholarships for classes, rehearsals, and performance fees for students and families affected by the fires, with a small portion going towards dance clothes and shoes for scholarship recipients, who report that the classes are bringing them joy and relief. The program also provides free tickets for those affected by the fires.

Aloha Volleyball Association (11/27/23) - $41,400
Aloha Volleyball Association (AVA) has been providing indoor volleyball and beach volleyball instruction and competition opportunities to youth on Maui for 19 years, serving more than 100 youths per year, including many players who have gone on to college and professional volleyball careers. Funds will be used to support scholarships to increase access for youth from Maui to participate by covering AVA dues, including Lahaina Resident scholarships for families directly impacted by the fires and Maui Resident scholarships for students from Maui whose families are facing financial burdens in the aftermath of the fires.

Ball Out 'Ohana Maui Youth Foundation (8/30/23) - $10,000
Ball Out is a nonprofit organization based out of Lahaina serving over 300 youth with agricultural, athletic, and mentoring programs. The organization is providing youth from Lahaina who have resettled in West Maui with opportunities for mentoring services and engagement programs including sports, agriculture experiences, culture and crafting programs, and academic supplies. Youth will be provided a different activity each week to help foster growth and enrichment in the community.

Book Trust (8/2/24) - $41,980
With a mission to provide all children with equitable access to books of their choice to promote reading motivation and engagement, Book Trust is operating programming for students to choose books from the Scholastic Book Club flyer, at no cost, to ensure that 400 students at King Kamehameha III Elementary can grow their personal libraries and engage in regular reading. Funding supports programming for the 2024-2025 school year. Book Trust is a statewide program across Hawaiʻi’s public schools and serves about 4,000 students on Maui, overseen by a Maui-based development officer.

Boys & Girls Club Maui (8/18/23) - $100,000
The Boys & Girls Club Maui (BGCM) lost its Lahaina clubhouse and van in the fire—this location served over 200 members. The organization has pivoted its work to provide mobile services in response to the displacement of residents from Lahaina and is dedicating staff to ensure programs are available to children outside of school time. The mobile outreach services include youth activities and programs in public spaces and at approved school locations. These mobile services will also include resource distribution including educational and school supplies and daily healthy snacks and drinks; one established site is already serving 40 youth. The organization anticipates a current and increased need for these services to support families as they exit the shelters for housing placement in different parts of the island.

Child & Family Service (11/27/23) - $150,000
Child & Family Service (CFS) is a Hawaii-born, impact-driven, community-based organization with a mission to strengthen families and foster the healthy development of children. Funding supports CFS’ Neighborhood Place of Wailuku program that provides essential resources to the community, offering anyone affected by the fires outreach, linkage, and financial assistance to fill unmet needs for information and referrals, basic necessities, temporary kitchen supplies, housing transition expenses coverage, support for insurance claims and transportation-related expenses, and expenses for child care, car seats, cribs, formula, clothing, hygienic supplies, keiki activities, and more. The program’s goal is to maintain or strengthen child, individual, and family functioning for those navigating the aftermath of the fires, utilizing its network of contacts from other providers and agencies to ensure those with unmet needs are connected to resources.

ClimbHI (8/23/24) - $47,050
Established in 2009, ClimbHI seeks to inspire students to finish high school and proceed to post-secondary education or employment by educating them about future career paths in Hawai‘i and the process necessary to achieve those goals. Lahainaluna High School and Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) are partnering with ClimbHI to offer the Poʻokela Program, a youth Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program built into the school week for all Lahainaluna sophomores. Overseen by MEMA, youth CERT trains volunteers in disaster preparedness and emergency response skills. The program will engage more than 200 students with a CERT curriculum for youth focused on skills and knowledge to feel safe in the event of a disaster.

Downtown Athletic Club of Hawai‘i (9/15/23) - $100,000
In partnership with the Lahainaluna High School (LHS) athletic director, coaches, and administrators, the Downtown Athletic Club of Hawai‘i is supporting LHS student athletes so that they may participate in sporting events for the academic year to come. Providing the proper equipment to safely practice and participate will bolster student athletes’ motivation, increase their connectivity, and ensure access to the mental health benefits that team sports instill.

Early Childhood Action Strategy, with fiscal sponsor Collaborative Support Services (4/1/24) - $210,250
Collaborative Support Services houses the Early Childhood Action Strategy Network, which has the mission of bringing together government and non-governmental organizations to align priorities for children prenatal to age 8, and to strengthen and integrate the early childhood system by streamlining services, maximizing resources, and improving programs to support our youngest keiki. This Maui Strong Fund grant will support the hiring of a full-time Maui Early Childhood Wildfire Recovery Coordinator for two years. The coordinator will work closely with the Maui County Early Childhood Resource Center to help coordinate relief efforts among nonprofits, the County of Maui, the state, and federal partners, all contributing to relief programming for those impacted by the fires. This position will partner with over two dozen providers, and help to streamline data collection, relief efforts, solutions, and outreach to ensure resources and information are well distributed.

EPIC 'Ohana Inc. (8/23/23) - $10,000
EPIC 'Ohana Inc.'s Maui-based HI HOPES Leadership Board distributes gift cards to current and recently aged-out foster youth to support their recovery from the fires on Maui. The foster youth community is faced with significantly fewer support systems as a result of experiences in the child welfare system. EPIC 'Ohana’s Maui leadership team is uniquely positioned to fill this need for the approximately 50 families who were displaced and 30 young adult former foster youth who were directly impacted. This network is in direct communication with families and young adults as they are re-settled into new housing.

Family Hui Hawai'i (1/12/24) - $233,785
Family Hui Hawaiʻi (FHH) is operating the Cultivating ‘Ohana Resilience: Building Strong Families with Young Keiki through Connection and Support program. Through this program, FHH will expand its capacity to provide hui parenting support group sessions to strengthen families and increase protective factors. FHH will supplement programs by creating and distributing mālama resiliency take-home kits that provide parents with tools to manage stress in their families (both their own and for their keiki), extend learning at home, and increase family well-being. Program offerings are intended to serve all Maui families, regardless of geographic location, as all have been affected directly or indirectly. In particular, FHH intends that families from West Maui have access to its programs by providing support through partners at the Nāpili Park Hub, as well as access in Kīhei, Kula, and across Maui where families have relocated.

Friends of Children’s Justice Center on Maui - $40,000
Awarded 8/14/23 - $20,000
Awarded 9/15/23 - $20,000
The Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui (FCJCM) is working to help at least 130 of its youth clients who have been displaced by the fires, providing clothing, bedding, and personal hygiene for the youth. FCJCM will provide gift cards to first responders, governmental agencies and other social service agencies dealing directly with its youth to purchase the needed items. FCJCM will also provide financial assistance for its youth clients. The organization is working with Hale Pono, a youth shelter, to assist with housing.

Hana Arts (5/17/24) - $25,000
In partnership with Fuzz Box Productions, Hana Arts is hosting three Family Movie Night events at West Maui hotels, including the Aston Ka‘anapali and Royal Lahaina, both of which are accommodating displaced families in Lahaina. These events offer families an opportunity for relaxation, entertainment, and artistic expression amidst challenging circumstances. Fire-affected families can gather to watch family-friendly movies and participate in accompanying art activities led by local artists.

Honolulu Ki Society (11/9/23) - $23,540
The Honolulu Ki Society is a 70-year-old organization that teaches the art of Ki-Aikido in Honolulu and Lahaina. The fires destroyed their Lahaina Dojo, located in the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, along with their training mats, equipment, supplies, and memorabilia. Seeking to heal and unite the community through practice and friendship, the organization was holding classes in local parks but now, having secured a temporary location in Lahaina, they will use funds to help equip and furnish their new space, where they have already restarted weekly classes. Funds will also cover some rent and the quarterly visits of a master instructor (sensei).

Hope Chapel Maui (12/15/23) - $10,000
On Saturday, December 16, 2023, Hope Chapel Maui hosted "Hope for Christmas," a day of making new Christmas memories, crafts, family photos, music, food, and free gifts for 130 children and their families whose housing was affected by the fires. Funding supported gifts for children and families, ensuring that fire-affected families were given an opportunity to celebrate the holiday.

Horizons Academy of Maui (3/15/24) - $45,838
Horizons Academy of Maui has been providing special education services for children on Maui since 1997. This grant is supporting the continuity of services provided to Maui youth with autism who have been affected by the fires. Due to decreased attendance as a direct result of the fire, the state Department of Education is no longer providing Horizons with financial support for its services. There is currently a gap in available services on Maui for children with autism and developmental or intellectual disabilities, and Horizons will continue to provide services to families directly impacted by the fires.

Island of Hawai‘i YMCA (2/9/24) - $8,850
The Lahainaluna High School Ka Papa Hula o Lahainaluna class is participating in two performances as a part of the 2024 61st Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. The class performs at the Royal Parade event, engages in cultural activities, and tours the University of Hawai‘i-Hilo. Funds support 17 youth and four chaperones to participate.

Kahākūkahi Foundation (5/6/24) - $245,000
Kahākūkahi, which aims to cultivate a learning environment that introduces youth to ocean sports, stewardship, and the importance of nurturing a harmonious relationship with the kai and ʻāina, has been hosting Kahākūkahi Ocean Academies (KOA) across West Maui nearly weekly since the August 2023 fires. Support for the KOA program will ensure that the organization can serve the West Maui fire-affected community at Honokahua Bay with daily public interactions, weekday after-school programming, monthly KOA events, and co-hosting a variety of community events. The organization provides a healing space for those who have faced trauma and incorporates the six guiding principles of trauma-informed care in its programming. Funds will support program equipment, staffing, supplies, and administrative costs.

Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation (9/20/24) - $50,000
Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation was founded in 1996 with a mission to ensure children have access to high-quality books in the home environment and extensive family engagement support. To provide literacy tools to address the reading educational gaps for West Maui pre-K and kindergarten aged youth and their families, the organization's Always Reading program will provide resources at public schools in Lahaina, including distribution of tablets and subscriptions to its e-library, including parent trainings and videos in English and Chuukese, all of which are accessible at home, so that the whole family can be engaged.

Learning Endeavors (9/8/23) - $20,000
Learning Endeavors (LE) is an education nonprofit based in Kīhei. It specializes in place-based science experiences, including field studies/trips and curricula that incorporate technology, the arts, multiple science fields, and more. Current program offerings include weekend events, intercession camps, workshops, and afterschool activities. LE is expanding its offerings for families impacted by the fires both in Kīhei and West Maui. Funds will cover scholarships for families enrolling in programs, educational events, a lecture series, and Saturday events for keiki in Lahaina. LE can provide virtual and hybrid learning experiences for students who have transportation barriers.

Maui Family YMCA - $3,066,000
8/30/23 - $66,000
5/6/24 - $3,000,000
Maui Family YMCA (YMCA) is located in Kahului and has been an active site for displaced individuals and families since immediately after the fires. YMCA noted a continuous need to provide basic necessities in tandem with the emerging long-term needs of housing, education, childcare, and employment for those affected. With initial support, YMCA expanded its facility hours to offer free, essential services like showers, internet access, childcare, health and wellness programs, and access to the entire YMCA facility, free of charge to residents in need, with extended hours in effect seven days a week. Funding covered additional staffing costs for new hires, maintenance and utilities, supplies, and expanded cleaning services. Subsequent funding supports Maui Family YMCA’s establishment of the West Maui Child and Family Resource Hub, a multi-purpose center for community organizations to provide services and resources to fire-affected families with children in West Maui. The award leverages an anonymous donation, providing the cost for the lease, and ensures that social services and other supports from at least half a dozen nonprofit organizations providing family-centered resources in this cooperative space near the mid-to-long-term housing projects will be accessible and continuous.

Maui Hui Mālama (8/11/23) - $75,000
Maui Hui Mālama (MHM) is providing relief to families experiencing displacement from the fires, including food, basic-need supplies, and gas and grocery gift cards as direct support. The organization will also host family support days for displaced families to come together to share a meal and be in community, and for parents to find respite through coordinated keiki activities. MHM is working to provide activities and build positive memories for keiki impacted by the wildfires with its trauma-informed care approach.

Maui Junior Golf Association (3/1/24) - $25,000
Maui Junior Golf Association (MJGA) programs help Maui youth by building camaraderie and enhancing youth golf skills so they may grow and compete. More than 30 percent of MJGA members are from West Maui and were affected by the Lahaina fires. To provide opportunities for normalcy, the organization uses funding to support scholarships for fire-affected families seeking to participate in the 2024 season, with key partners Lahaina Junior Golf and First Tee Hawai‘i.

Maui Music Mission (6/28/24) - $54,615
Maui Music Mission (MMM) is a Lahaina-based nonprofit organization that provides local keiki with access to music lessons, connections to the Hawaiian tradition of kanikapila, and opportunities to perform in public spaces. Funds will support the After School Music Club, which provides afterschool extracurricular activities serving Lahaina students aged 7-12 with 45-minute lessons twice a week at Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary, King Kamehameha III Elementary, Sacred Hearts Maui, and Hawaiʻi Technology Academy’s Lahaina campus. Instruments and transportation are provided during class and rental ukuleles are available for students who do not have their own instrument for home practice. Since August, the enrollment has grown to more than 50 students.

Maui Preparatory Academy (9/22/23) - $250,000
Maui Preparatory Academy (MPA) is a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade private school located in Nāpili. Its campus survived the fires, but due to its close proximity to the disaster area, MPA is enrolling educationally displaced students, the vast majority of whom were directly affected by the fires. Funding helps support their tuition and complete educational needs. This includes desks and chairs, paper products, and other supplies necessary for schooling, as well as support for preschool, teacher aids, paraprofessionals, and a licensed clinical social worker to help students affected by the fires with their particular emergent and evolving academic and emotional needs as they progress through the school year.

Maui Public Art Corps with fiscal sponsor Lōkahi Pacific - $25,424
Awarded 8/24/23 - $5,000
Awarded 10/20/23- $20,424
With a mission to connect people, place, and story through the development of exceptional public art, Maui Public Art Corps bolsters cultural and economic growth throughout distinct Maui neighborhoods while developing healthy, socially connected citizens. August 24 funding supported the organization’s Sticker Buffets, where designs contributed by over 100 local artists and turned into stickers by Maui Public Art Corps were offered at events at schools and other community locations where children could select stickers and customize water bottles and backpacks provided by donors, offering a creative outlet to help youth regain a sense of ownership, identity, and normalcy during this challenging time.

Since then, the organization facilitated a sticker café where 600 students from ʻĪao Intermediate School, Baldwin High School, Maui Waena Intermediate School, and Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School created their own art work, submitting more than 600 sticker designs. Maui Public Art Corps will scan and print the new stickers to use at upcoming Sticker Buffets. In addition, Maui Public Art Corps, with ‘Āina Archaeology and Goodfellows Bros, will partner to install construction fencing around the site with the student art printed on the mesh fencing. Creating an art installation at the highly visible perimeter surrounding the site of reconstruction, highlighting student artwork inspired by the theme “Maui Strong” with a goal to offer hope and protection to the Maui community for the 6-12 months the fencing will be up during ongoing fire cleanup efforts in Lahaina. Funds will be used for printing, delivery, and a small administrative cost.

