How You Can Help With Maui Fire Recovery

If you’ve turned on a television or radio any time within the last 10 days or so, you’ve heard the news from Maui: we’ve just experienced the most significant natural disaster in Hawaiʻi’s history, and one of the deadliest wildfire events in U.S. history. We don’t know yet how many lives have been lost. We do know that in Lāhainā alone, nearly 2,200 acres burned, over 2,200 structures (including homes, businesses, schools, and places of worship) were destroyed, and thousands of residents are now displaced.

Why the Loss of Lāhainā is So Significant

When King Kamehameha I united all the Hawaiian Islands into a single kingdom, Lāhainā served as its first capital. The town soon became a major whaling port, before evolving into one of Maui’s primary agricultural centers (thanks to the 1860 opening of the Pioneer Sugar Mill, which was followed by the Baldwin family’s establishment of a large pineapple plantation in the early 1900s).

Lāhainā eventually emerged as one of the two main hubs of Maui tourism, thanks to its quaint waterfront shops and restaurants, scenic small boat harbor, and accessibility to incredible beaches and golf. Although the iconic, 150-year-old banyan tree that served as the heart of the town is currently still standing, it has sustained significant damage. Much Maui history has also been lost through the destruction of sites like the Baldwin Home Museum, the Old Lāhainā Courthouse, the Pioneer Inn, and 110-year-old King Kamehameha III Elementary. 

Ways You Can Help

If youʻre currently on island and can pitch in physically, you can find a variety of options for volunteering through the Maui Nui Strong website. Whether you choose to donate your time to the Red Cross or sign up to foster an animal from the Maui Humane Society (which is now experiencing critical-level overcrowding), the Maui community will appreciate your kōkua (help)!

And no matter where you happen to be at the moment, you can contribute to disaster response efforts through monetary donations. Here’s a list of organizations that have Charity Navigator ratings of 4/4 stars:

• American Red Cross of Hawaiʻi
• Maui Food Bank
• Maui Humane Society
• Maui Strong Fund (Hawaiʻi Community Foundation)
• Maui United Way
• Public Schools of Hawaiʻi Foundation
• World Central Kitchen

Our Maui ʻohana has united and shown so much aloha to those who have been impacted by the fires. We’ve seen so many people volunteering, making donations, and even jumping into their boats to deliver goods to Lāhainā by water. We have so much recovery ahead, but we will continue to mālama (care for) Maui until we’ve nursed the west side back to health.

I know so many people around the world have a special place in their heart for Maui, and for Lāhainā Town in particular. Mahalo to all of you who can offer assistance during this unprecedented, extremely challenging time.

Leslie Mackenzie Smith, REALTOR(S), RS-42147