14/08/2023
Like all of my Maui ohana, I am heart broken by the devastation and loss that these fires caused. The loss of life is the saddest and heaviest to bear especially knowing that the search has only just begun and the fatality number will rise. My prayers go out to all those families of loved ones who perished in these fires.
Lāhainā was my first home when I came to Maui twenty years ago and I lived on the west side for four years. I worked on Front Street during that time and these were some of the best times of my life where I met many of my closest friends. I will cherish those memories now more than ever. I live in Kula now next to a neighborhood that was ravaged by the upcountry fires. My home is ok.
It’s been painful to be off island with all of this happening, wanting to help but feeling so far away. I am donating what I can to individuals and families that I personally know (so many friends lost everything) and vetted local relief organizations. I have a large amount of high quality men’s clothing (many brand new with tags) that I am sorting and getting ready to send (either direct to ppl in need or to someone who can get them direct to those ppl). For me personally, this is layered upon clearing out my parents’ house which brings its own levels of grief. I’m exhausted and I’m not even there. And I still want to help and spend every spare second doing something for my community.
In the comments I’m posting links to Venmo / Gofundme accounts of friends who have lost everything. These are all people I know personally. Please add a link to your fundraiser or venmo in the comments if I missed you. There is also this list of ppl and families that have lost it all and links to donate directly to them. There are over 500 ppl on it so far. Many are native Hawaiian ohanas who have been in Lāhainā for generations. 😔
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lExatubPl6zvsDcy4qUd3Sv1PvvKrzMhUyOzaKuId0o/htmlview?fbclid=PAAaZEVxua_u__O6a7A2Lizn5m8AqEGjTTrhmkFNEo5xjk0PDBy2R8rtDtuiE_aem_AfHxJUTc-v6eMQg26gxRMrRhDoZVh-qbEkLSiSYcBUYd1TmKDipoa2vktVOjBWdVh4U
In addition, these are the local relief funds, that I recommend donating to. It’s very important to keep the funds going local and direct to Maui Ohana:
Hawai’i Community Foundation / Maui Strong Fund:
https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong
Maui Fire Disaster Relief / Maui United Way:
https://mauiunitedway.org
Maui Food Bank:
https://mauifoodbank.org
Please consider making a donation, large or small. Maui needs you. ✨🙏🏽💛🙏🏽✨
Also posting this comprehensive google doc of Central Resources from Maui Rapid Response for survivors and helpers:
https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1To6kApY57f5t4nrcDOvQvhOPYMJZKh-dq5omORRqwrw/mobilebasic
Thank you to every single person who is lighting a way through this darkness. Aloha will lead the way.