Maui Youth & Family Services (8/22/23) - $175,000
Maui Youth and Family Services (MYFS) staff immediately responded to families by being present at shelters and connecting with students. MYFS counselors staff most public schools with and serve the families as needed. These funds will support staffing and transportation costs for counselors providing services, as well as pop-up counseling sites where survivors are gathering and where resources are distributed, including Nāpili Plaza, Lahaina Gateway Mall, and Kāʻanapali hotels. MYFS is working closely with the Department of Education to coordinate where counseling is needed in school, after school, and in communities around the island wherever Lahaina families have re-settled. Among their offerings, MYFS will have three staff dedicated to mental health needs for West Maui adolescents.

Mountain Fountain Creations - $75,000
Awarded 10/20/23 - $40,000
Awarded 3/8/24- $35,000
Mountain Fountain Creations, dba Discovery Art for Youth, is a Colorado-based nonprofit organization founded in 2013 that works closely with counselors, teachers, and leaders caring for children and youth. Discovery Art for Youth recently utilized its coloring books to support students impacted by fires in Colorado and, in response to the Maui fires, it created a new art-for-healing book titled “Discover Maui, Hawaiʻi,” that includes coloring pages and reflection activities. The founding director of the organization traveled to Maui and provided training to counselors and behavioral health specialists on how to use the book as a healing tool. Vetted and approved by the Hawai‘i Department of Education, 10,000 copies of the book have been printed and distributed to Maui schools, health care organizations, and hubs, with more schools on a waiting list to receive it. Initial funding supported an additional 20,000 books, utilizing Maui Printing Co., based in Wailuku, to manage printing and delivery to Maui schools, where school counselors and behavioral health specialists will distribute and use the books with students. Subsequent funding supports printing of an additional 15,000 copies of an updated version of the book based on feedback from Maui's community of teachers, families, counselors and children.

Native Hawaiian Philanthropy (8/14/23) - $85,000
Native Hawaiian Philanthropy is providing backbone support to four nonprofit partners supporting 50 children displaced from King Kamehameha III Elementary School. This effort is being led by the school’s parent/teach organization, Laeula o Kai Canoe Club, Hālau Makana Aloha o Ka Lauaʻe, and Aumana. The families of these students have been placed in homes with other Maui families, and are being navigated to new school systems and connected with direct support services from various agencies. These four nonprofit organization partners are now managing this network of families to ensure they are cared for and have the right resources.

Pacific Whale Foundation (12/1/23) - $140,000
The mission of the Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) is to inspire environmental stewardship and protect the ocean through science and advocacy. The organization conducts research, education, and conservation programs out of its facility in Ma’alaea and formerly out of Lahaina Harbor. Funds will support: PWF’s Keiki Engagement and Education program, including a new series of For Da Keiki events that provide education and resource fairs at Ma’alaea Harbor Shops; scholarships for displaced keiki to participate in Ocean Camp and Keiki Whalewatch; and weekly afterschool programs that are offered at Boys & Girls Club locations.

Partners in Development Foundation - $2,108,434
Awarded 8/30/23 - $108,434
Awarded 12/05/23 - $250,000
Awarded 4/11/24 - $1,750,000 - funded through the Maui Strong Fund at HCF, and the Bezos Family Foundation
Initial funding supports Partners in Development Foundation’s (PIDF’s) mobile Tutu and Me program to support families with young children on Maui. The program is portable, changing locations as needed to help respond to demand for services from families in crisis; staff are actively serving families in Kula, Lahaina, Kīhei, and Upcountry and can visit hotels to deliver services. PIDF has rotated staff from neighbor islands and hired Maui-based teachers who lost their jobs to fulfill staffing needs as well as providing direct resources through its Wailuku donation hub, and full family-focused programming for Maui ‘ohana with young children, 0-5 years old. Subsequent funding supports PIDF’s expansion of Ka Pa‘alana programming on Maui, scaling to address unmet needs for families recovering from the impacts of the fires on their lives and livelihoods. The culturally grounded, trauma-informed Family-Child Interaction Learning program is expanding services to ensure the mobile preschool can meet essential, uncontested community need on Maui. Funds will support increased staffing, travel, equipment, contracts for services, and other operating costs to ensure program continuity and availability for two years.

Pili Kaiaulu Corp (4/19/24) - $75,000
Pili Kaiaulu Corp's mission is to increase family strengths, build resilience, encourage healing, and reduce the risk factors that lead to problematic behaviors in high-risk children, including emotional, academic, and social problems. In advocating for parents, the organization will help parents better understand the challenges they are faced with and empower them with the skills and resources needed to overcome them. Pili Kaiaulu is offering a program that consists of seven 3-week long cycles that engage families in skills development, assessment tools, and discussions. The youth portion of the program involves life skills using experiential exercises and processing and includes childcare on nights with parent group lessons. Funds ensure the program is accessible as referrals come in to support at least 100 fire-affected families seeking additional support.

ProFormance Hawaiʻi Association (4/5/24) - $5,080
PROFormance Hawaiʻi Association (PHA) is a Hawaiʻi-based nonprofit with a mission to use basketball as a platform to promote and develop the next generation of Hawaiʻi’s leaders through competition, teamwork, and community service. To address the gap in opportunity and access to skill building in the sport that many young women experience, PHA’s Girls Basketball Program serves Hawaiʻi’s young women with a goal of providing access to collegiate opportunities that otherwise would be inaccessible due to cost or lack of awareness. In 2024, the organization has the opportunity to participate in the Nike Shoe Circuit (Elite Youth Champions League - EYCL), a series of three basketball tournaments providing experience and exposure for young girls. This is the first time a Hawaiʻi-based team has been invited and sponsored to participate. Funds provided will cover the travel costs of at least one fire-displaced student athlete from Maui to participate in the tournament.

Real Ongoing Opportunities To Soar Inc. dba Roots School (10/27/23) - $148,700
Located in Haiku, Maui, Roots School is an independent pre K-6th grade school established in 2006 that has partnered with Noa’s Arc Foundation and Hawaiʻi Wildlife Discovery Center (HWDC) to create an out-of-school-time program for students impacted by the Maui wildfires who signed up for distance learning with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education. Serving 30-40 students weekly since October, the partnership seeks to expand through December to serve approximately 200 students, divided into age-appropriate groups and rotated between various learning stations at the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Discovery Center’s learning resource center in Kāʻanapali.

Rebuild Maui.Org (3/12/24) - $10,000
Rebuild Maui.Org is dedicated to fostering resilience, health, and well-being among Maui's youth through engaging, meaningful programs that promote physical, emotional, and social development. The organization is hosting a pilot event called MYHAP Maui Flow Fest, designed to serve all youth in grades 9-12 across Maui to provide a community engagement event as a part of targeted youth mental health efforts. Funds will support the costs for operating the event, with leveraged support from The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua and other community partners.

Unda Kava 808 (3/1/24) - $56,675
Unda Kava 808 is housing the Maui Junior Voyagers Program that provides Maui youth with an opportunity to connect with and deepen their understanding of traditional Hawai‘i voyaging and wayfinding, celestial navigation, ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i cultural protocol, team building, service learning, and basic sailing skills. The program halted when the canoe, Holopuni, was lost to the fires. This funding will support replacement of lost equipment and some staffing to restart programming for 450 students across Maui.

Village of Hope Maui (8/17/23) - $10,000
Village of Hope Maui is supporting relief efforts for displaced children and families by providing “relief backpacks” filled with supplies and essentials (clothing, first aid kits, reusable water bottles, etc.). The organization has already been providing “journey bags” to foster children transitioning to their caregivers, so the key partners and resources are already in place. Families and individuals provide a list of what they need, and the organization's sponsors and volunteers will fill a backpack with those items and deliver to the family. Village of Hope is working with churches, community groups, businesses, and through social media to connect its resources to those in need.

YWCA of Oʻahu (11/9/23) - $80,000
Founded in 1942, YWCA of Oʻahu is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. It has expanded its services to Maui, offering Adult & Youth Leadership Development, Workforce Recovery, Economic Advancement, and Youth Leadership programs. It also oversees the Take a Kid Fishing (TKF) program, a free ocean stewardship and mentorship program for Maui youth ages 7-12 from Lahaina and West Maui. The program was sponsored by the West Maui Sports and Fishing Supply company, which lost its storefront in the Lahaina Fires. TKF is held on Saturdays at D.T. Fleming Beach Park, with permission from the County of Maui, offering a four-hour program that includes traditional oli, beach cleanup, introduction to fishing and fishing supplies, fish identification, knot tying, introduction to snorkeling and free diving, reef awareness, breathing techniques, arts and crafts, and education in resource management and environmental stewardship. All participating youth come from families affected by the fires, having lost family members, homes, schools, jobs, or businesses. Funding supports personnel costs, travel, program supplies, fishing equipment, contracted instructors, and other direct costs.

Food, Supplies, and Resource Hubs

A Cup of Cold Water (8/14/23) - $10,000
A Cup of Cold Water (ACCW) is a community car/van outreach program formed by the ministry of the Episcopal Churches of Maui in partnership with the Wailuku and Kahului Hongwanjis. ACCW has been providing unsheltered people with water, food, clothes, hygiene items, slippers, sheets, towels, blankets, pet food, tarps, and much more. It has been asked by the Maui County Mayor’s Office to help take supplies to people in Nāpili.

Aloft - $182,700
Awarded 9/8/23 - $90,000
Awarded 2/23/24 - $92,700
Aloft Charity is a nonprofit working with a group of community members and volunteers on Maui who are operating meal distribution services. Initial funding supported distribution of at least 300 meals per day at S-Turns Hub in West Maui. The organization partnered with a local food truck operator to cook on-site, where nearly 6,500 meals had been distributed in the first 20 days of operations since the fires. Subsequent funding allows Aloft to continue supporting Coconut Grove Catering in their efforts to provide hot meals to displaced and affected West Maui families. Run by Kanamu Balinbin (Uncle Kanamu) and Mrs. Brittany Mollena, Coconut Grove Catering has been using Kaipo’s Food Truck to distribute up to 300 meals per day at Pohaku Park, Canoe Beach, and Nāpili Noho. With help from in-kind donations, the organization has been assisted with commercial space, beef and produce from neighboring islands, and volunteers to transport and serve the food.

Citizen Church Maui (8/30/23) - $50,000
Citizen Church Maui is actively supporting Lahaina residents impacted by the fires through meal distribution (3,000 meals per day), essential resources, grief support, and temporary shelter assistance. The organization is also providing 300 grocery boxes weekly to families in need. It is partnering with Mercy Chefs, which has provided access to a commercial kitchen. With support, it will continue to provide water, food boxes, essential items, household assistance, and 300-500 meals weekly. These funds will be used to hire displaced individuals to fill much-needed positions to fulfill its food distribution activities.

Common Ground Collective - $637,450
Awarded 8/14/23 - $200,000
Awarded 1/12/24 - $155,000
Awarded 6/14/24 - $282,450
Common Ground Collective (CGC) provides education and assistance to promote food security, economic and educational opportunities in Maui County. Initial funding supported Common Ground Collective (CGC) in filling a gap for the Salvation Army (SA), which normally prepares meals for the Red Cross shelters. However, the SA facility was lost in the fire and CGC has stepped in to support the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College and Chef Hui in preparing meals. In an intermediary role, CGC purchased the supplies and refrigerated trucks and also coordinated with Chef Hui, the Maui College, SA and shelters to get food to those in the shelters. CGC also served as a backbone to World Central Kitchen until all organizations were certified to support themselves.

A second award funded the Maui Emergency Feeding Taskforce (MEFT), a program started by CGC, with the support of a contracted consulting team, to address the critical issue of food insecurity and feed members of the West Maui community who were either displaced or lost their jobs to the Maui Fires of 2023. The mission of MEFT is to help support immediate relief and sustainable solutions to meet the needs of individuals and families facing hunger and food-related challenges, by helping to coordinate with the people and organizations doing the work within the Maui community. Funds went towards the backbone operation and development of an emergency feeding effort inclusive of mapping, data collection, communication, and planning in support of full resource coordination across agencies and organizations.

In 2023, through the Maui Fire Relief Hot Meal Program, a transformative initiative to provide swift relief and comfort to those affected by the disaster, CGC helped with the logistics, funding, procurement, and distribution of over 240,000 hot meals and helped to curate and distribute over 15,400 food boxes filled with fresh, local produce purchased from Maui farmers and local distributors. CGC’s third award will support continued food supply purchases in collaboration with Westside Community Resource Hubs to provide direct assistance and aid to families in recovery. Maui Strong Funds are leveraged by several key partners, including government funds as well as private philanthropy grants for disaster response.

Feed My Sheep (10/20/23) - $250,000
Feed My Sheep is a local non-profit organization that fulfills its mission to provide the local community with nutritious, locally-sourced food by transporting supplies, equipment, and food to local distribution centers and community hubs in Kahana, Kahului, Kīhei, and Wailuku on a weekly basis and in Hana on a monthly basis. Funding will be used to purchase produce and meat from local farmers and ranchers, and canned foods and dry goods from local distributors, as well as delivery-related transportation costs, to support continued efforts to provide healthy foods to community members across Maui.

Fresh Help Maui with fiscal sponsor Changing Tides Foundation (7/5/24) - $75,600
Fresh Help Maui (FHM) was formed to provide assistance to Maui residents and small businesses, providing over 23,500 pounds of local fish for Maui fire survivors since August 2023. Funds will ensure that FHM can distribute an additional 4,000 pounds of fish to nearly 1,000 individuals from more than 200 households directly impacted by the fires. Fish purchases support local fisherman, allowing one of Maui’s many food systems a chance at recovery following the fire's disruption of the industry.

Friends of Hawai'i Technology Academy (4/19/24) - $50,000
Hawai'i Technology Academy (HTA) is a tuition-free, Western Association of Schools and Colleges-accredited public charter school established in 2008, that aims to transform education to meet the demands of an ever-changing world. It is currenly serving 110 students and families that were directly affected by Lahaina wildfires, some of whom are still in transitional housing or are houseless and 76 percent of whom are qualified for free and reduced lunch in the 2023-2024 school year. (HTA does not receive funding to provide free or reduced lunch but the need is still present.) Funds provided to Friends of HTA will support a portion of meals for the Spring and Fall school year in 2024.

Hawai‘i Agritourism Association (9/6/23) - $135,000
The Hawai‘i Agritourism Association (HATA) is partnering with GoFarm Hawai‘i, the Hō‘ea Initiative, Chef Hui, and other farmers and practitioners. With these funds the organization will buy food from local farmers and restaurants to create easy-to-prepare meal kits with local recipes. Kits will be delivered to West Maui and Upcountry distribution sites to get to families and individuals in need. HATA is working closely with community organizations to ensure people impacted by the fires have access to the deliveries.

Hawai‘i Farmer's Union Foundation (9/6/23) - $125,000
The Hawai‘i Farmers Union Foundation supports the Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, serving Maui for the past six years. Funding supports emergency relief for families, farmer and rancher support systems, purchase of local produce to help feed families, and mental health access for members and others in need. Overall the farming and ranching industry was impacted directly and this funding will support the infrastructure and capacity for the food systems to serve community needs.

Hoʻopili Farmers Association (8/14/23) - $10,000
The Hoʻopili Farmers Association is working to ship much-needed supplies from Moloka‘i to Maui. It is purchasing fresh produce from Molokaʻi farmers to send over, and coordinating with others on Molokaʻi, including hunters, fishers, and nonprofits, to get additional goods together for shipment. The organization is working in partnership with the nonprofit Lāpule o Hina to gather supplies, as well as coordinating with the Molokaʻi community.

