🔥 The 2023 Maui wildfires have laid waste to the paradisiacal memories many hold dear. Lahaina is leveled, homes lost, businesses shattered, and the toll keeps rising. Remember that blissful Hawaiian sunset, the melody of island tunes, and the scent of blooming plumeria? Now, it’s our time to return the favor.
🌺 How Can You Give Back?
Donate Financially to Maui Wildfires Disaster Efforts
Many organizations are doing great work on the ground to provide relief from the Maui wildfires. They need cash, lots, and fast, including:
- Hawaii Community Foundation: Donate to the Maui Strong Fund.
- Hawaii Red Cross: Donate for the Maui Wildfires disaster relief.
- Maui Food Bank: Donate to provide food and turn $1 into 4 meals.
- Maui Humane Society: Donate here to help pets lost and abandoned due to the Maui wildfires. UPDATE: MHS is currently inundated with many burn victims and animals with broken limbs after jumping from heights or being hit by fleeing cars. Cash donations support emergency medical care.
- Salvation Army Hawaii Division: Donate here to provide boxed meals to people displaced by the Maui wildfires.
- Maui United Way: Donate to the Fire Disaster Relief Fund.
Donate Items for Maui Wildfires Relief
- Hawaii Red Cross: Donate a vehicle (to be sold for cash, not shipped).
- Maui Goodwill: Donate diapers, menstrual products, new bedding, and clothing
- Maui Humane Society: Donate pet food, beds, towels, and blankets –
- On-Island Donations: Items are accepted at the War Memorial Complex from 8 am to 6 pm HST. Enter the complex through Kanaloa Ave and drop off donations at the field on the left. What is needed most:
- Menstrual pads (heavy with wings)
- Urinary incontinence pads
- Diapers size 5/6 (large) and pulls-ups in 2/3T and 3/4T
- Ensure and other meal replacement drinks.
Volunteer Your Time from Afar to Help People Impacted by the Maui Wildfires
Local volunteers: If you are already on the island, volunteers are needed at the Maui Mayor’s distribution sites and all of the above organizations to help prepare meals and distribute relief. If you are local on Maui, please kokua your time and mahalo!
Mainland volunteers: If you are on the Mainland or in another country, the best way to donate your time is to help fundraise for these organizations doing great work on the ground. Here are some of the ways you can help:
- Initiate a social media awareness campaign: Share, post, tweet. Let everyone know Maui needs our help. Start a conversation by sharing this post.
- Organize collections of new items in your vicinity, such as diapers, blankets, and pillows, and ship them to Maui’s aid organizations listed above.
⚠️ A Gentle Reminder: As much as your heart might yearn to be physically present, please refrain from flying to Maui. Let’s assist without adding to the strain.
The spirit of Aloha is about community, about togetherness. The island culture has always cherished humanity over material. As wildfires ravage through, it is our collective strength and generosity that will pave the path to healing.
One of the things I love so much about island culture is that people are more important than things. In shocking times like these, after devastating wildfires, people helping people is what allows us to survive and rebuild.
🌈 Let’s embody the Aloha spirit. Stand with Maui. Donate, spread the word, and give generously.
