My heart goes out to everyone affected by the wildfires devastating parts of Maui, Hawai’i. More than 500 homes have been lost, along with community centers, and other buildings that have displaced thousands.
As firefighters, first responders, nonprofits, and locals grapple with how to mitigate the impact, I reached out to a Maui local (40+ years) and environmentalist about how to help Maui if you’re on the mainland. Lucienne de Naie is the Vice President of the Sierra Club Hawai’i, President of the Maui chapter, and the founding board member of the Hawaiʻi Islands Land Trust.
On the west side of Maui, where Lucienne lives, nothing happened. “There are no fires on my side, so we’re trying to organize and help people on the other side.” But, even for residents who live on Central Maui and can buy supplies for their families, travel conditions are too dangerous to commute. It’s unsafe for the ferry to dock in the harbor to Wahine because there are dozens of burned boats. There’s no bus service. Elsewhere power poles are down blocking roads.
In response to the disaster, Lucienne is trying to raise money for smaller groups, local nonprofits, and “ad hoc efforts”. Their ability to speak one-on-one with residents and act quickly with personnel on the ground is essential to residents who have lost everything. Some of these include a local water company that is buying essentials such as generators, fuel, food, and ice. “These are just local businesses stepping up. We want to be available to help these local efforts,” Lucinee explains.
What Happened?
It began with winds from Hurricane Dora and a power line. In Lucienne’s words, “It wasn’t hard to predict.” The island is prone to experience strong winds from hurricanes.
“A lot of wildfires are caused by electrical sparks. In general, when you have high winds and the power lines either go down, transform, or create sparks- that’s when we have wildfires,” Lucienne explains. “Even I as a generalist know that because I’ve hiked up to see this.” As a local who has lived in Maui for 40 years, she’s aware of the impact that hurricane winds have on the probability of a wildfire breaking loose in Lahaina.
But this wildfire also had other factors at play making it particularly devastating. It started Monday, uphill on Lahaina Road, when the winds knocked down a power line. At first, it was believed to be put out. But later that evening, fueled by parched grass and winds, it came back to life. By Tuesday morning, it was roaring through Front Street, the once scenic street that featured most of the town’s shopping and nightlife. With flames coming from all directions, “firefighters were overwhelmed dealing with fires going upslope,” Lucienne says.
Within days, residents were displaced as a town burned to nothing. “Most of the community buildings like churches have burned. The civic center is still there, but there’s no power,” Lucienne explains. Thousands of residents are sheltering in place because they have nowhere to go. Without electricity and access to basic supplies, there is little to do but wait for help. “There’s one gas station, and that’s run out of gas. There are no ATMs. The water system, which depends on wells that depend on electricity to run, isn’t working.”
How To Help Maui
“They need fuel for deliveries that can come through by boat. They need satellite phones so that even if phones are lost, they can still send messages. There’s no power, so they need solar systems.” Lucienne shares some of the necessities that residents need. She points out that these are feedback that she hears. “These aren’t my ideas. These are suggestions that I hear from people who are on the ground. I’m in contact with people who are delivering food and supplies.” Those who are on the other side of Maui, “are helping those impacted by the fires to get all that they need.”
Helping is a ‘community effort’. The Red Cross is there feeding people in Maui. State Representative Elle Cochran is on the ground delivering food to people. But, one area that does need our help is the smaller nonprofits. “The large institutions aren’t set up to meet up with people one on one.” Lucienne explains that smaller nonprofits have the ability to meet one-on-one to learn about individuals’ needs. “Everyone is doing something that is important. But, there are some gaps.”
Lucienne recommends two nonprofits that she sees stepping up to help that have long track records for aiding their community.
Aloha In Action: Founded in 2010, the Maui- based nonprofit raises funds for local organizations. According to Lucienne, they’re on the ground helping. “Their website doesn’t mention it, but they’re helping people who forgot or lost their glasses and need to get a new pair. They’re just small and don’t publicize themselves.”
Haiku Community Association: The nonprofit is a group of Hawaiian spiritual teachers that focus on projects that combat food insecurity, preserve natural habitats, and improve educational structures. They’re working with local partners to distribute food, cash grants, clothing, and other necessities to families and individuals who have lost their homes.
Maui 24/7: While it’s not a nonprofit helping to deliver food, Lucienne states that it’s a valuable source for locals who need up-to-date news about road closures, flare-ups, and updates from the local fire department. They also offer links for donations to local organizations.