Hua Momona Foundation - $325,000
9/8/23 - $150,000
2/23/24 - $175,000
Hua Momona Foundation is the nonprofit arm of the Hua Momona Farms located in Kapalua, West Maui, which has a network including Local Harvest (50 growers) and its own farm as resources for fresh produce. Initial funding supported the primary work of Hua Momona, to acquire and prepare meals that are distributed by local partners like Hawai‘i’s Hungry Heroes to West Maui residents affected by the fire who cannot find food, cannot afford to buy food, or who do not want to leave their homes. Anticipating an increase in food demand when relief organizations exit West Maui, subsequent funding supports continued meal production and distribution to fill in the gap for families experiencing food insecurity.

Hui O Wa'a Kaulua (12/15/23) - $100,000
A Maui-based non-profit providing voyaging programs for the past 48 years, Hui O Wa’a Kaulua (the Hui) expanded its services after the devastating fires on August 8, 2023, to include a Distribution Fire Relief Hub with a mission to have a healthy, productive, safe Hawaiʻi. In operation with paid and volunteer staff since August, the hub’s expenses have been covered by donors wanting to assist with fire relief efforts. Through a partnership with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, the Hui has helped unload and distribute 40 containers worth of donated goods and supported hubs and organized community group efforts across Maui. Funds will support staffing, transportation costs, rental fees for disposal needs, food, supplies, and outreach.

Hungry Heroes Hawai‘i with fiscal sponsor Enviro Community Living Center (2/23/24) - $159,000
Enviro Community Living Center's Hungry Heroes Hawai‘i (HHH) program is currently helping to support the delivery of 100,000 meals per month for Maui residents in need. Funds will support the operation of the organization’s food distribution program for one month, including purchasing produce, dry goods, engaging restaurant partners for preparing meals, and transportation support for staff and volunteer drivers.

In His House of Restoration Church - $15,000
Awarded 8/14/23 - $5,000
Awarded 8/25/23 - $10,000
In His House of Restoration Church (IHH) is a registered distribution site for the Maui Food Bank in Maui Lani Village Center, Kahului. In this first week of the disaster response, it has housed 40 to 50 displaced people, both locals and visitors. It is also providing each person supplies, including clothing, blankets, water, and non-perishable food. IHH has also taken supplies into Honokōwai and distributed them to affected families there. Grant funds will go toward the purchase of additional supplies. In addition, the church is installing a commercial grade ice machine to serve demands for ice, primarily across West Maui but also meeting needs in Kahului, Wailuku, Kīhei and Kula. Transportation of ice will be ensured through partnerships in the community.

Kaialahui Foundation - $144,500
Awarded 9/6/23 - $20,000
Awarded 6/14/24 - $124,500
Founded by the Pahia ‘ohana, Maui-based Kaialahui Foundation is the nonprofit, community, and education-based partner to Hawai‘i Taro Farm, a 350-acre farm in Waikapū that hosts and provides direct support to 25 Native Hawaiian, Filipino, and Tongan farmers. Between September 22 and November 16, 2023, initial funding supported the Kaialahui Foundation in aggregating and distributing more than 2,700 pounds of nutritionally dense, culturally appropriate foods to 500+ vulnerable families in West Maui. Subsequent funding supports the aggregation and distribution of 24,000 pounds to more than 3,000 fire survivors, bolstering the economic resilience of 36 taro producers on Maui. This program ensures that Maui’s farming and food systems are sustained and reinforced in the wake of the fire's disruption.

Kaiaulu Kanaka with fiscal sponsor Enviro Community Living Center (9/6/23) - $138,000
Kaiaulu Kanaka is using funding to support the purchase of meals, produce, and gas for the Hungry Homeless Heroes (HHH) initiative, which has operated as a volunteer organization that provides food to houseless communities since the pandemic. Leveraging its understanding of the food needs of the community and the relationships built with farmers and restaurants who donated food during COVID-19, HHH is now purchasing food from farmers and restaurants. It then distributes 4,000-5,000 pounds of prepared food to displaced individuals and to distribution sites in West Maui every Wednesday and Sunday.

Living Pono Project - $435,892
Awarded 10/20/23 - $185,900
Awarded 5/6/24 - $249,992
The Living Pono Project provides fresh vegetables, poi, taro, breadfruit, and comfort foods that connect people to land, culture and farmers in their community. The organization seeks to serve 300-500 households that are fire-affected and transitioning into longer-term housing situations with local fresh foods to prepare at home through its Mahi‘ai Baskets program, which offers Polynesian food crops to local families as a healing mechanism for the mind, body, and spirit. The organization is engaged with the Emergency Feeding Taskforce to support Maui's food systems for sustainability and resilience.

Makana ‘Āina Foundation (8/30/23) - $15,000
The Makana ‘Āina Foundation is working with Maui Food Bank and other food distributors to provide more fresh local foods to the on-island food supply distribution efforts that are supporting those impacted by the fires. Funding will ensure the delivery of 2,000 units of entree bowls and 2,000 units of dry good snacks that will mostly consist of locally sourced proteins prepared at a certified facility in Mānoa, O‘ahu. It will be delivered fresh/frozen or shelf stable, as requested by the Maui Food Bank.

Maui AIDS Foundation (8/14/23) - $10,000
The Maui AIDS Foundation (MAF) is a certified food pantry, distributing food, drinks, hygiene supplies, and AIDS prevention items. MAF has opened its doors to everyone affected by the wildfires to distribute food, water, and emergency supplies, including hygiene items, bedding, flashlights, baby Items, cots, and tents. Funds will be used to purchase additional supplies and distribute them to families who have been displaced by the wildfires.

Maui Family Support Services (8/15/23) - $75,000
To date, Maui Family Support Services (MFSS) has received requests from 60 people needing assistance from impacts from the wildfires. It expects these numbers to increase as people seek more support or have trouble accessing resources. Needs include clothing, shoes and slippers that fit them, diapers and pull-ups, wipes and other hygiene products, medical items, survival essentials, food and water, transportation replacement, and housing assistance. MFSS is using Survey Monkey to gather families’ needs and track when their requests have been purchased and distributed. It is using four agency vehicles to deliver supplies to impacted families.

Maui Food Bank (8/11/23) - $250,000
Maui Food Bank (MFB) is providing food to support the thousands of people on island who have been displaced by the fires. The organization is distributing food at many shelters, including the War Memorial and King’s Cathedral shelters. MFB is also delivering food to West Maui several times a day to residents in dire need.

Maui Hub (2/23/24) - $100,000
Maui Hub connects Maui’s local food producers directly with customers through an online farmers market that delivers to your area or home. Maui Hub is providing store credits and free delivery to residents displaced by the fires who do not receive food from the official shelters. Credits will be provided through an online application process on its website. Maui Hub will provide a monthly credit to fire-affected applicants to directly support food insecurity needs and help to sustain the local farming community. The organization is working with the other food producing organizations serving the community, to ensure efforts are not duplicated.

Nā Kia‘i O Maui with fiscal sponsor Hōlani Hāna (7/2/24) - $1,247,920
A boots-on-ground, people-powered nonprofit founded in the early hours of August 9 to provide compassionate support to fire survivors, rooted in shared values of ‘ohana and aloha, the mission of Nā Kia‘i O Maui (NKOM) is to provide emergency relief and disaster assistance to everyone impacted by natural disasters. Funding supports No Nā Kānaka, a Lahaina Resource and Recovery Center that will provide families everything needed to furnish and outfit homes, including furniture, appliances, and other basic accessories and consumables, delivered along with wrap-around support services through a network of community partners. The program is also modeled as a workforce development opportunity, as NKOM is establishing paid positions to be filled by Lahaina people. Funds are committed across 60 months and leveraged by other funders, including both private grants and community-based contributions.

O‘ahu Alkaline Water with fiscal sponsor Grace Bible Church Maui (10/20/23) - $150,000
O‘ahu Alkaline Water Inc. is partnering with Grace Bible Church Maui and the Maui Food Bank to establish sites and pantries for water distribution to those impacted by the fires. Through this partnership, funding will provide water for distribution to residents impacted by the fires at 50 Maui sites identified by Grace Bible Church Maui in collaboration with the National Guard and Maui Police, to fulfill water needs on the ground. Funds will cover 270 pallets of bottled water and three weeks of distribution across the island.

Regenerative Education Centers (8/11/23) - $100,000
Regenerative Education Centers (REC) has 25 acres of farmland on the edge of Lahaina that was spared from the fires. It is preparing its space to be used for two sites providing resources and support to those who lost their homes or are in need of direct support. The organization is working with FEMA to potentially use one or both site for its services, including staging relief efforts, coordinating volunteers, and providing food from the farm. The goal is to have a space available for long-term use that includes food, internet, showers, shelter, and electricity for 200 displaced residents.

The ParaGenius Foundation (8/30/23) - $34,000
The ParaGenius Foundation is a nonprofit based in Kīhei focused on supporting and promoting sustainable organic farming. ParaGenius is partnering with ‘Oko’a Farms (The Farm) to donate thousands of pounds of produce each week for human and animal consumption. The Farm suffered about $10,000 in fire damage but still managed to distribute about 5,000 pounds of organic produce/food, valued at $6,000, in the last two weeks of August, and will continue to do so. A weekly distribution of about $3,000 in produce from the Farm goes to Hungry Heroes Hawai‘i, World Central Kitchen, Food Not Bombs, and other smaller groups that are confirmed food distributors to those in need, including animals and pets. Organic produce distributed includes 600 pounds of beets, carrots, radishes, pumpkins, cassava, ginger; 400 pounds of kale, chard, lettuce, and herbs; and 500 pounds of lychee, tomatoes, bananas, and dragon fruit. Funds will support food distribution for the next eight weeks.

The Salvation Army (Hawaiian Islands and Pacific) (8/11/23) - $250,000
The Salvation Army is feeding thousands at Maui County and American Red Cross shelters in response to the various wildfire evacuations. It began providing meals immediately after evacuations began, with service now expanding across the island. The Salvation Army is at the forefront of the relief effort, providing help and support while working closely with first responders and emergency management agencies to meet the immediate needs of individuals and families impacted by the wildfire.

The Sewing Hui of Maui (8/17/23) - $5,000
The Sewing Hui of Maui received requests from shelters for pillowcases for families, especially keiki, and walker/wheelchair bags for kūpuna and disabled persons. The Hui had a goal of making 2,000 pillowcases that can double as bags, and 270 walker bags. This goal was met through donations and the organization is continuing to support those affected by the fires, particularly those who have lost sewing materials and equipment. The Hui is leading a sewing supply drive to help get seamstresses and quilters back to sewing again, relying on partners from its pandemic and post-pandemic projects to support efficient distribution of resources.

Valley Global (8/23/23) - $24,000
Valley Global is currently supporting approximately 100 individuals who have been directly affected by the wildfires, including some displaced and currently rehoused residents in the Haiku area. This additional funding increases capacity by 200 individuals, for a total of 300 people supported. It is working in collaboration with the Kumu Mala Foundation, George Kahumoku Family Farms, and Neuro Maui to provide services and support for members of the community affected by the disasters who are underserved and facing barriers to having their needs met. Funding will support emergency communications, medical aid and basic healthcare, emergency supplies and assistance, and food assistance programs.

Health Care

Aloha House - $276,000
Awarded 8/30/23 - $250,000
Awarded 11/17/23 - $26,000
As a result of the fires’ impact on residents, Aloha House is anticipating an influx of clients with co-occurring substance use and mental health needs. Individuals may have been affected through direct experience of the fires, through friends or family members affected, or may have secondary trauma from helping those in need. Aloha House is operating a crisis mobile outreach with workers on call and responding to individual needs. Initial funding supports four care coordinator positions and a care coordinator manager for 12 months. Expanding staffing allows for increased community outreach, assistance with intake, supporting treatment needs, providing referrals, and other navigation services. Current Aloha House clients will also be supported with options to extend their stays and receive additional support to avoid relapse or loss of housing. Subsequent funding supports staffing, technology, and miscellaneous expenses related to the development of a comprehensive, coordinated, and responsive strategy to create the Lahaina Community Recovery Plan for intermediate and long-term needs related to health, wellness, and recovery. Aloha House will form an Advisory Committee and a culturally responsive, Lahaina-led recovery plan in coordination with partners and collaborators from the nonprofit and local government sectors.

Aloha Independent Living Hawai‘i (12/15/23) - $210,000
With a mission to provide independent living programs and services to persons with disabilities in Hawaiʻi, Aloha Independent Living Hawaiʻi (AILH) has been present in Maui's congregate and non-congregate shelters, advocating for individuals’ specific needs, connecting them with resources for durable medical equipment and other devices, and helping them navigate the system of community-based and disaster-related organizations and services. With additional staff, they seek to increase outreach and direct services for the next three years, continuing engagement with disaster-related services, including facilitating the Maui Disability Task Force Operations meetings and coordinating with national disability partners. Funding supports two additional Independent Living Specialists, transportation costs, and supplies for one year.

Alzheimer’s Association (10/20/23) - $73,000
The Alzheimer’s Association – Hawai‘i (Maui County) is addressing an identified critical need affecting family caregivers who care for 230 people with dementia from Lahaina and its surrounding areas. This relief program will provide emergency caregiver respite financial assistance to support displaced families who may need to seek additional help providing care for a loved one with dementia, in or outside of their temporary living space. Funds will support more than 25 families by reducing caregiver stress, limiting the financial burden on families that are displaced or have taken in a displaced relative, and ultimately providing proper care in a safe environment. The organization will conduct outreach through social media, resource fairs, community partnerships, and traditional media outlets.

American Cancer Society (8/24/23) - $100,000
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has created the Hawai‘i Response Crisis Fund, a 100 percent restricted fund to support cancer patients and their families in Hawai‘i with a specific geographic focus on those affected who are from Maui. The organization has developed solutions to address transportation and lodging challenges as well as other difficulties that might limit access to cancer care. Immediate solutions include providing gas cards, rental vehicles, free hotel lodging, and free airfare to neighboring islands. The Hope Lodge Honolulu is already hosting one guest from Maui who lost everything, and it is ACS’ hope that the Hope Lodge remains operational throughout the crisis. ACS staff have made every effort, to the extent possible, to maintain communication with current cancer patients, survivors, volunteers, and health systems. Partner networks include the Pacific Cancer Foundation and Maui Cancer Resources.

American Lung Association (11/17/23) - $125,000
Founded in 1929 to help Native Hawaiians with tuberculosis prevention and treatment, the American Lung Association in Hawaiʻi (ALA-HI) has expanded its mission to provide lung health education to communities throughout Hawaiʻi. Funding supports staffing, program materials and supplies, costs for shipping materials, and indirect costs for ALA-HI’s Breath Easy Maui project. The project aims to protect the lungs and health of people affected by the Maui fires by: providing air purifiers, face masks, and asthma materials, such as valved holding chambers; training Open Airways for Schools and Kickin’ Asthma facilitators; and providing Asthma Basics. ALA-HI will identify people living with lung disease who were impacted by the fires on Maui (Lahaina and Kula) through an online application system and on-the-ground application process, with assistance from Kapiʻolani Community College’s Respiratory Therapy Program.

