Maui Wildfires Support & Services
The Board of Directors and Staff of Native Hawaiian Philanthropy (NHP), personally impacted by the Maui wildfires, swiftly mobilized to offer support through fundraising, grant writing, meal preparation, and providing $1,000 cash grants to 70 families and individuals affected by the disaster.
NHP continues to collaborate with a range of organizations, including Maui Behavioral Health Resources, Aloha House, KAʻEHU, Hōʻola Āina o Kula, Lau Kanaka, the National Center for PTSD, Stanford University, Hummingly, Wisdom Circle, Kids Hurt Too, Common Ground Collective, Living Pono, the Pacific Whale Foundation, community leaders, and volunteers. Together, they aim to deliver essential support, services, and events to assist those affected by the wildfires.
In conjunction with nonprofits, educators, cultural practitioners, and mental health professionals, NHP has developed the Mauli Ola: Sacred Spaces for Disaster Recovery initiative. This initiative utilizes an Indigenous-informed disaster recovery approach, prioritizing holistic well-being, addressing the roots of trauma, and fostering the creation of culturally significant spaces.
Mauli Ola: Sacred Spaces for Disaster Recovery
NHP is organizing monthly cultural events to support wildfire survivors at Leialiʻi Hawaiian Homestead in Lahaina and Kaʻehu Bay in Wailuku, aimed at aiding those displaced by the fires. These events feature a variety of activities, including lauhala weaving, lei-making, lomilomi, t-shirt painting, arts and crafts, children's activities, food boxes, bentos, entertainment, and a workshop by Dr. Ron Williams Jr. on the history of Lahaina. Funding for these workshops is secured through June 2025.
Emergency Assistance Needed to Families and Communities Impacted
by the Maui Wildfires
Native Hawaiian Philanthropy is currently working with 14 nonprofit organizations, a hula halau, businesses and medical professionals that are providing direct services to Lahaina families impacted by the fire. Each organization has a unique, culturally-grounded approach to provide aloha (love), kokua (help), and menemene (compassion).
The Native Hawaiian Philanthropy (NHP) Board of Directors and Staff were directly impacted by the Maui wildfires and immediately took action to help provide support. NHP helped in the areas of fundraising, grant writing, prepping meals, purchasing clothing and necessities, and providing $1,000 cash grants to 70 families and individuals impacted by the fires.
NHP began partnering with other businesses and nonprofits including Pacific Whale Foundation, King Kamehameha III Elementary Parent/Teacher Organization, Hālau Makana Aloha o ka Lauaʻe, Aumana, HitMethods, Project Hope, KAʻEHU, and secured funds from the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong grant.
NHP is working with KAʻEHU and mental health practitioners and agencies to address and support Maui families and community members impacted by the wildfires. Our partners are helping to further develop the Mauli Ola: Sacred Spaces for Disaster Recovery which integrates "Indigenous-informed disaster recovery: Addressing collective trauma using a healing framework." The 2022 Science Direct article highlights the holistic approach to indigenous-informed disaster management with particular attention to traditional ecological knowledge and approaches which explains the potential for indigenous healing framework to address collective trauma.
The Indigenous Healing Framework of the Disaster Recovery approach goes beyond the western approach of physical and economic aspects of recovery. "Indigenous peoples are uniquely connected to the lands, waters, and non-human kin and understanding this is crucial in providing appropriate support to Indigenous peoples affected by disasters."
The Indigenous-informed approach includes:
-
Holistic Approaches to Well-Being.
-
Social rather than solo processes.
-
Identifying and treating the roots of trauma.
-
Indigenous healing element.
-
The need for socially and culturally sacred spaces.
-
Indigenous notions of responsibility, justice, and forgiveness.
Through our long-term resiliency planning, the Indigenous-informed disaster recovery approach will be the guiding values and foundation that will help NHP develop and implement programs and support for families and community members impacted by the fires.
Emergency Assistance Now
The wildifre devastation to Lahaina and parts of Kula, Maui have left thousands homeless, over a thousand people missing, over 3,000 pets missing, and the death toll continues to rise. NHP is providing support services and resources to families impacted by the wildfires on August 8, 2023. The support from around the world is incredible and Maui has asked to stop all donations of foods, goods, and clothing due to the overwhelming response and lack of space to store the global donations to a small island. We are asking donors for financial donations and as needs arise, allowing us to utilize the funds to address the on-going and ever-changing needs of the victims of the wildfires.
Long-Term Resiliency & Support
The NHP Team and consultants are working diligently to support long-term resiliency planning to address the needs of the impacted individuals and families over a five year period. Our current focus is in culturally-grounded mental health support, long-term fundraising and grant writing. Historically, environmental disaster relief are temporary and usually after a few months, the global efforts and support move on and Maui will still be dealing with the recovery and rebuilding of Lahaina. We are seeking long-term donations and funds to provide long-term support and planning.
Mahalo nui loa to all the donors and funders who contributed to Native Hawaiian Philanthropy's effort to raise $500,000 in funds, in-kind donations, and resources to support Kula and Lahaina families affected by the fires. Your generosity has made a significant difference in the lives of those devastated by this disaster.
Mahalo to the Maui Strong Fund, the Christensen Fund, GlobalGiving, the Women’s Fund of Hawaii, and Charles Schwab for your generous contributions. Your donations are making a meaningful impact in our community.
