Thousands have been displaced in Maui after much of Lahaina town was leveled. Here’s how you can help.
Organizations across Hawaii are mobilizing to help fire victims after thousands were displaced on Maui.
The death toll is currently at 97 people.
If you’d like to help recovery efforts, there are several ways that you can pitch in.
Cash Donations For Maui Fire Victims
Here are some organizations accepting donations for emergency efforts. Links attached to the organization names below will take you directly to donation checkout pages.
(Note: Donations made directly on our website, , will support our journalism. If you wish to support relief efforts, you must click on a link below.)
- Hawaii Community Foundation fund: Focusing on rapid response and working with local nonprofits to understand community needs. More .
- : Collecting and distributing food to help the hungry in Maui County. More .
- : Providing direct relief to families and nonprofits. More .
- Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division: Providing food and resources for evacuees. More .
- : Partnering with the state Department of Education to support school communities in West Maui through Oct. 1. More .
- : Working to match every donation to Maui fire victims. More .
- : Establishing an emergency fund for Maui County first responders, including Firefighters, Lifeguards, and Emergency Medical Technicians. More .
- : Actively working with other organizations to assess the critical needs of individuals affected by the wildfires.
- : Supporting shelters for displaced people and animals, and caring for injured animals. More .
- : Assisting the business communities on Maui.
- : Providing meals to people in need by partnering with local organizations. More .
- : Matching up to $25,000 in donations for Maui disaster relief efforts. More .
- : Providing immediate relief to those directly impacted by the wildfires on Maui Island. More .
Donate Supplies To Maui Fire Victims
Maui Food Bank
is collecting and distributing food and other items to emergency victims, according to its website. The following donations are requested:
- Rice.
- Canned protein (pop-top cans).
- Canned meals (pop-top cans).
- Snacks.
- Protein and breakfast bars.
- Peanut butter.
- Jelly.
- Baby food.
- Diapers.
- Feminine hygiene products.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Toilet paper.
- Paper towels.
- Other toiletries.
Items can be delivered and obtained at the following locations (do not mail checks for the food bank here):
- Central Maui: King’s Cathedral (777 Maui Veterans Highway)
- South Maui: Calvary Chapel South Maui (320 Ohukai Rd., Ste. 420)
See for pickup.
County Emergency Shelters
People and organizations wishing to contribute to Maui County relief efforts may in an online form.
County emergency shelters have a need for the following items, which can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the old Kahului Safeway (170 E. Kamehameha Ave.):
- Non-perishable food.
- Water.
- Paper supplies.
Do not bring items to fire stations. They cannot accept items for shelters.
Donate Items Online
The has also created a page where donors can opt to put their gift toward a specific physical need and an online for people in shelters.
Donate Items On Oahu
The is looking for people on Oahu (and Maui) who may contribute to efforts to support fire victims as part of its initiative. The following help is needed:
- Food.
- Water.
- Medical supplies.
- Shelter.
Confirm your participation from the association.
Volunteer To Help Maui Fire Victims
Here are some organizations looking for help serving victims and aiding in recovery efforts on Maui:
- Maui County: Help needed for , and .
- .
- : Help needed assessing damage and distributing supplies.
- : Seeking shelter personnel and fosters.
- .
- .
- More volunteer opportunities posted regularly at .
The State of Hawaii is also seeking landowners, landlords and management companies interested in setting up arrangements with Maui fire victims. Program application forms are expected to be made available beginning 8 a.m. Monday on the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation .
Avoid Scams
The state Attorney General鈥檚 office urged residents to use caution when choosing where to send their money and donations.
鈥淚 know that the people of Hawaii will come to the aid of our families, neighbors and communities,鈥 says Attorney General Lopez. 鈥淲e are already seeing various fundraising efforts being promoted on social media platforms and online. In moments of crisis, we all must be extra vigilant against bad actors who try to take advantage of people鈥檚 goodwill.鈥
Before making a donation, the AG advised in a news release Wednesday to keep following tips in mind:
- Donate to trusted, well-known charities. Beware of scammers who create fake charities during natural disasters. Always verify a charity鈥檚 legitimacy through its official website. If someone is fundraising on behalf of a charity you are familiar with, the best practice is to donate directly to that charity.
- Verify that the charity is legitimate. Any charity that solicits donation in Hawaii must be registered with the Department of the Attorney General, and its status can be verified . There are also a number of independent online sources you can use to verify that a charity is legitimate, including the following:
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search:
- Charity Navigator:
- DCCA Business Search:
- Stay away from suspicious donation requests and be mindful of the following scammer鈥檚 tactics:
- Rushing you into making a donation. Don鈥檛 let anyone rush you into making a donation. Take your time to do your research.
- Asking you to make a donation using cash or gift card. Most legitimate charities will accept credit card and check donations.
- Using names that sound a lot like the names of real charities. This is one reason it pays to do some research before giving.
- Scammers make lots of vague and sentimental claims but give no specifics about how your donation will be used.
Read more during times of diaster from the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Hawaii.
This is a developing story. Check back for new service opportunities and visit Maui County’s website for getting or giving help.
If you know of a trusted nonprofit serving fire victims that isn’t on this list, drop it in the box below and we’ll take a look. At this time, we are focused on adding donation drive opportunities on Oahu and volunteer opportunities.
Mahalo in advance for your patience 鈥 we’ve been busy around here.
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About the Author
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Courtney Teague is the Newsletter Editor at Civil Beat. Drop her a line at cteague@civilbeat.org.
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