Community Clinic of Maui - Mālama I Ke Ola Health Center (8/16/23) - $250,000
Mālama I Ke Ola Health Center’s (MIKOHC) Lahaina clinic was destroyed in the fires. The organization is partnering with the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) and Hui No Ke Ola Pono (HNKOP) to set up the new Lahaina Comprehensive Health Center, which will be run out of a DOH building that was unoccupied and untouched by the fire, right below the Lahaina Civic Center. The organization will also operate mobile clinics and traveling medical care to meet clients where they are, if they cannot walk in for services. MIKOHC is being supported by partner clinics on Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu. Grant funds will be used for medical equipment and supplies, furniture, and computers to be shared by all staff in the collaborative effort.

Doctors on Call Maui with fiscal sponsor Collaborative Support Services Inc. - $750,000
Awarded 8/22/23 - $250,000
Awarded 12/15/23 - $250,000
Awarded 5/6/24 - $250,000
The Doctors on Call Maui location at 3350 Lower Honoapiʻilani Highway in Lahaina is the only fixed-location lab and clinic still operating in West Maui. Although approved by Kaiser and HMSA, it is serving many more uninsured residents as a result of this disaster, and working in partnership with a temporary clinic set up at Lahaina Civic Center. Initial funding supported services to meet immediate needs for the first few months after the fires, including staffing, medical supplies, and transporting supplies from Central Maui and other locations. Subsequent funding supports continued low- or no-cost, on-demand services for Maui residents, ensuring medical services including urgent care, primary care, and physicals of all kinds are available to West Maui residents impacted by the fires. Doctors On Call saw over 3,000 patients in the first 12 weeks of operation, with 800 encounters at no-cost or only partial reimbursement.

Hawaiʻi Self Advocacy Advisory Council (8/24/23) - $25,000
The Self Advocacy Advisory Council (SAAC) is a nonprofit organization for individuals with disabilities. Funding will be used to purchase replacement equipment needed to provide behavioral and other support for individuals with disabilities. In particular, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are significantly impacted by their inability to comprehend, process, and cope with the magnitude of the emergency situation. SAAC has already identified several families in need of replacement equipment for their children with autism spectrum disorder whose devices were lost in the fires. SAAC plans to receive referrals for requests through the state Council on Developmental Disabilities via their partnerships in the Disability Hui.

Hawai‘i State Rural Health Association (4/5/24) - $10,000
With a mission to advocate and promote communication, education, and research of issues related to rural health, the Hawai‘i State Rural Health Association is conducting comprehensive Maui County Needs Assessment research, and intends to engage an experienced opinion researcher from Maui Nui to conduct ethnographic focus groups among the fire-impacted populations of Maui County (Lahaina, Kīhei, Kula). The organization is also engaging a hub leader and former Lahainaluna graduate to recruit an optimal mix of individuals to gather new and unbiased responses regarding the health and social needs of the community, and will collaborate with an informal data cohort to analyze and share major outcomes to inform recovery efforts.

Hollander ʻOhana, LLC with fiscal sponsor Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition (11/9/23) - $50,000
Hollander ʻOhana, LLC is the parent company of Kai Dental, one of the longest operating dental offices on Maui, and the only one currently equipped with advanced 3D printing technology for final dental prosthetics. Their program, Dentures for Fire Victims, will use funds to help meet the overwhelming need for essential dental care and prosthodontic services for individuals who lost their dentures in the Maui Fires, with a goal to restore patients’ oral health and quality of life by fabricating and providing dentures free of charge.

Hui No Ke Ola Pono (8/14/23) - $75,000
Hui No Ke Ola Pono (HNKOP) is currently assisting with medical and community needs in immediate response to the fires. The state Department of Health is opening a medical hub in the Lahaina Civic Center area to provide care to community members who have no means to get to town from the west side of Maui. HNKOP will be the medical provider and lead the outreach for this hub. Funds will be used for medical supplies, prescriptions, food, water, and emergency supplies that will be handed out at the hub as well as distributed by outreach done by foot throughout the area. Partners include Mauliola Pharmacy, Mālama I Ke Ola Health Center, and the Maui County Department of Health.

Mālama Family Recovery Center (8/30/23) - $150,000
Mālama Nā Mākua a Keiki, dba Mālama Family Recovery Center (MFRC), is anticipating an influx of clients with behavioral health needs. MFRC works uniquely with women experiencing substance addiction and their children, serving approximately 90 women and 30 children under the age of five each year. The organization is making additional outreach efforts to expectant mothers through its BabySAFE (Substance Abuse Free Environment) program, in collaboration with its community-based partners. Funds will provide additional staffing positions that will support intake, client treatment, coordinated care and activities, as well as referrals. This additional level of support is critical as the stressors on clients is high and increasing because of the disaster.

Maui Adult Day Care Centers (8/16/23) - $100,000
Maui Adult Day Care’s Lahaina Day Care Center burned down in the fire, and it has lost all paperwork and records for clients. MADCC is seeking funding to give scholarships to those families who need their services and can be accommodated at one of its other locations (Kīhei, Kahului or Wailuku). By providing this financial assistance to those in need, MADCC will be providing these adults a safe place to stay during the day, so their families can have more time to focus on recovery. MADCC has been given approval to expedite the transfer of its Lahaina clients to the other day care locations—it had 30 clients enrolled in Lahaina and served about 15 per day.

Maui Health Foundation (8/24/23) - $250,000
The Maui Health hospital clinicians and physicians have been working in West Maui, responding to health challenges requiring first aid, emergency care, minor medical care such as burns, smoke inhalation, wounds, asthma, heart attacks, sutures, psychiatric recovery and therapy, and more. They are also ensuring community members have access to the necessary prescriptions for their ongoing health management. Maui Health Foundation (MHF) will use funds to continue this work. The clinic has now moved to the Hyatt Regency in Kā‘anapali and serves displaced people staying there (750 displaced people) as well as at other hotels and areas nearby (300 people each). Maui Health System’s Community and Communication Response Team has been staffing the West Side clinic, in addition to their mobile outreach.

Maui Medic Healers Hui, with fiscal sponsor Grants Central Station (11/17/23) - $100,000
Formed in 2017 to provide street medicine to protectors of land, water, 'iwi, and Hawaiian rights, Maui Medic Healers responded two days after the fires by quickly mobilizing to bring health care providers to West Maui to provide a wide range of naturopathic, traditional Native Hawaiian, and western healing services in a culturally-competent manner. The fully staffed organization’s unpaid volunteers have left existing jobs to support the needs of those impacted by the fires at Puʻuhonua o Nēnē, Honokōwai Hub, Royal Lahaina Hotel, Nā ‘Aikāne Hub, as well as through home wellness visits. Funding will provide the program manager and 10 practitioners, already deployed on Maui, with six-month stipends.

Maui Rescue Mission (10/20/23) - $100,000
Maui Rescue Mission (MRM) exists to provide resources, relationships, and support for the houseless community on Maui, which has increased in recent months. The organization is operating its mobile resource center in support of the new Project Vision safe space in Kahului, providing showers, laundry service, hygiene kits, health care, Wi-Fi, vison care, legal aid, and more. Since the fires, with the help of new volunteers and increased staff hours, MRM has been deploying its hygiene trailer five days a week, to meet the needs of those already being served as well as those displaced by the fire or unable to access safe water for showers and laundry.

Mauliola Pharmacy, with fiscal sponsor Imua Family Services (8/14/23) - $500,000
Awarded 8/14/23 - $250,000
Awarded 9/22/23 - $250,000
Mauliola Pharmacy (MP) is providing emergent mobile pharmaceutical support services at shelters across the island and in West Maui for residents affected by the Maui wildfires. Between 300 and 500 individuals a day are being served. MP is working with a range of partners to create a coordinated care effort for the community, including the county of Maui, the state of Hawaiʻi, Imua Family Services, the shelters and shelter coordinators, FEMA/MEMA, local churches, and others.

MODO (10/20/23) - $250,000
MODO operates mobile medical units capable of providing full-service house calls on Maui. The organization serves approximately 15 patients per day at its mobile urgent care unit located at Pōhaku Beach Park (S-Turns), as well as providing 10-30 mobile medical calls for patients unable to travel due to medical or transportation conditions. It is also operating a site in Lahaina from 9am-5pm daily and in Kīhei from 8am-10pm daily, and offering telemedicine phone services island-wide 24/7. Funding will support a three-month supply of medications and other medical supplies for its mobile unit, as well as ongoing maintenance and operational expenses.

Nā Ho‘aloha-Maui Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers - $50,000
Awarded 8/14/23 - $25,000
Awarded 3/8/24 - $25,000
Nā Ho‘aloha-Maui Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers is providing supportive services for older adults and those with disabilities. Funds support kūpuna and persons with disabilities with a variety of services to support day-to-day needs of those who are home-bound, including escorted transportation to essential services such as doctors’ appointments; shop/drop grocery delivery to displaced participants, including pharmacy pickup and prepared meals delivered; coordinating supportive services for impacted older adults such as disaster assistance with replacement IDs, HUD and SNAP help, etc.; and support for volunteers providing disaster relief and in-home, hands-on wellness checks.

Olanur (4/19/24) - $100,000
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that organizes uplifting community well-being and health projects, Olanur has provided humanitarian assistance to communities in underserved crisis areas and mobilized support for well-being mental and physical health programs since 2016. Olanur is partnering with Maui Medics Healer Hui to operate hyperbaric oxygen treatment chambers and EMDR braintaps (a psychotherapy treatment designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories) out of the Royal Lahaina. The organization is training Maui-based practitioners and therapists to operate the equipment to meet the waitlist of fire-affected residents seeking treatment. Funds will be used to provide practitioners and therapists with stipends as they train with Olanur and operate the equipment.

Pacific Cancer Foundation (12/1/23) - $174,500
Founded in 2005, the Pacific Cancer Foundation’s (PCF’s) mission is to provide access, knowledge, and support to all those affected by cancer, including caregivers, in all parts of Maui County. Immediately following the fires, PCF began using its resources to help cancer patients from Lahaina find lodging and maintain their treatment, and it will offer families and individuals actively navigating cancer individualized support, free of charge, ensuring patient navigation, wellness, nutritional support, transportation, and financial needs are met through its network of partners. Funding will cover staffing, transportation, nutritional supports, dietician services, wellness, supplies, and administrative costs.

Project Vision - $250,000
Awarded 8/15/23 - $50,000
Awarded 8/16/23 - $200,000
Project Vision Hawaiʻi is doing mobile medical outreach in Lahaina, and is cycling through each of the shelters to provide medical care and emergency SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, and TANF applications. In coordination with the Mayor’s Office and MPD, it has been delivering potable water to first responders and residents who have been displaced. Project Vision Hawaiʻi will use grant funds for medication, medical equipment, personal necessities, and safety items for teams on the ground. It is hosting health fairs at homeless shelters and vision clinics for those who need contacts or glasses replaced. It is also shipping another trailer to support Maui efforts from its neighbor island office and will seek more storage and transportation with the expanded efforts. Project Vision is working closely with Mālama Maui Nui, Mauna Medics, the Homeless Taskforce of Mālama Soul Project, Maui Rapid Response, and Hawaiian Homestead leaders.

UHERO with fiscal sponsor UH Foundation (11/9/23) - $250,000
UHERO, the economic research organization at the University of Hawaiʻi, has been serving the local community for more than twenty years by conducting, publicizing, and expanding research on the local economy. The organization aims to fill the knowledge gap on the health and well-being of Maui residents who survived the fires and were potentially exposed to toxins and trauma, monitoring the effects of environmental hazards, socioeconomic challenges, trauma, and loss on short- and long-term health outcomes, all of which are crucial to identify community needs and inform recovery interventions. UHERO will collect data through a survey designed by experts in public health, economics, and social sciences, distributed to a sample of 1,000 fire-affected Maui residents. Funding will go toward the initial Phase 1/Year 1 efforts to establish baseline health outcomes for this population, supporting salaries, incentives, community support, facility fees, sample collection and analysis, and an administrative fee. UHERO has the backing of the community and stakeholders for this work, which will approach residents with trust, respect, and Maui-centered partnerships.

UVSC (9/15/23) - $20,000
UVSC, a Maui-based organization, supports cancer fighters by helping to reduce their economic worries, allowing patients and their families to focus on fighting, healing, and living on. Funding allows UVSC to provide economic support systems and fill in gaps in services for cancer patients from Lahaina and Upcountry Maui who face severe economic challenges and trauma from the fires.

Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (8/24/23) - $20,000
Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC) is sending health providers daily to assist Mālama I Ke Ola (dba Community Clinic of Maui) in providing medical care to those impacted by the Maui wildfires. Mālama I Ke Ola is the only federally qualified health center on Maui, and they are stretched thin providing medical care at their Lahaina-based Hawai‘i Department of Health clinic, through outreach services, and at their main clinic. The organization’s resources have been further strained due to staff that were directly impacted. This grant will primarily support travel and ground transport for WCCHC APRNs and a few MDs with experience and training in Family Medicine to fly to Maui daily, at least through September and potentially beyond, depending on need.

West Hawai‘i Community Health Center dba Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center (9/15/23) - $40,000
Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center (HICHC) has joined the Hawai‘i Department of Health, Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, and Community Clinic of Maui dba Mālama I Ke Ola Health Center to provide urgent medical and behavioral health care services to individuals and families affected by the wildfires in West Maui, including Lahaina, Kīhei, and Kula. Funds support transportation costs, supplies, and staff time for HICHC’s interdisciplinary team, who provide services to approximately 20 people per day at the public health center and in the field.

Immigrant Services

Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights with fiscal sponsor Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network (9/15/23) - $246,500
A coalition of more than 25 organizations serving immigrant communities in Hawai‘i, the Hawai‘i Coalition for Immigrant Rights (HCIR) is coordinating assistance to immigrant families and individuals who were impacted by the Maui fires. Funding supports HCIR efforts to reduce inequities in access to relief and recovery programs faced by Maui immigrants, who comprise a significant portion of the Maui community, by supporting advocacy for equitable policies and practices, providing language services, and assisting with navigating the complex and inconsistent rules about immigrant eligibility for various federal and state emergency response benefits.

Kaibigan ng Lahaina (9/20/24) - $1,600,000
Kaibigan ng Lahaina (KnL) “Friends of Lahaina” was created in response to the Lahaina wildfire disaster by a collective of Lahaina-grown Filipino residents dedicated to addressing the needs of the impacted Lahaina Filipino community. KnL is unique among other disaster response organizations because many of its members have been directly impacted by the disaster. Its primary goal is to serve the significant portion of fire-affected residents who are not accessing recovery resources due to unique obstacles and challenges. With these funds, KnL will establish a Filipino resource center for programs focused on disaster case assistance, mental health and well-being resources, workforce development, professional development, and cultural engagement opportunities, with a goal of ensuring long-term recovery for Maui's impacted Filipino community.

The Legal Clinic (8/21/23) - $30,000
The Legal Clinic is assisting individuals to replace immigration-status documents lost in the fires, including green cards, citizenship docs, COFA visas (I90, I9, N565, I94, etc.), and proof of DACA status. These documents are essential for immigrants, who often face limited English abilities and require translation services while navigating post-disaster recovery steps. The Legal Clinic is working closely with the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights and the Pacific Gateway Center, which is establishing an office for immigration services on Maui in the coming months. The Legal Clinic will provide ongoing immigration legal services for those impacted, both remotely and in-person at this upcoming Maui location, and ensure that language access compliance mandates are met.

