ʻAha Kāne works to improve the well-being of families and communities through sharing of Native Hawaiian worldviews and cultural practices. The hui worked with Kiaʻi o ka Lawena to facilitate the orderly distribution of donated items and provide security for these items at an established location. Through the Maui Aloha grant, compensation was provided for 5 kāne Hawaiʻi to carry out this mission, assisting impacted Maui families during the ongoing crisis. The kāne secure over 75,000 lbs. of food and 120,000 lbs. of water for immediate distribution, as well as many other essential supplies such as clothes, baby products, hygiene products, and cleaning products to address the extensive needs of the impacted community.
HAPA catalyzes community empowerment and systemic change towards valuing people and environment ahead of corporate profits. They supported community-led efforts to watchdog and protect against land and water grabs in West Maui, hosting two petitions to raise awareness and amplify community concerns of predatory actions, and mobilized testimony at the Water Commission held on Oʻahu in September to ensure that hard won wai protections and streamflow restoration efforts are not rolled back due to pressure from West Maui Land Co.
Hawaiʻi Peace and Justice works locally and transnationally to promote peace, social justice, and ea (life, sovereignty, rising, breath) in Hawaiʻi through research, education, organizing, nonviolent direct action, and creative cultural interventions. HPJ is helping to coordinate volunteers to provide labor relief to the Lāhaina community hubs, as well as organizing funds to bring necessary supplies to Maui.
Hawaiʻi Workers Center envisions a Hawaiʻi where all workers are empowered to exercise their rights to organize for their social, economic, and political wellbeing. HWC is working directly with impacted members of the Maui Tenants Association to ensure that recovery includes their voices.
They are organizing efforts around issues of unemployment insurance benefits, eviction moratorium and assistance, affordable housing, and other issues impacting working class and vulnerable communities. They also provided direct financial relief to members of the Compact of Free Association nations whose migrant status disqualifies them from certain FEMA assistance.
Hōlani Hāna is a grassroots puʻuhonua located in Hāna, Maui committed to perpetuating cultural practices through community outreach. They are collaborating with a kīpuka in Central Maui that supports grassroots community-led collective action. They are focusing on the long-term healing and restoration of ‘āina and ‘ohana impacted by the Maui fires.
Ka ‘Ahahui Aloha ʻĀina stands on the foundation laid by our kūpuna, committed to the restoration of Hawaiian independence, to defend Hawaiian lands, and to uphold the values of aloha ʻāina, aloha lāhui, ka ʻoiaʻiʻo a me ka pono. The President and Secretary of the Hui Aloha ʻĀina Lāhainā branch, Keʻeaumoku Kapu & Puaokamele Dizon, requested small hui rotations from neighbor island HAA branches to provide labor support at the Nā ‘Aikāne o Maui supply hub. Ka ʻAhahui Aloha ʻĀina is coordinating people from their 4 branches and other trusted individuals to provide labor support to the Kaʻanapali Hub.
Ka Lāhui Hawai’i Kōmike Kalai’aina has been mobilizing in Response efforts since the crisis began, providing direct community care, their extensive networks enabling access in Lāhaina. The hui redirected funds raised at their 8.19 Queens for the Queen fundraiser to Maui Relief, and distributed $11.7k to 5 locations on Maui. The hui purchased water filters and other supplies for impacted ʻohanas and created coalition building materials.
Kaiāulu Initiatives is more than a project; it’s a movement to restore, protect, and empower the Lāhaina community by transforming the landscape and reinvigorating sustainable practices and cultural education.
Kaiāulu Initiatives emerged in response to the catastrophic Lāhaina Fire on August 8, 2023, with a clear mission rooted in healing and community restoration. Their goal is to transform the landscape above Lāhaina to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again. In the face of climate change and increasing droughts, the hui aims to create a thriving watershed that will drastically reduce the risk of wildfires. Their vision is a vibrant watershed above Lāhaina, teeming with native plants essential to traditional Hawaiian practices, and providing food to nourish the community.
Kalauokekahuli supports Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people by providing culturally-based perinatal support and education. Kalauokekahuli is mobilizing relief to affected families, supporting mamas and affected ‘ohana by providing access to breastmilk, lāʻau, holistic wellness kits and care, mental health services, and necessary mākuahine supplies (breast pumps, postpartum care kits, diapers, snacks, hydration).
Ke Kula Nui o Waimānalo began mobilizing immediately, organizing donation drives, filling containers with relief supplies, and shipping them to Maui. They’re also amplifying needs, moving funds for immediate purchases, and soliciting for gift cards from folx who want to donate in the Relief efforts.
Kīpuka Kuleana is honored to support the Lāhainā Community Land Trust (LCLT) as they work to mālama a strong foundation and to connect ʻohana with resources to keep and protect family lands in Lāhainā amidst immense pressure to sell and threat of predatory development. Alongside LCLT, they planned and implemented a series of ʻohana ʻāina workshops for Lāhainā community members that mirrors previous workshops led by Kīpuka Kuleana on Kauaʻi. The workshops brought community members and expert speakers together to share manaʻo and resources for protecting ʻohana ʻāina. Priority areas of discussion included the navigation of probate and land title issues, financial literacy and financial resources for homeowners, and estate and trust planning including family land trust setup.
Lāhaina Community Land Trust is networking locally and nationally with other established land trusts to learn best practices and strategies for securing ʻāina in community ownership and developing programs for proper stewardship of that ʻāina. They are building bridges and strengthening relationships with other West Maui community groups and leaders to facilitate development of a unified vision and messaging for community-based planning initiatives, hosting community gatherings, organizing and facilitating effective communication strategies, and spaces for connecting, communicating and collaborating.
Lāhaina Strong is committed to fighting the entrenched systems of corruption that have long plagued Hawaiʻi. They stand for transparency, accountability, and truth, with a mission to dismantle the ʻgood ʻol boyʻ network that prioritizes profits and power over the wellbeing of Hawaiʻiʻs people and land. Lāhaina Strongʻs “Fishing for Housing” protect at Kaʻanapali Beach was a bold stand for housing justice, drawing attention to the urgent need for affordable and permanent housing solutions for impacted Maui ʻohana.
