Nā Kia’i o Maui (formerly Da Hui) mobilized under the leadership of Aunty Nettie, a resident of Lāhaina directly impacted by the fires. Aunty Nettie stepped up in the midst of the chaos to provide much needed leadership following the disaster, quickly mobilizing her core team, organizing volunteers and processing the overwhelming amount of donations arriving daily. The core team set up and managed a “store” where impacted ‘ohana could come and pick up whatever they needed. NKoM continues to adapt to meet lāhui needs, and set up a central hub in Kahului to process, sort, store, stage, and deploy supplies and resources to community hubs.
Nā Moku Aupuni o Koʻolau Hui perpetuates Kanaka Maoli traditional and customary lifestyles of Keʻanae-Wailuanui. Encompassing nearly 400 acres of loʻi, the area was renowned for kalo farming until commercial stream diversions completely dewatered the area. In 2018, the Keʻanae community’s 30-year legal struggle over water rights resulted in the largest stream restoration in Hawaiʻiʻs history. Nā Moku is mobilizing essential items and tools to assist in clearing debris from the Kula fires, and distributing fresh water to affected ʻohana. Opening their doors at Keʻanae Uka, Nā Moku is feeding, housing, and caring for displaced East Maui descendants that have been affected by the Lāhaina, Kīhei, and Kula fires.
Pōhāhā i ka Lani builds upon nearly two decades of land stewardship and revitalization efforts in Waipiʻo Valley – deepening the relationship between residents and visitors helping to mālama ʻāina. They are in direct communication with Maui community leaders and impacted ‘ohana, providing lā‘au lapa‘au and relief items from Hawaiʻi Island. They are harvesting and processing mamaki, creating ʻawa and uhaloa salves, and making tea bags to mālama affected ʻohana in Maui. The hui is also assisting in hānai kaiāulu ~ community feeding ~ with kalo harvested from their loʻi in Waipiʻo.
Before any government or organized aid was sent to Lāhaina, the Molokai community instantly organized donation drives and started shuttling essentials across the Pailolo to families whose access was cut off from the rest of Maui in the immediate aftermath of the fires. Sustʻāinable Molokai assisted in sustaining this lifeline for Lāhaina communities until on-the-ground aid was established on Maui.
Waipahu Safe Haven Immigrant and Migrant Resource Center provides holistic programs and services with language access. They have been training interpreters who speak COFA languages to provide support via phone bank for Maui. These interpreters are assisting those affected by the Maui wildfires with applying for much needed services.