Marshallese Association of Kaua‘i (8/23/23) - $50,000
The Marshallese Association of Kaua‘i (MAK) uses grant funds to directly purchase needed goods for Micronesian residents of Maui who were impacted by the fires, shipping supplies directly to contacts in the Micronesian communities on Maui who distribute them to residents through community groups attending to COFA family needs. This population faces significant barriers due to language and cultural differences that prevent COFA communities from seeking resources. This work will help provide resources for COFA families in need of direct support.

Pacific Gateway Center (9/20/24) - $1,255,731
Pacific Gateway Center’s (PGC's) mission is to empower low-income residents, immigrants, refugees, and vulnerable populations to achieve self-sufficiency through skill-building and access to opportunities while respecting cultural heritages. Since September 2023, PGC has been providing translation and foreign-born navigation support services in partnership with the American Red Cross to ensure resources are available to this vulnerable population after the fires. PGC continues its support of the recovery effort through its Maui Embrace Initiative, which develops long-term, Maui-based, bilingual case managers and supports wraparound services offered through outreach to the fire-affected foreign-born population, ensuring they can participate in long-term recovery efforts.

Pear Suite Inc. with fiscal sponsor Project Vision (10/20/23) - $80,000
To meet the need for care navigation, especially for individuals from underserved groups including the limited English proficient community, older adults, immigrants, and other marginalized communities, Pear Suite Inc. will operate its Social Care Navigation program in partnership with fiscal sponsor Project Vision. The organization expects to help 350 families applying for disaster supplemental nutritional assistance, more than 50 families applying for state financial assistance, and 400 families applying for the Affordable Connectivity Program. It will utilize its care navigation platform to track outcomes collected by 10 bilingual community health workers who provide support to families and individuals on Maui with basic care navigation and address social challenges. Partners include Project Vision, Papa Ola Lōkahi, Hawai‘i Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and Pacific Gateway Center.

Roots Reborn, with fiscal sponsor Maui Economic Opportunity (8/14/23) - $100,000
MEO is serving as an intermediary partner to Roots Reborn, a group of immigrant-focused human rights lawyers and organizers on Maui who are directly serving immigrant communities across Maui County. The high number of non-U.S. citizens who were residing in Lahaina is a hidden and heightened challenge, so Roots Reborn is working with immigrants affected by the wildfires to ensure they don’t fall through the cracks during recovery and response efforts. Grant funds will be used to support translation services, housing assistance, food assistance, and support for navigating insurance claims and other resources for which immigrants are eligible. The organization is also in contact with consulates that represent these impacted immigrant communities.

Tagnawa with fiscal sponsor Hawai‘i Workers Center (11/17/23) - $150,000
Noting that Filipinos comprise 40 percent of all Lahaina residents and make up the lion’s share of undocumented immigrants on Maui, Tagnawa seeks to reimagine the conventional one-size-fits all emergency disaster response by establishing a Filipino values-based approach to serve so called hard-to-reach populations of Filipinos affected by the Maui fires. Using a data-based and data-driven approach, the organization aims to understand, but not assume, what the community needs are at present for those affected by the fire. Funding will support the organization and its partners, who are values-aligned Filipino groups and organizers from across the islands, in conducting mass needs assessments, financial resource enrollment, translation services, community engagement and leadership development, volunteer coordination, cultural alignment to health care and recovery, and publicizing needs that arise to help plug gaps and remedy disparities.

Mental Health and Grief Counseling

50th State F.O.O.L.S. (1/30/24) - $5,000
Dedicated to preserving the tradition and heritage of the fire service and taking care of fellow firefighters, the 50th State F.O.O.L.S. is the Hawaiʻi-based chapter of the Fraternal Order of Leatherheads Society, named after the leather helmets that are an international symbol of firefighters. Funds supported costs for the Kahu Ola First Responder Wellness Initiative 2024, a full-day conference that promoted mental health and emotional and physical well-being, while fostering a sense of community and camaraderie amongst first responders. The conference focused on Lahaina community well-being and helped the first responder community develop tools and resources to navigate the emotional and psychological toll of their experiences.

AccesSurf Hawaiʻi (5/17/24) - $99,106
The mission of AccesSurf Hawaiʻi is to provide life-changing accessible water programs for people with disabilities (PWD). AccesSurf programs are centered in the community and rely on trained volunteers recruited through a process that includes engaging people of all backgrounds, including medical personnel, first responders, and family members of PWD. AccesSurf has partnered with the County of Maui and Kahākūkahi Foundation to bring their Day at The Beach program to Maui to provide adaptive water events to support fire-affected PWD in Lahaina and Kīhei. Funds will support program development, recruiting volunteers, securing event locations, and identifying participants through referrals and engagement. Maui-based organizations will be engaged to ensure Maui can adopt this program as an accessible wellness option for fire recovery and for extended community well-being.

ʻAha Pūnana Leo (9/15/23) - $200,000
ʻAha Pūnana Leo (APL) provides rich and stimulating family-based learning environments where keiki learn to speak ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i and develop social, intellectual, leadership, and perceptual motor skills through classroom lessons, field trips, cultural activities, performance opportunities, and community service. APL’s Pūnana Leo o Lahaina facility was destroyed in the fire, and about half of its 22 enrolled keiki’s families and five staff members lost their homes. Funds will be used to support an interim program that provides a place to heal, support connection and resiliency, and prepare keiki for returning to school.

Aloft - $347,719
Awarded 1/12/24 - $250,000
Awarded 11/22/24 - $97,719
Aloft is the new home of the Maui Hero Project, a Maui-based program targeting youth aged 11-17 who are facing life crises, using an evidence-based model that empowers youth and communities in Disaster Readiness, Rapid Relief and Response, Recovery and Stabilization, and Rebuilding Resilience by engaging disaster-affected youth. The program integrates elements of FEMA’s Teen CERT training, equipping youth with crucial first responder skills, which also translate into professional readiness and other vocational skills. Beyond program activities, trauma-informed, clinical counseling is carefully integrated to address the effects of grief and loss on participants’ journey of recovery. The program’s mental health component brings trauma-informed emotional healing paired with disaster preparedness for youth with key activities, including neighborhood trainings, multi-day camps, an Epic Day signature event, and Aloft’s 8-week curriculum. Initial funding supported Aloft’s restart and implementation of the program, which ran from 2000 until the COVID pandemic, for one year. Subsequent funding supports Aloft’s intention to serve nearly 300 youth with six Maui school partners and over 40 community partners.

Association for Infant Mental Health (8/21/23) - $10,000
The Association for Infant Mental Health in Hawai‘i (AIMH-HI) is part of a community collaborative called Kākou for Keiki (K4K) comprised of early-childhood serving organizations, primarily based on Maui. K4K core partners and family leaders are unanimous in stating their need for space and time to process what is happening around them, but they do not have a place to turn to for those needs. AIMH-HI is helping to lead listening and support sessions to meet the immediate need for processing what has happened, and to co-design a pathway to properly support mental health needs of Maui families who are pregnant or raising young children. The sessions will take place at the J. Walter Cameron Center in Wailuku in the Maui Economic Opportunity Family Center Classroom. Core partners include: Maui Economic Opportunity (Head Start), Maui Family Support Services (Early Head Start, Early Identification), Imua Family Services (Early Intervention), Keiki O Ka ‘Āina (Home Visiting), Hawai‘i Association for Infant Mental Health (AIMH HI), Kalauokekahuli, and the Hawai‘i Department of Health - Maui Office.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui (11/22/24) - $100,000
Boys and Girls Club of Maui (BGCM) is offering a social emotional skills development program to address the mental health concerns affecting young individuals and to promote social emotional health in alignment with academic success. The program aims to reduce rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders occurring among Maui’s young population, seeking to engage more than 1,000 Maui youth between the ages of 6-18 with art, chill space, skill development and career guidance, community engagement and leadership, and recreational and therapeutic activities.

Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi (10/8/24) - $220,000
Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi (CCH) will provide trauma-informed, culturally competent mental health services to survivors of the Maui fires. CCH’s Kupuna to Kamaliʻi program will support two therapists to serve survivors with individual, family, and group therapy, with the goal to facilitate healing so that survivors are able to move towards stability, taking positive steps to rebuild their lives. Services will be based in an office trailer on the grounds of Sacred Hearts School’s new temporary space in Kāʻanapali.

Child and Family Service (11/22/24) - $51,000
Child & Family Services (CFS) serves Maui families through its Neighborhood Place of Wailuku program and will use these funds to host the Lōkahi Resource Fair. In partnership with Lokelani Intermediate School, CFS is offering mental health resources, cultural resources, and food at the fair to ensure families and the community can gather for a safe, family-friendly activity. This will be a one-time event held on a Friday, serving 250 youth and adults.

Consortium for Hawaiʻi Ecological Engineering Education dba Mālama ‘Āina Foundation (11/6/24) - $166,709
Mālama ‘Āina Foundation will operate the Mālama Iho Project, a trauma-informed care, train-the-trainer development program for one or two employees from three organizations that serve people affected by the Maui wildfires. Participants will understand the trauma that they and their community have endured, and receive tools needed to help their clients as well as their fellow staff who provide direct services. The goal of this comprehensive approach is to build wellness and resilience within the participating agencies and the communities they serve, to prevent further trauma or negative impacts to those already vulnerable from the impacts of the fires.

Family Hui Hawaiʻi (11/22/24) - $100,000
Family Hui Hawai‘i’s From Hope to Strength: A Path Forward project will provide accessible and relatable workshops and activities for families seeking therapeutic opportunities in their recovery journey. The program will offer trauma-informed opportunities and developmentally appropriate supports to enhance the resilience of parents, caregivers, youth, and young children through art therapy and parental support tools. The program will be offered across different geographic regions on Maui, open to families impacted both directly and indirectly by the wildfires.

For Children to Flourish (2/23/24) - $20,066
For Children to Flourish exists to provide free boating, sailing, snorkeling, fishing, and whale watching experiences for island keiki, their ‘ohana, teachers, mentors, other nonprofits, and community members working for and with them. The organization operates out of Hawai‘i Island but offers its programming to West Maui to support mental health efforts for youth and families. The organization partners with local boat captains, snorkel guides, deck hands, educators, mentors, and trained trauma therapists to provide a comprehensive experience focused on therapeutic benefits to families as well as an economic support for Maui-based maritime professionals. Funds will support at least 250 people from West Maui with a respite ocean trip.

Friends of Hawai‘i Technology Academy (11/22/24) - $40,000
Supporting the Hawai‘i Technology Academy’s (HTA’s) efforts to prioritize the mental health, trauma counseling, and long-term resilience of HTA students affected by the Lahaina fire, the Friends of Hawai‘i Technology Academy are offering curated programming in partnership with local artists and mental health professionals. The goal is to use artistic channels and professional mental health support to help students navigate their emotional recovery and build resilience for the long term. The program will operate out of HTA’s new Kapalua campus developed for more than 85 displaced students from Lahaina.

Haku Baldwin Center $100,000
Awarded 9/8/23 - $12,000
Awarded 5/17/24 - $88,000
In response to the fires, Haku Baldwin Center (HBC) launched the Equine Resilience Program targeting Maui residents experiencing complex trauma. A licensed clinical social worker and a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International-certified specialist, each with more than 15 years of experience, serve as a two-person treatment team along with trained therapy horses. HBC utilized initial funding to provide 48 free therapy sessions to fire survivors. Subsequent funding will support the expansion of critical mental health services for fire survivors through two programs. The Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy program will provide at least 15-30 families with 5-10 weekly sessions each, depending on prescribed treatment length. The Equine-Assisted Learning for Youth program will provide sessions to more than 60 children who can participate on a rolling basis.

Hale Kipa (11/22/24) - $100,000
Hale Kipa (HK) will open its first Maui office in Wailuku to provide trauma-informed, community-based care across Maui. The program will offer accessible, culturally-grounded therapy using a hybrid model of office-based and mobile community care to ensure long-term support. HK will use ‘āina-based therapeutic practices, rooted in Hawaiian culture, to foster resilience and healing, including a freight farm program where youth engage in therapeutic farming activities. The mental health services for families and youth will focus on trauma, anxiety, and stress induced by the fires. The program is leveraged by the Hawai'i Department of Health's Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division funding and many community and cultural partners on Maui.

Hana Arts - $89,000
Awarded 10/20/23 - $50,000
Awarded 11/22/24 - $39,000
Hana Arts’ mission is to provide both life-enhancing and income-generating opportunities through arts and culture programs for all residents of East Maui, which now includes many youths and families displaced by the fires who have relocated to Hana, nearly doubling the size of the freshman class. There is a great need for mental health and emotional support services to address an increasing number of reports at school of students exhibiting signs of distress, anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues. Initial funds supported counseling and teacher staff costs, professional artist contracts, and supplies to operate therapeutic sessions through an Art and Music Therapy program open to all students in Hana, with an expectation to serve 100 youth. Subsequent funding will support a continuation of the Family Movie Nights that Hana Arts previously hosted in partnership with Fuzz Box Productions at West Maui hotels, including the Aston Ka‘anapali and Royal Lahaina, both of which were accommodating displaced families in Lahaina. Seeking to serve 1,500-3,900 individuals, the organization will announce dates and locations of the upcoming community-centered, family friendly events focused on providing a safe and uplifting space to gather.

Hawai‘i Behavioral Health Connection (11/22/24) - $100,000
With a mission to increase access to clinically and culturally appropriate care for all people of Hawai‘i, the Hawaiʻi Behavioral Health Connection (HiBHC) is a nonprofit organization that came together immediately following the devastating aftermath of the Lahaina, Kīhei, and Kula fires. The organization operates a unique referral request and database system which can be accessed online and provides referrals to mental health professionals within 48 hours. With these funds, the organization plans to support 75 fire-impacted households with referral coordination to clinical services. The program will host quarterly events to conduct outreach and initiate new community partnerships.

Hawaiʻi Pet Network, Inc. dba HARF (9/20/24) - $100,000
In support of West Maui schools and teachers, Hawaiʻi Pet Network, dba HARF, is offering its STEM-based Humane Education curriculum to support educational institutions and educators recovering from the fires. The trauma-informed curriculum offers children access to animals to promote healing and strengthen relationships among their fellow students, and includes themes like environmental stewardship, humane animal treatment, and resilience building through animal interaction. The goal of the program is to give affected youth opportunities for engaging activities that promote empathy and provide emotional support while many families are unable to have pets while they go through the recovery process.

Hawai‘i Psychological Association with fiscal sponsor Hawai‘i Behavioral Health Connection (11/22/24) - $100,000
The Hawai‘i Psychological Association (HPA) has been dedicated to supporting professionals and the community for over 70 years, with a mission to improve the quality of life for the people of Hawai‘i. In partnership with the Hawai‘i Behavioral Health Connection, the organization seeks to expand access to clinically and culturally appropriate care for Maui’s residents. The organization will be offering evidence-based and culturally informed behavioral health services to providers working with fire-affected individuals and households to ensure a localized approach to clinical care. The organization will host monthly continuing education workshops, quarterly cultural trainings with traditional healers, and quarterly in-depth, trauma-focused trainings to enhance the best practices of local providers. The program will ensure clinical care providers are aligned to the unique needs of Maui’s community of recovering residents.

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaiʻi (11/22/24) - $97,650
Serving Maui as a disaster relief organization since August 2023, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHBC) has identified a persistent need for mental health supports for Maui’s communities who are experiencing depression, anxiety, and relationship issues as a result of not being able to cope with the impact of the fires. Funding supports the mental health of pregnant and post-partum women, a population with particular needs post-fire. The organization will offer individual counseling, group therapy sessions, and community-based peer support groups through Piko Pals. HMHBC will offer programming out of its Central Maui office in Wailuku, partnering with several Maui community organizations that it will engage for outreach and referrals.

