On Aug. 8, 2023, a deadly wildfire broke out in the historic town of Lahaina on Maui. The fires destroyed roughly 3,000 properties and caused more than $5.5 billion in estimated damage.
The Lahaina fires killed over 100 people, making it the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century.
After the fires, the community came together to help over 12,000 displaced residents. Numerous organizations and funds were established to support those who lost everything.
Hawaiʻi Public Radio has created a list of ways you can still help Maui families and how residents can obtain those resources.
How to Donate:
Monetary Donations for Maui Fire Victims
- Maui Strong Fund by the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation: Provides financial resources to help immediate and long-term recovery needs for those affected by the fires. To donate, click here.
- Hale Malua Emergency/Disaster Relief Fund: Focused on funding Hale Makua, Ohana Pacific Health staff, their residents and immediate families, and compromised individuals who may need financial support. To donate click here.
- Maui Economic Opportunity: Collecting donations to be used for rental placements and other essentials for residents displaced by the fires. To donate, click here.
- Maui Mutual Aid Fund: Funds are directly given to residents affected by the fires. To donate, click here.
- Direct Aid to Families Displaced by Fires: A list of Maui residents and families’ GoFundMe, Venmo, and Paypal accounts to directly fund and help them get back on their feet. To see the list, click here.
- Maui Rapid Response Operating Support Fund: Funds ongoing operational needs and supplies for Maui Rapid Response’s Central Hub, regional community resilience hubs and transportation. To donate, click here.
- Maui Food Bank: Collecting funds to feed the hungry in Maui. With every $1 donated, the Maui Food Bank says it will provide four meals. To donate, click here.
- Hawai’i State Teachers Association: A list of Maui teachers’ GoFundMe, Venmo, and Paypal accounts for those greatly affected by the wildfires. To see the list and donate, click here.
- Coconut Line: Serving those impacted by the wildfires by providing free clothes, home goods, toys and supplies in two storefronts in Kīhei. The volunteer-led group accepts checks and online donations. You can also purchase items from their Amazon wish list to help support their efforts. For more information about the group, click here.
Food and Supply Donations
- Nāpili Noho: A community-based emergency distribution hub at Nāpili park. The group distributes donated foods, dry goods, hygiene items and more. The hub also serves as a site for health services, job and benefit assistance, and internet access. For ways to support the community effort, click here.
Housing
- Regenerative Education Center: The Lahina Fire Recovery program within the Regenerative Education Center provides immediate and long-term relief by constructing tiny homesteads to give away to those displaced by the fires. There is also a food program, through purchasing and growing food on site, that is offered to residents free of charge. To donate to the program, click here.
- Helping Maui: Provides housing for a displaced family rent-free. The Council For Native Hawaiian Advancement will pay based on the size of the family you host. To house a family, click here.
Volunteering
- Maui Human Society: Volunteer to help the Maui Humane Society support Lahainaʻs owned pets. To volunteer, click here.
- Hale Kau Kau: Volunteer to help serve and deliver food to Maui residents. To sign up, click here.
- Roots Reborn Lahaina: Helps immigrants with language barriers to apply for aid, document replacement, and more. To volunteer, click here.
- CoconutLine: Volunteer to help greet and assist shoppers as well as keep Coconutline’s two shops tidy and stocked. Shifts are two hours each. To volunteer, sign up here.
For Residents Affected by the Fires - How to Obtain Resources
Housing
- Regenerative Education Center: Raises funds to build tiny homes for their Tiny Homestead Project, specifically for those who lost their homes to the fire. To apply for a tiny home, click here.
- Kākoʻo Maui: Puts people in various homes and living situations. Through their Housing Program, they are looking to place people with 12-month leases within their Host Housing Support Program. For more information and to sign up, click here.
- Lahaina Community Land Trust: Offers programs for affordable housing, with the goal of securing and protecting the area to be stewarded by the community in perpetuity. To learn more, click here.
Mental Health Resources
- Hawaiʻi Utelehealth: Offers free behavioral telehealth services. Appointments can be made with a psychologist, psychiatrist, family medicine specialist, mental health counselor or substance-use counselor for all residents of Hawai’i through 2026. For more information, click here.
- The Spirt Horse Ranch: Provides trauma-informed care through equine therapy services. Free one-hour sessions are available for Maui residents who were displaced by the fires. To schedule a session and learn more, click here.
Food and Supplies
- CoconutLine: Supplies Clothes, home goods, toys, hygiene products and more at both of Coconutline locations. All items are free for those affected by the fire. For more information, click here.
- Nā Kiaʻi O Maui: provides home furnishings, daily essentials and non-perishable food through the Lahaina Resource and Recovery Center. To apply for the various items, click here.
Financial Assistance
- Bayanihan Relief Fund: Financial help for those displaced by the wildfires. To apply for relief, click here.
- Maui County Emergency Rental Assistance Program: Helps low-income residents with their rent, paying utility bills or both. To apply for assistance click here.
- Kanaaho Grant: Native Hawaiian homeowners and renters who experienced hardships due to the Maui wildfires can receive financial help. To apply for the grant, click here.
Small Business Relief
- Kupu Mai Ka Lehu: The Sprouts Forth is a grant to support small businesses during their recovery following the wildfires. To apply, click here.
FEMA Resources
Following the one-year mark of the fires, FEMA has released a list of resources and guidance to assist in the recovery efforts on Maui. To find those resources, click here.
For updates on the Maui fires, visit this coverage dashboard:
A wildfire burned through the town of Lahaina on Maui in August, causing loss of life, property and cultural landmarks. Here are HPR's latest stories on the fires and the ongoing cleanup efforts.
