Direct relief and donation resources
The response of Hawaiʻi’s communities to meet the immediate and long-term needs of Maui’s residents displaced by last month’s tragic fires was truly remarkable. There are countless resources, groups of all sizes and kinds, and individuals that have banned together to help—below is a list of resources to donate, stay up to date with, and support those in need, as well as a variety of resources and assistance programs for impacted individuals and families from grassroots to federal government. This is by no means intended to be an exhaustive list, just a short summary of vetted resources to share.
Resources for impacted families are marked with an asterisk (*).
General updates + resource hubs
Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement Resource Hub - 70 E. Kaahumanu Ave, Kahului, open from 10am-6pm
Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action: Support Maui - very comprehensive resource for donations and assistance
Consumer Advocacy- Public Utilities- comprehensive list of essential resources for utility assistance, emergency relief, and support for affected businesses
Maui fire, flood, and disaster relief Facebook group
Maui Rapid Response does daily needs updates on Instagram
Maui Wildfire Multilingual Information Hub
Maui County: Maui Recovers - streamlined resources for impacted residents and families
Hawaiʻi Department of Health Wildfire Response
*Government resource on physical, mental, and environmental health; water advisories; replacing vital records (free for Lāhainā & Kula residents); emergency prescription replacement; and more
Donations: Monetary + goods
Help Maui Rise: Direct relief to families
*If you or an ʻohana you know would like to be added to this list, you can do so here)
People’s Fund of Maui - Donate here
*Apply for cash assistance here (eligibility not dependent on immigration status)
Red Cross Maui “Recovery Assistance” Program
*Applications for cash assistance open through September 18 (eligibility not dependent on immigration status)
Maui Food Bank - sign up to volunteer or see what food donations are needed here
*List of food distribution sites
Hawaiʻi People’s Fund: Maui Aloha
*Apply for urgent action grants for your organization here
Unite Here Local 5 - Donate here
Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement: Kākoʻo Maui
Mālama Kakanilua is supporting cultural monitors to go through hazardous and toxic areas in Lahaina to search for and recover cultural artifacts
Hawaiʻi Community Foundation - Maui Strong
Static centralized mutual aid spreadsheet
*If you or your organization are seeking other kinds of direct needs, fill out this form
Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance
*Federal government resource for financial assistance
Respirators + home air filters
Folks that are soon to return to their homes, volunteers at resource hubs, and anyone in Lāhainā, Kula, or the surrounding area of the burn sites need respirators and replacement cartridges.
3M 6200 or 6300 half-face respirators with 3M 60921 cartridges of the P100/organic vapor cartridges have been recommended.
If you are interested in donating respirators and cartridges, please contact us at hawaii.chapter@sierraclub.org with subject line “respirator donation inquiry”.
Folks that have returned to their homes, even those spared by the fires, are advised to use home air filters. Here are recommendations for air filters.
Home water testing + water filters
*The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Water Resources Research Center in partnership with University of Hawaiʻi Maui College has created this Maui Post-Fire Community Drinking-Water Information Hub with info on contaminants, water advisories, how to get your tap water tested and more. If you live in or near impacted areas and would like to have your water tested, fill out this form.
Impacted residents are currently seeking ~100 pitcher-based water purifiers and 3x replacement filters as well as 25-gallon carboys/water-buffalos and solar showers. If you are interested in donating any of the above, please contact us at hawaii.chapter@sierraclub.org with subject line “water purifiers inquiry".
Housing + utility assistance
To offer housing to displaced ʻohana, fill out this form
*To seek housing, fill out this form
Hawaiʻi Fire Relief Housing Program
*Government program for offering and receiving housing
The sixth emergency proclamation put in place an eviction moratorium and rent increase limitations through October 17.
*This is a good resource for evictions, insurance, tenant/landlord responsibilities, and more
The Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission has ordered a moratorium on all utility shutoffs on Maui through October 17. Individual utilities (electric, water, sewer, internet, etc) are responsible for managing payment plans at the end of the moratorium, check with your utilities.
*If you reside on Maui and experience a shutoff in utilities before October 17, please contact us at hawaii.chapter@sierraclub.org
Unemployment, insurance, document replacement + legal assistance
*Disaster Unemployment Assistance - applications due September 25
*Maui Ola ʻOhana Resource Fair - 9/12-9/14
*FREE legal assistance at MEO, 99 Mahalani St, Wailuku on Saturday, September 9
Immigration, insurance, unemployment, housing, public benefits, vital records
*FREE legal assistance hotline - September 14-15
*The Legal Clinic Hawaiʻi has been hosting free legal clinics to assist in replacement of immigration documents - visit their site for updates
*U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be at a new FEMA Disaster Recovery Center - check this resource for times and days
Women + children
*Fill out this form to receive assistance for mothers, children, and keiki caretakers
*Wellness Wednesdays, 9-11am at PBC Healing Center, 810 Kokomo Rd #240, Haiku, free for impacted families
Maʻi Movement Hawaiʻi - Purchase items to donate here
*Childcare for impacted families
*WIC