Hoʻohanu (10/8/24) - $300,000
Hoʻohanu is a new nonprofit created by first responders seeking mental health support for the Maui Police Department (MPD), Maui Fire Department (MFD), Maui Lifeguards, Maui Dispatchers, and Maui EMTs who responded to the fires in August 2023. The organization will coordinate training and distribution of mental health devices in partnership with Alicia C. Rodriguez, PsyD, who currently serves as the Police and Public Safety Psychologist working with MPD and MFD.

Hoʻoikaika Partnership with fiscal sponsor Maui Family Support Services (12/1/23) - $175,000
Hoʻoikaika Partnership’s (HP) mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect and promote the well-being of families in Maui County, with a focus on building a strong prevention and provider network. HP is responding to the aftermath of the fires and preparing for the anticipated next wave of domestic violence, substance use, and mental health needs by providing direct services to families impacted by the fires; sustaining a strong and vital health and human service provider network through resources and workshops; and offering education and training centered in Hawaiian values to build protective factors and resilience among families and the workforce. Funds will support network coordination, counseling services, evaluation, training and concrete support supplies, printing costs, travel, and website design and maintenance.

Hospice Hawai‘i Inc dba Navian Hawai‘i (9/22/23) - $8,500
Funding will provide 500 Comfort Kits developed by pediatric-trained specialists to address the psychosocial, emotional, and physical needs of children experiencing grief. Kits include a variety of items like coping strategy cards, stress relievers, creative outlets to express emotions, items for distraction, and ways to memorialize and capture the memories of what they have lost, offering immediate relief and comfort as well as help building lasting coping skills. Navian Hawai‘i is partnering with Nā Keiki o Emalia (NKOE) to immediately distribute Comfort Kits at NKOE’s events and other distribution hubs that typically see 60-80 children and teens each day.

Hospice Maui (8/14/23) - $95,000
Hospice Maui is currently assisting West Maui with medical relief and support for those most severely affected. This includes transporting medicine and medical supplies while offering support to families in the neighborhoods that are sheltering in place or stranded. Hospice Maui is coordinating with local authorities and organizations. In addition to this work, Hospice Maui staff are already providing trauma and grief counseling and medical care in the shelters in Wailuku and Kahului, and will establish phone support and support groups over the next few weeks and months. Its current partners are HMSA, Kaiser, Legacy Hospices in Hawai‘i, and the Governor’s Office on Wellness and Resilience.

Hui No‘eau (10/20/23) - $47,000
Hui No‘eau’s Art with Heart: Maui Fire Relief Program reaches communities across the island of Maui, with a focus on providing direct services in Lahaina for children and families impacted by the fires. It launched the Art with Heart Program immediately to support the community’s mental health and healing journey coming out of the devastating fires. The organization removes cost and transportation barriers by sending teaching artists and supplies directly into Lahaina shelters, schools, agencies, and other safe spaces serving affected communities with free ongoing programs. Funding supports artist fees, scholarships for art classes, supplies, staffing, and trauma-informed training for programming through March 2024, including arts education for relocated students at Hawai‘i Technology Academy, families and children working with Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center in Wailuku, and free arts resources and events for children and families impacted by the Lahaina fires with opportunities on the west side and at Hui No‘eau’s Makawao campus.

Imua Family Services - $300,000
Awarded 8/14/23 - $250,000
Awarded 9/8/23 - $50,000
Imua Family Service’s (IFS) is working to address the immediate needs of children and families directly affected by the Maui wildfires. The agency will use grant funding to support mobile therapeutic/direct intervention and crisis services, pop-up respite centers for children and families, mental health and well-being counseling, crisis intervention counseling, resource support systems, health insurance onboarding support and social services education (i.e. FEMA, SNAP, etc.), professional training and support and supplies and materials.

Island Mind Therapy LLC with fiscal sponsor Players Philanthropy Fund (11/22/24) - $100,000
Island Mind Therapy provides evidence-based treatment and cultural healing through its team of psychiatric and therapy/counseling services providers. The organization will offer its Finding Strength Together individual and group therapy services in Central Maui, to ensure those living outside of West Maui can access therapy options. The program seeks to provide eight six-week cohorts of in-person group therapy and individual counseling to more than 100 individuals recovering from the fires.

KA‘EHU (10/20/23) - $150,000
Operating in Ka‘ehu Bay in Wailuku since 2014, KA‘EHU is a nonprofit organization restoring the land and perpetuating traditional Hawaiian culture using a community-based, inclusive, family-oriented approach to environmental and cultural stewardship. The organization will be offering direct counseling services to the more than 200 families that have left Lahaina and relocated in the Wailuku area, the families hosting them, and the broader community of those impacted, through its Sacred Spaces for Disaster Recovery Program. A culturally-grounded approach to the healing of collective trauma, the program will include cultural workshops, ho‘oponopono, lomi, grief counseling, meals for children and adults, transportation, and other services. The program anticipates serving over 300 children and 300 adults with key partners on Maui.

Kaibigan ng Lahaina (11/22/24) - $100,000
Kaibigan ng Lahaina (KnL) “Friends of Lahaina” was created in response to the Lahaina wildfire disaster by a collective of Lahaina-grown Filipino residents dedicated to addressing the needs of the impacted Lahaina Filipino community. KnL will launch its Lahaina Filipino Mental Health Initiative, which provides accessible, culturally relevant mental health services tailored to the Filipino and immigrant communities in a de-stigmatized, community-centered approach to recovery and resiliency. The program will offer community sessions, contract mental health therapists, operate a referral system to connect clients to a variety of pathways, and ensure the community is engaged with services for the long-term.

Ke Kula ʻo Pi‘ilani (11/22/24) - $100,000
Ke Kula ‘o Pi‘ilani (KKOP) is a 501c3 nonprofit, independent Hawaiian culture and language immersion school in ʻĪao Valley, Maui, that educates from a Hawaiian perspective through Hawaiian language and cultural practices. The organization has taken in families displaced from the Maui fires, using cultural connections and its ‘āina-based education approach to help the families and youth enrolled in the school. Funds will promote the culturally grounded programs and practitioners supporting the recovery and healing of fire-affected families.

Kids Hurt Too Hawaiʻi - $305,000
Awarded 10/20/23 - $250,000
Awarded 10/18/24 - $55,000
Kids Hurt Too Hawai‘i (KHTH), founded in 2001, provides therapeutic peer support and mentoring services for children and their caregivers who are traumatized by child abuse, neglect, and domestic violence, or grieving the death or loss of a family member. Its free services create safe relationships and engagement with community volunteers and resources that strengthen and stabilize families in crisis. To help address the unquantifiable trauma caused by the Maui fires, the organization has utilized initial funding to deliver specialized services to fire-affected youth and families since the fires.

To respond to the ever-changing needs and situations for fire-affected individuals on Maui, KHTH has partnered with several other local agencies and organizations to develop a mobile grief and trauma response unit program that can be delivered anywhere there is a need for services. Subsequent funding supports retrofitting a bus to provide program services. The bus will be shipped to Maui following the retrofit and will begin operations shortly thereafter with on-island community partners.

Lahaina Arts Guild (11/22/24) - $24,000
The Lahaina Arts Guild’s (LAG’s) We Make Art Happen program brings art and music education, cultural experiences, free supplies, and safe venues to its westside Maui community. The organization has a deep community connection to Lahaina and seeks to use its arts programming to facilitate community healing and empower children to participate in revitalizing Lahaina through art expression. Key activities include art and music instruction at Lahaina schools, summer camps, and PaintOut events. Funding will support science and art classes at Sacred Hearts School, instruction at King Kamehameha III Elementary, Summer Camps, outdoor PaintOut events, and full music instruction at Princess Nāhi‘ena‘ena Elementary.

Lines for Life (11/22/24) - $100,000
With a mission to prevent substance abuse and suicide and promote mental wellness, Lines for Life supports 160,000 people annually through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, YouthLine for young people, and 38 other crisis lines. Through YouthLine, youth volunteers answer crisis calls, texts, and chats from other young people who urgently need support. These funds seek to establish a local call center which will be locally staffed, led, and directed on Maui, offering a peer-to-peer approach to mental health and resilience resources for youth struggling to cope with the impacts of the fires.

Mālama Nā Mākua A Keiki dba Mālama Family Recovery Center (11/22/24) - $99,500
Mālama Nā Mākua A Keiki was founded in 1990 by pediatricians and nurses in response to the high number of drug-affected babies born on Maui. Its current mission doing business as Mālama Family Recovery Center is to provide comprehensive care to women with substance addictions and their children, newborns through age 5. To help cover the gap of access to affordable mental health care for Lahaina wildfire survivors, the organization will serve at least 250 households as a connector between community and service providers, offering mental health referrals for youth and staff in West Maui schools, ongoing staff presence in West Maui neighborhoods, and space for survivors to hold individual and group counseling in West and Central Maui, family days, days-of-service by licensed providers, and on-going post-trauma support.

Mana Maoli - $150,000
Awarded 1/12/24 - $50,000
Awarded 11/22/24 - $100,000
Mana Maoli (MM) is a collective of educators, artists, musicians, cultural practitioners, community organizers, and families with a mission to ho‘okumu (build grounding and foundation), ho’okele (forge direction and connections), and ho’omana (provide sustenance and empowerment). Formed in 1999, MM has more than 20 years of experience in implementing youth music programming, with long-standing relationships with many Lahaina community leaders. In September 2023, MM hosted an artist school visit featuring Irie Love at Maui High School for 1,500 students, including transfer students from Lahainaluna High School. Initial funding supported the Mana Mele Maui Project, which provided the West Maui community with mental health and well-being support through afterschool electives, artist school visits, artist hub visits, and mele for Maui. Subsequent funding continues the programming to round out the school year, serving four Lahaina schools, 2,600 Lahaina youth, and reaching at least 300 West Maui residents.

Maui Access to Mindful Movement (11/22/24) - $82,750
The mission of Maui Access to Mindful Movement is to offer practices such as martial arts, yoga, and dance in school day programs, after care programs, and as evening and weekend family classes to enhance physical, mental, and social well-being. The organization seeks to hold 40-50 events over the next year that will serve an average of 20 students per event, offering a safe space to practice mindful movement fostering personal empowerment and community connection. Mindful Movement courses include Keiki Dance Club, Mana in Motion dance classes, Mindful Martial Arts, Family Mindful Movement, Maui Youth Yoga, and Community Yoga. The organization will conduct outreach through its key community partners who support the calendar of offerings.

Maui Community Theatre dba Maui OnStage (9/22/23) - $5,000
Maui Community Theatre, dba Maui OnStage, is a 92-year-old community theatre with a robust education and youth program held at the Iao Theatre in Wailuku, Maui. Maui OnStage will offer free tuition to youth and families impacted by the fires. Through theater, youth will learn about themselves, work as a team, and have a safe, welcoming space to explore their emotions. This program will support the well-being of participants and provide access to theatre for youth and families that face barriers to participating in the arts. It is currently providing free tuition for five youth and funding will expand this program.

Maui Preparatory Academy (11/22/24) - $100,000
Maui Preparatory Academy’s (MPA’s) mission is to foster meaningful relationships, empower individual growth, and provide a relevant, impactful education. Following the fires of August 2023, MPA accepted over 140 students who lost homes and schools to the fires. To help address mental health needs of students, families, and faculty, MPA secured a licensed clinical therapist to provide in-person counseling on campus two days per week. The therapist helped students and their parents to cope with grief, loss, anxiety, and depression. This funding will support continued engagement with the clinical therapist to offer one-on-one counseling sessions, group sessions for students, professional development with teachers and staff to build trauma-informed care approaches, meetings with parents to share skills for helping their children, and counseling services for faculty and parents.

Mental Health America of Hawai‘i (9/22/23) - $75,000
Mental Health America of Hawai‘i (MHAH) is using funding to implement a 12-month expansion of its Mental Health Resilience, Prevention, and Support Program. The program will help build a resilient community, prioritizing those directly impacted by the fires, as well as their families. MHAH utilizes a statewide approach essential to reach the hundreds, if not thousands, of Lahaina residents forced to relocate to other islands, as well as residents in other counties experiencing indirect trauma.

Nā Keiki O Emalia (8/11/23) - $5,000
Nā Keiki o Emalia provides grief support for children, teens, and their families to help them heal after the death of someone they love. Its Maui wildfire recovery and response efforts are focused on families with children who are experiencing grief. It plans to support families with both direct grief support services and immediate resources including food, water, coffee, toys, and art activities through a drop-in space at its office. The organization also plans to collect needed items for families through drives, for distribution at shelters and schools.

NAMI Hawaiʻi (8/18/23) - $5,000
The National Alliance on Mental Illness Hawaiʻi (NAMI) already operates the NAMI Connection Recovery (CR) support groups on Maui and on Zoom for people who need support for mental health. This existing program has 17 state-certified facilitators running five CR support groups and will now offer CR support groups in-person to service any Maui resident who needs mental-health and trauma support as a result of the fires. It has already started a Maui Strong Support Group online and will have in-person sessions every Saturday with certified facilitators starting September 2. NAMI is partnering with Mental Health America of Hawaiʻi as well as its other affiliates, and has booked the Cameron Center as its facility to deliver sessions. Funds will support transportation, food, meeting supplies, and facility rental fees for one month.

Native Hawaiian Philanthropy (11/22/24) - $100,000
Native Hawaiian Philanthropy (NHP) is a nonprofit with the goal of improving the socio-economic conditions of native Hawaiians. NHP will offer the Mauli Ola: Sacred Spaces for Disaster Recovery program, which includes coordinating 12 culturally grounded community events between November 2024 and June 2025 and providing holiday meals, gift cards, food boxes, and other resources for wildfire survivors on Maui. Hosted at Ka'ehu Bay, UpCountry Farm Specialties, and other select locations in Lahaina, the events will take place on Saturdays from 10am-2pm, providing cultural and youth activities, traditional healing practices, mālama ʻāina, and traditional farming practices. The program seeks to engage 20-30 participants/survivors per event with focused attention, talk story opportunities, and mental health support.

Pacific Birth Collective (11/22/24) - $100,000
Founded in 2016, Pacific Birth Collective (PBC) is a community-based nonprofit located in Haiku, Maui. Rooted in respect, inclusivity, and care, PBC’s mission is to expand birth and wellness choices through education, support, and advocacy for families and practitioners across Hawai‘i. With these funds, PBC will offer its Wellness Initiative program, providing urgent mental health support through Community Circles, Wellness Wednesdays, and Therapeutic Thursdays, all offering support sessions focused on increasing accessibility and engagement with practitioners and providers focused on addressing mental health challenges facing the most impacted populations affected by the fires. The program will feature a navigator/case manager to provide personalized followup and assist with resource navigation and engagement, as well as expanded childcare for parents. The program will also provide quarterly professional development workshops for first responders and birth practitioners to enhance their cultural competency and mental health first aid skills.

Pacific Survivor Center (10/27/23) - $15,000
Pacific Survivor Center's (PSC’s) mission is to advance health and human rights in the Hawai'i-Pacific region by working with allied agencies across the state to ensure that immigrant victims of crime have access to pro-bono medical services during their visa processing periods. Funding will allow PSC to serve an estimated 10-15 additional Maui-based fire survivors who are also Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) applicants over the next 24 months with at least five in-person or virtual telehealth therapy sessions per patient, interpretation services as needed, and preparation of a medical corroborative letter or legal affidavit in support of their visa application. Whether they are still on-island or temporarily relocated across the state, these survivors will have access to free, trauma-informed mental health services as they work to stabilize and rebuild their lives while waiting for their VAWA visa to process.

Parents and Children Together (9/22/23) - $100,000
For the past 25 years Parents and Children Together’s (PACT’s) Maui programs, based in Wailuku, have been serving Maui County communities with a focus on domestic violence prevention and intervention, family strengthening services, behavioral health support for families with youth exhibiting serious behavioral, social, and emotional challenges, and intervention and community education for human sex trafficking survivors and youth at-risk. In response to the fires, in which at least 26 families participating in its programs have lost homes, PACT is using funding to provide basic needs support for 57 clients and staff; comprehensive wellness assessments to identify the specific needs and challenges faced by each family regarding their physical and mental health and social well-being of parents and children; regular wellness visits in partnership with the Department of Health; psychological support in the form of counseling services and support groups; education and resources on disaster preparedness, safety measures, and available resources; and partnerships with community hubs to ensure PACT efforts are effectively communicated and aligned with community resources.

Piha Wellness and Healing (11/22/24) - $100,000
Based in Maui Country, Piha Wellness and Healing (PWH) is a behavioral health program with licensed, experienced, and culturally responsive mental health providers who deliver services in the least restrictive environment for individuals affected by trauma and other mental health disparities. The organization is coordinating activities that promote social connection, emotional expression, and access to mental health support through individual and family group therapeutic services. The program has a particular focus on the whole family and long-term care through ongoing mental health services. With more than a dozen community partners that will provide referrals, PWH will utilize case managers, peer support specialists, and therapeutic care specialists to deliver care to 100 clients affected by the fires.

Professional Services to Address Maui’s Wellbeing (1/1/2024 - 10/31/2024) - Up to $250,000 in total services (contract)
HCF contracted services by Maui-based mental health providers (Inner Abundance Therapy LLC, Mandala Integrative Therapy LLC, MNI Counseling Services LLC, Mindful Living Group, Pacific Counseling Group LLC, Ohia Counseling Group, Jay Serle MFT, Ahupuaʻa Counseling Services) to support the mental health needs of those affected by the West Maui wildfires. These services are for individuals and families who have been impacted by the fires and have been unable to access in-person mental health services. By providing flexible, therapeutic interventions that address Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) with a consistent provider, individuals can restore capacity, reorient to a new environment, and cope with the lengthy relief and recovery periods. Providers serve people of all faiths, races, ages, incomes, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Additionally, some contracted professionals are providing on-call mental health services at community events and meetings. Mental health providers and group practices were recommended by Maui-based mental health networks and the State of Hawai‘i Office of Wellness and Resilience.

Project Koa Yoga with fiscal sponsor Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition - $100,000
Awarded 1/26/24 - $50,000
Awarded 11/22/24 - $50,000
A social enterprise that’s working to diversify yoga and wellness spaces in Hawai’i while preserving the people, land, and culture that are Hawai’i, Project Koa Yoga’s (PKY’s) mission is to make trauma-informed, resilience-centered yoga and meditation accessible in Hawai’i, healing our communities, and uplifting the next generation to a place of being well, healed, and thriving. PKY has established a Maui-based 'Ohana Care for Lahaiana program where it will train three new instructors and offer trauma-informed programming to families and individuals at Nāpili Park Hub. The programming offered is data-based and uses a tested curriculum supporting group movement practice, guided meditation, and at-home applied practices. Initial funding supported 80 trauma-informed yoga classes to over 350 participants at Nāpili Park and Hub. With subsequent funding PKY seeks to offer 'Ohana Yoga Classes, bi-weekly prenatal and postpartum yoga cycles, after school wellness programs for students, and a teacher training program for Maui yoga instructors. The organization is targeting urgent mental and physical health needs for underserved populations with a goal to foster resilience and promote long-term community well-being. Program events will be available in the first quarter of 2025 and operated in partnership with local organizations, schools, and health centers.

Teran James Young Foundation (7/12/24) - $6,775
Established in 2020 with a mission to have peace and sustainability in our schools, our community, and the world by promoting restorative practices, non-violent communication, and healthy environmental practices, the Teran James Young Foundation is hosting its second Rally Around Peace event on International Peace Day, September 21, 2024, at the IMUA Discovery Garden in Wailuku. Featuring live music performances, keiki activities, a healing tent, food booths, and vendors, the event will include many nonprofit organizations that have been providing fire recovery services to survivors across Maui.

The Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma – Hawaiʻi Pacific Branch (4/5/24) - $35,000
The Family Violence and Sexual Assault Institute, dba The Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT), is a nonprofit that condemns violence and oppression in all its forms. IVAT hosted its annual Summit April 7 to 11, 2024, at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. This is a multidisciplinary gathering of professionals working together to tackle the major issues in fields dealing with violence, abuse, and trauma. The Summit is also a trauma-focused healing center all in one as a unique technical assistance opportunity for service providers. This Maui Strong Fund grant supports the participation of 30 Maui-based trauma and/or mental health practitioners who have been providing services to the relief efforts on Maui.

The Spirit Horse Ranch with fiscal sponsor Players Philanthropy Fund - $265,000
Awarded 9/6/23 - $65,000
Awarded 1/12/24 - $100,000
Awarded 8/2/24 - $100,000
The Spirit Horse Ranch is a nonprofit organization that provides trauma-informed equine therapy. Since August 11, the organization has provided free equine therapy sessions to those impacted by the fires, including first responders, to help them process their grief and loss. The organization is working with volunteers to organize transportation in south and central Maui and partnering with Maui Youth and Family Services, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center, Maui United Way, Hale Pono, the Department of Education, and the Maui Police Department juvenile program. Funding will ensure the organization can continue offering equine therapy through 2024.

Wisdom Circles Oceania - $238,250
Awarded 9/8/23 - $55,000
Awarded 6/28/24 - $83,700
Awarded 11/22/24 - $99,550
Wisdom Circles Oceania (WCO) incorporates art and music healing practices, trauma-informed practices, culturally rooted strategies, and other modalities into services for youth and children, with additional benefits to adults, tailored to the needs of vulnerable communities. With support from two rounds of funding, from August 12, 2023, to October 25, 2024, WCO guided 45 arts workshops and events on Maui, benefiting impacted Lahaina communities, serving youth and families in 18 locations, partnering with 20 Maui-based nonprofits and approximately 140 team members. With subsequent funding the organization seeks to fill a critical gap by providing trauma-informed, human-centered support to nonprofit teams engaged in recovery. Many of these leaders are from grassroots organizations working with vulnerable populations. WCO is launching a Community Care Worker Resilience Circle, a year-long community practice where local organizations can develop sustainable wellness, leadership, and tools to build stronger, more resilient organizations. By prioritizing the well-being of frontline workers, this program strengthens Maui’s recovery network and builds a sustainable framework for community resilience.

Multi-Faceted

Daniel R Sayre Memorial Foundation Inc (7/11/24) - $1,000,000
The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation's mission is to help save lives in Hawaiʻi. For the past 26 years, it has assisted the Hawaiʻi Fire Department and the County of Hawaiʻi by raising funds to purchase fire, emergency rescue, ocean safety, and aeromedical equipment, raising more than $40 million for these efforts, including the purchase of 14 fire trucks and two helicopters for the Hawaiʻi Fire Department to assist them with their life-saving missions. With this award, the Sayre Foundation will leverage support from other private donors to purchase at least four emergency vehicles that will be donated to the Maui Fire Department to ensure they can replace lost equipment and address the vulnerabilities that result from being under-resourced.

Goodwill Hawai‘i (9/1/23) - $250,000
Goodwill Hawai‘i (GH) has set up emergency response centers at five of its program offices statewide, including Kahului (Maui), Hilo and Kona (Hawai‘i Island), as well as Kapolei and Beretania (O‘ahu), to support those impacted with applications for resources and aid, including unemployment benefits, FEMA disaster assistance, food stamps, and emergency housing relief. GH has also offered access to its core employment services, including free job training, education, and placement support. The organization is also distributing emergency vouchers for impacted residents to redeem for clothing and household goods at any Goodwill Store in Hawai'i. These vouchers will be distributed to affected individuals through outreach at the organization's emergency response centers on Maui, O‘ahu, and Hawai‘i Island. Funds will be a match to contributions from Goodwill Hawai‘i to support Maui's residents in need.

Grace Bible Church Maui (8/18/23) - $50,000
Grace Bible Church and Preschool is located in Kahului (Central Maui). During the first week of response, the organization was serving as a shelter and preparing 200 to 400 meals per night while also organizing resources and volunteers to those affected by the fires. Currently, the organization is preparing 230 meals, three times a day, to families housed with church members and first responders. With about 3,000 Lahaina students set to attend Central Maui schools, Grace Bible Church will help to meet student needs being reported by teachers who attend the church. Grace Bible Church will help to purchase school and athletic uniforms as well as school supplies for students transitioning to new schools that need the support.

Hale Mākua Health Services (8/14/23) - $500,000
Awarded 8/14/23 - $250,000
Awarded 9/22/23 - $250,000
Hale Mākua (HM) is working in Lahaina and out through Nāpili, in addition to its work in Kīhei and Kula, focusing on temporary and long-term housing solutions, donation gathering, transportation coordination, care navigation, behavioral health support and social work services. It is addressing technological needs and working on a mobile resource center. HM plans to serve at least 1,000 individuals through these ongoing, coordinated efforts. It is partnering with state agencies, the county of Maui, local and national pharmacies, FEMA/MEMA, and other nonprofits.

Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative (9/20/24) - $5,000
Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative (HEC) is a nonprofit organization that serves as a convener and a backbone organization to support Hawai‘i’s leaders in cross-sector collaboration. HEC has provided some backbone support to the Maui Economic Recovery Commission, which gathered a diverse group of recovery-focused stakeholders working to build a long-term economic recovery plan and associated projects. Funding supports incidental costs for the community gathering, leveraging government-provided resources.

Hawaii VA Foundation (10/20/23) - $125,000
Hawaii VA Foundation’s Our Kūpuna program provides shopping assistance, matching volunteers with seniors and persons with disabilities who are homebound, have difficulty shopping for necessities, and lack consistent access to nutrient-dense groceries of their choice. Funding will expand its current volunteer program by paying independent contractors to provide shopping and delivery services to Maui's seniors and persons with disabilities, with a focus on those impacted by the wildfires. Our Kūpuna accepts referrals from other nonprofits and care navigation services, including Hale Makua Health Services, Mālama I Ke Ola, Imua Family Services, and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. It expects to support approximately 100 seniors and persons with disabilities, and will hire 10-20 individuals for this 12-month program.

Nā ʻAikane o Maui (9/8/23) - $250,000
Nā ʻAikane o Maui is serving as a central hub for the Sheraton Kāʻanapali region, supporting nearly 1,200 individuals daily and in position to support all 1,900 residents housed with the hotels. The hub provides essential food and drink supplies; mother and infant care supplies; basic medical and hygiene supplies; batteries and PPE; clothes and toys for children and adults; and traditional healing services such as lomilomi and lāʻau lapaʻau, offered by cultural practitioners. Funds will be used to support the infrastructure of the hub operations, including technology supplies, contractual support, insurance, and other necessary expenses.

UHERO with fiscal sponsor UH Foundation (7/2/24) - $360,000
UHERO, the economic research organization at the University of Hawaiʻi, will support recovery and resilience efforts by serving as the data analytics arm of the recovery work at HCF. Program work will include preparing a report on the economic conditions of Maui and the social outcomes of the fire survivors before and after the fires, updated annually as new data is available to UHERO. The organization will also develop a joint partnership and dashboard with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement to serve as an organizing tool to gather narratives, blogs, and reports that inform topics relevant to recovery and resilience. This award supports three years of incentives for fire survivors to participate in the surveys administered by UHERO. The full program of three years of data collection and analytics will be supported by other leveraged funds.

West Maui Improvement Foundation (6/14/24) - $800,000
The West Maui Improvement Foundation, Inc. has been leading efforts to fully fund and complete the Olowalu Fire Station, which will be donated to the County of Maui to support increased public safety resources for West Maui. Several community engagement sessions pre- and post-fire show significant community-based support for this project. The organization successfully completed and donated the Nāpili Fire Station in 1992 and also helped to establish the Lahaina Bypass Road. With these funds, the organization will finalize the modular build within the next 12 months. Funds were leveraged by individual donations from community, private foundation funds, and in-kind contributions.

Youth with a Calling (8/14/23) - $3,500
Nonprofit Youth With a Calling is delivering food and supplies to Lahaina with its boat. The organization is purchasing tools for the recovery, and for when residents are allowed access to search their properties. The organization is leading a team of recovery focused staff that will assist residents searching their damaged properties. All volunteers are unpaid and will dedicate large portions of their time to support individual families in Lahaina. The organization will be collaborating with the Catastrophe Team from Allstate.

Navigation Services

Family Promise of Hawaiʻi (1/12/24) - $141,929
Family Promise of Hawaiʻi (FPH) provides critical housing services to prevent and end homelessness for children and their families. FPH’s mission is to help homeless and low-income families in Hawai’i achieve sustainable independence by mobilizing existing community resources and support. Funds will help FPH establish a team of six Maui-based staff (5 case managers and 1 supervisor) for the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP). The staff will work one-on-one with families impacted by the wildfires to holistically address families’ needs and, in a culturally responsive manner, empower families to lead their own journey of recovery. These funds will support start-up costs to establish the DCMP office, supporting the work they will conduct over the next five years under the contracted services for Maui's families impacted by the fires.

Hawaiʻi Community Lending (9/6/23) - $250,000
Hawaiʻi Community Lending (HCL) is establishing a Kānaka Anti-Displacement Fund (KADF) to prevent displacement of Native Hawaiian homeowners from Maui impacted by natural and human-made disasters. The KADF will support homeowners who are referred for loss mitigation services, HUD housing counseling for crisis budgeting, FEMA application assistance, and access to a public insurance adjuster to review homeowner policies. Requested funds will go toward operations, outreach, and Maui-based staff. It will work with the Leialiʻi Homestead in Phase 1 and other Native Hawaiian homeowners in Phase 2.

Hawaiʻi Workers Center (11/17/23) - $200,000
The Hawai‘i Workers Center (HWC) has been supporting workers on Maui who were impacted by the fires, including co-staffing a tenants’ hotline in partnership with the Maui Tenants’ Association. This provided a window into current and emerging needs of those workers: housing access, unemployment assistance, stop-gap financial assistance, navigating government benefits systems, language translation, and more. Funding will support an increase in HWC staffers on Maui who will lead outreach services like resource navigation, the Maui Tenant Hotline, community gatherings, and social media outreach. Funds will also support education initiatives that provide displaced workers with Know Your Rights presentations, and offer support for tenants through counsel and advice. Finally, HWC will organize community through town hall "talk story" meetings, expand neighbor and community engagement, and conduct one-on-one conversations with renters and those impacted with unmet needs, including housing and employment.

Hawaiian Community Assets (2/23/24) - $250,000
A nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the well-being of Native Hawaiians and low- to moderate-income families through comprehensive housing and financial counseling services, Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) offers a disaster response program with a mission to provide effective assistance to communities affected by natural disasters, with a focus on recent wildfires on Maui. The program aligns with HCA's broader mission by extending its expertise in housing and financial counseling to address the immediate and long-term impacts of disasters, encompassing housing, financial, and emotional aspects. The organization will bring on new housing counselors and a community liason dedicated to the disaster response efforts currently supporting a waitlist of families.

J. Walter Cameron Center (8/14/23) - $50,000
The J. Walter Cameron Center is a crucial hub for coordinating, distributing, and providing essential aid during these challenging times. The demand for services has been substantial, with a surge in requests for essential supplies, counseling, information, and volunteer opportunities. The Center has become a central point of contact for individuals seeking assistance and those wanting to contribute their time and resources. It currently offers coordination between agencies and organizations, resource distribution, counseling services, information center, volunteer mobilization, donation management, and, in the future, long-term recovery support.

Kelea Foundation - $274,720
Awarded 9/22/23 - $25,000
Awarded 4/1/24 - $249,720
The Kelea Foundation has been working with the disability community on Maui since 2018. Funding will secure a site in central Maui to serve as a hub for the Disability Hui, a partnership between Adaptive Maui and Aloha Independent Living to help those with disabilities who have been affected by the Maui fires. The site at 111 Hana Highway will be used for storage and distribution of durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and blood pressure machines, shower equipment, extended size clothing sent to Maui by FEMA, and other goods. It will also serve as a place where medical providers, occupational therapists, social workers, and other providers can pick up equipment for their clients, as well as a central meeting place for case workers and other volunteers, a central community center, a location for other non-profits in the Disability Hui to operate from, and a space for off-island medical providers to meet with patients or work on personalized care equipment service. The second 4/1/24 Maui Strong Fund grant will allow the organization to hire two full-time staff and secure an accessible van for its Inclusive Recovery Plan. Funds will cover one year of support to continue to identify and serve individuals with disabilities as clients of KF programming.

Lāhui Foundation (10/20/23) - $20,000
The Lāhui Foundation is holding ‘Ohana Resource Fairs several times a week in various places on Maui, collecting data and distributing financial assistance to those affected by the fires. Service providers at each fair help with housing, health insurance, document replacement, migration, business assistance, disaster relief, consulates general, and free of charge services like haircuts from area businesses. To ensure participants are given accurate information in their native language, the organization is also training interpreters on Hawaiian values, trauma-informed care, and available resources. The organization is also providing families with Kokua Binders to keep all their important documents and track disaster relief applications in one organized place. Funds will support the Kokua Binders, community navigators, translator services, and some transportation costs.

Live Like Tre' Foundation with fiscal sponsor Aunty Jan's House of Blessings (8/30/23) - $150,000
The Live Like Tre’ Foundation (LLTF), a Maui-based organization, is partnering with Aunty Jan’s House of Blessings to provide direct support to firefighters who have lost their homes and face financial hardships due to the loss of work. LLTF honors the life of Tre’ Evans Dumaran, a Maui firefighter that passed in early 2023. The organization is focusing its initial efforts on the 17 firefighters who lost their homes and face other financial instability due to family members losing their jobs. The initiative offers financial and emotional support to this first-responder community and is working to include other first responders in these efforts in the future. With these funds, LLTF is employing a volunteer case management approach to ensure families are supported with necessary services and resources unique to their needs, including housing, healthcare, education, mental health services, and more.

Mediation Services of Maui, dba Maui Mediation Services (8/24/23) - $50,000
Mediation Services of Maui (MSM) sees a critical need for more mediators as increased demand for legislation about housing and other issues comes in the wake of the fires. MSM's coverage area includes Lahaina, Kīhei, and Kula. During the recent landlord/tenant eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 1,000 cases were referred to MSM and 70 percent of the cases mediated reached an agreement. With these funds, it will facilitate mediation training to ensure qualified mediators from Maui Nui are ready to support those affected by the fires.

PONOlegal (2/23/24) - $200,000
PONOlegal, which stands for Pro Bono Organizations for Native ʻOhana, is a local Maui-based grassroots organization with a mission to connect those impacted by the Maui wildfires with trustworthy legal experts and other service providers who are ready and eager to answer their legal questions on a pro bono basis. PONOlegal has established a centralized referral program aligned with partnered legal organizations and individuals to support matching fire affected individuals and families with a pro bono legal entity. The organization is networked across Maui and will serve as a hub to coordinate services based on the needs requested.

United Policyholders (7/11/24) - $250,000
With a mission to be a trustworthy source of support and an advocate for insurance consumers across the nation, United Policyholders (UP) is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization that provided services through its Roadmap to Recovery® Program to households in more than 95 disaster-impacted regions since 1991. It assisted Hawai‘i communities after Hurricane Iniki (1992) and the Hawai‘i Island lava flow disaster (2018). With this funding, UP will operate its Roadmap to Recovery Program to offer outreach, education, and advocacy to help Maui homeowners, insured renters, and condo owners impacted by the fires, hosting in-person and virtual workshops and Q&A forums to answer questions related to fire recovery, with a Maui Wildfires Help Library available online.

Technology, Logistics, and Transportation

Blue Water Rafting (8/11/23) - $5,000
Local boating company Blue Water Rafting, along with partnering local boat captains, are working collectively to transport supplies from Kīhei Harbor to those stranded in and above Lahaina town. Partners on the ground to this boat effort are several local truck drivers who are actively delivering to families in need and have been meeting the boat captains at designated harbors.

Community Workday Program, dba Mālama Maui Nui (8/14/23) - $100,000
Community Workday Program (dba Malama Maui Nui) is a nonprofit poised with vehicle support, volunteer manpower, equipment, and supplies to provide transportation for initial emergent support and then later utilize their heavy-duty trucks and equipment to support cleanup efforts. With their vehicles, they have done supply runs daily to take water, food, first aid, healthcare, and social services to support people in Lahaina. The next phase of their work is to help with waste/debris removal and will coordinate with government officials on this activity. They have experience cleaning up sites and can support with the proper equipment, hard hats, safety vests, gloves, road cones, tents, tables, chairs, high visibility attire, grabbers and reusable trash bags, and other things to create a sustainable approach to the work ahead. They have engaged a variety of partners including the County of Maui, houseless service nonprofits, social service nonprofits, food service providers, and other first responders.

Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (3/12/24 - 1/31/25) - $250,000 (contract)
Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement was contracted to procure and manage the Maui Data Hub, a data resource product that houses aggregated data collected during the project term. Utilizing formal data agreements among a variety of agencies, the Maui Data Hub has been a public resource informing decisions by resource partners and other organizations collaborating on recovery programming.

Footprint Project (8/24/23) - $250,000
Footprint Project is coordinating with local NGOs, local government, local solar installers, and microgrid industry partners to provide free emergency power for community relief hubs in Maui. Solar grids are being deployed for community charging hubs, as on-the-ground partners are unable to pinpoint recovery of utilities in the region. As of August 18, four solar microgrids have been deployed at three community relief sites, and there are 12 potential sites available for installation. Funds will be used for solar and battery equipment procurement, installation and maintenance by local solar installers, and disaster program logistics and management. Partners on the ground include: Maui Nui Resiliency Hui, Maui County Council, Regenerative Education Centers, Direct Relief, ITDRC, SmartAID, and Empowered By Light. Industry partners for the technology installation include Hawai‘i Solar Energy Association, Sunrun, Rising Sun Solar, Greentech Renewables, Fortress Power, Schneider Electric, LONGi, Elcco Electric, SimpliPhi Power, and Sol-Ark.

Give for Goodness Sake dba Cars for Maui (8/5/24) - $500,000
Cars for Maui is a community impact project with a mission to provide reliable transportation to those who lost vehicles in the wildfires. Targeting fire-affected households facing challenges in accessing resources, including government eligibility issues, inability to get bank loans based on finances, or obstacles to car insurance payouts, the organization sources vehicles and parts and partners with local automotive departments at UH Maui and King Kekaulike and Baldwin High Schools for repair and detailing needs to help prepare used cars for donation. All applications are vetted, with referrals from community partners providing direct resources and from the Disaster Case Management Program.

Hawaiʻi Technology Academy - $107,300
Awarded 9/6/23 - $27,300
Awarded 1/12/24 - $80,000
The Hawaiʻi Technology Academy is a K-12 public charter school that operates a blended learning program in which 80 percent of coursework is online and 20 percent is in person. The school has enrolled 21 new high school students from Lahaina who were affected by the fires. Initial funds support transportation costs and laptop purchases for the students. Subsequent funding will help meet the growing demand for educational programming for West Maui students, supporting the purchase of laptops, chromebooks, and 12 weeks of transportation costs for Lahaina students who are enrolling into the program in increasing numbers.

Hawaiian Hope Org (9/6/23) - $225,000
Hawaiian Hope Org is a technology-based nonprofit that specializes in computer refurbishing. The organization seeks to provide 1,500 computers to those impacted by the wildfires. It has 5,000 computers in stock at two sites and has already begun distributing computers that are ready for use. Through these funds, the organization can staff a volunteer coordinator position that will lead the team of volunteers helping to get the hardware ready for use.

J. Walter Cameron Center (11/9/23) - $50,000
The J. Walter Cameron Center’s Laptop Relief Program aims to bridge the digital divide by supplying those in need with laptops, which are essential tools for families and individuals who need to access digital applications and important emails for relief and recovery assistance. The program serves communities island-wide, including Lahaina, Kīhei, Kula, and other areas impacted by the wildfires.

Lahaina Town Action Committee with fiscal sponsor Hui o Wa‘a Kaulua (11/17/23) - $200,000
Started in 1988 by local businesses and residents concerned about a temporary Front Street bridge impeding access to the town, the Lahaina Town Action Committee (LAC) is channeling all its resources to serve as a key facilitator for West Maui’s economic recovery and rebuild. After the fires, each small Maui business is facing an impact to their market—decreased customer base, less expendable income locally, and significant loss of wholesale markets in Lahaina. Funding will support LAC’s coordination, staffing, marketing, lodging, and administrative costs related to its Kokua for Maui - Shop & Show Aloha program that supports Maui small businesses by bringing them to events to sell to the local market in locations across the state, covering costs for travel and lodging, and providing a space for sales thanks to partnerships with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, County of Maui, Maui Office of Economic Development, Hawai‘i Food and Wine Festival, Kapalua Resort Association, Royal Hawaiian Center, Southwest Airlines, Turo, K3 Marketing, and more.

Maui Economic Development Board (8/17/23) - $50,000
Maui Economic Development Board Inc. (MEDB) is running a small network of Starlink wi-fi/cell terminals and cell phone charging stations around the Lahaina and Westside impacted areas. The terminals and charging stations are being used nearly around the clock, providing connection to find loved ones and to fill out all the internet forms and resources those affected are being directed to. MEDB is coordinating with the Mayor’s Office, the Maui Police Department, and a range of Maui-based technology companies and donors.

Maui Nui Resiliency Hui - $248,760
Awarded 8/16/23 - $123,760
Awarded 8/25/23 - $125,000
Maui Nui Resiliency Hui (MNRH) is supporting the installation of 12 standalone power stations in Lahaina, where power has not yet been fully restored. Each solar power pack can power a Starlink terminal to provide internet access, and can connect to 128 devices for charging. This power service is critical to families still stranded in Lahaina. The organization is working with county councilmembers and the Maui Police Department to gain access to the secured community. There is a sense of urgency to get power to this community before any impending weather arrives to the islands. This is also considered a long-term need for the area. MNRH is also supporting two month subscriptions for seven Starlink terminals that have been donated to the community through a local partnership. MNRH will ensure the terminals are installed and operating.

Maui Reef Adventures (8/16/23) - $5,000
Maui Reef Adventures has been transporting supplies to Lahaina utilizing both Mala Ramp and Kahana Beach since August 10, 2023. It has completed six round-trip supply runs with Maui Gold Pineapple, which has donated 12,000 pounds of fresh cut and whole pineapple along with bottled water, fuel, non-perishable food, ice, pet food, diapers, and hygiene products. In addition, it recently worked with a company to deliver donated fuel, clothing, baby and pet food, baby bottles, formula, diapers, and non-perishable food products on its behalf. The company is also offering support with transporting individuals stranded by road closures out of Lahaina.

Nā ʻAikane o Maui (9/8/23) - $250,000
Nā ʻAikane o Maui is serving as a central hub for the Sheraton Kāʻanapali region, supporting nearly 1,200 individuals daily and in position to support all 1,900 residents housed with the hotels. The hub provides essential food and drink supplies; mother and infant care supplies; basic medical and hygiene supplies; batteries and PPE; clothes and toys for children and adults; and traditional healing services such as lomilomi and lāʻau lapaʻau, offered by cultural practitioners. Funds will be used to support the infrastructure of the hub operations, including technology supplies, contractual support, insurance, and other necessary expenses.

Nurture Cultivate (10/20/23) - $125,000
Since June 2023, Nurture Cultivate Inc. has run the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which helps ensure that qualifying low-income households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. Its focus has been in Koʻolauloa, Oʻahu, but it expanded its work to Maui after the wildfires. The ACP's main objective is to connect eligible community members to affordable internet service, and funding is primarily for on-island staff to conduct outreach and enrollment efforts, assisting with applications, and offering translation services. Funds will support Maui-based staffing costs to ensure Maui families can be signed up for the ACP program and be connected to other available technology-related resources, ensuring that people affected by the Maui fires remain connected and have access to essential services.

Project Strong One (9/8/23) - $8,950
Project Strong One is a nonprofit organization partnering with a collaboration among Maui-based community members seeking resources for their communities. Key partners include Maui Collective Contributor, the VA Clinic Pacific Island System, Tulsi Gabbard's "Helping Hands," and Healing Maui, who are all responding to the Maui fires in Lahaina and Kula. Project Strong One has sourced supplies at the directive of the local partners and is providing assistance in delivering 40 pallets of essential and consumable items. Funds are covering the cost to ship the items to these listed partner agencies and NGOs, who are coordinating pickup and delivery on Maui.

Hawai‘i Community Foundation
Maui Strong Fund Grantees - Health & Social Services Systems

Health & Social Services Systems – Areas of Focus

GRANT CATEGORIES

Animal Welfare

Baby and Maternal Care

Child Care

Children and Family

Food, Supplies, and Resource Hubs

Health Care

Immigrant Services

Mental Health and Grief Counseling

Multi-Faceted

Navigation Services

Technology, Logistics, and Transportation

Hawai‘i Community Foundation

O‘ahu

Maui

Kaua‘i

HCF EIN 99-0261283 / A 501(c)(3) ORGANIZATION

Media Inquiries

Hawai‘i Community FoundationMaui Strong Fund Grantees - Health & Social Services Systems

Health & Social Services Systems – Areas of Focus

GRANT CATEGORIES

Animal Welfare

Baby and Maternal Care

Child Care

Children and Family

Food, Supplies, and Resource Hubs

Health Care

Immigrant Services

Mental Health and Grief Counseling

Multi-Faceted

Navigation Services

Technology, Logistics, and Transportation

Hawai‘i Community Foundation

O‘ahu

Maui

Kaua‘i

HCF EIN 99-0261283 / A 501(c)(3) ORGANIZATION

Media Inquiries

Hawai‘i Community Foundation
Maui Strong Fund Grantees - Health & Social Services Systems