Here’s How You Can Help Maui Wildfire Victims

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As wildfires continue to rage on Maui, and the death toll from the blazes surpasses Hawaii’s worst natural disaster on record, the scope of the devastation is becoming more and more apparent. About 80% of Lahaina, has been destroyed, including several cherished landmarks steeped in history and of cultural importance to Maui.

Officials warn that there’s a long road to recovery ahead for the affected communities. “Now I want to caution everyone, Lahaina is a devastated zone,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Friday in an interview with local station KHON. Those returning home “will see destruction like they’ve not ever seen in their lives. Everyone, please brace themselves as they go back,” he continued.

“It will be a new Lahaina that Maui builds in its own image with its own values,” Green said on Thursday, as he noted that upward of 1,700 buildings have been destroyed and will need to be rebuilt.

As AccuWeather reports, the estimated damages and economic losses of the Maui wildfires will total $8 to $10 billion.

As the community rallies together, and people across the world lend a helping hand, there are several ways people can contribute and make a difference for the Maui wildfire victims.

Whether looking to donate money or items or volunteer time, people can vet charities and organizations using tools such as Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, or GuideStar.

Monetary 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.

Avoid Scams

The state Attorney General’s office urged residents to use caution when choosing where to send their money and donations.

“I know that the people of Hawaii will come to the aid of our families, neighbors and communities,” says Attorney General Lopez. “We 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’s goodwill.”

Before making a donation, the AG advised in a news release last week 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’s 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 here. There are also a number of independent online sources you can use to verify that a charity is legitimate, including the following:
  • Stay away from suspicious donation requests and be mindful of the following scammer’s tactics:
    • Rushing you into making a donation. Don’t 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.

Local Community Centers

Several community centers across Maui have been transformed into temporary shelters for evacuees. These centers are in need of food, water, clothing and essential supplies to support displaced people. Donating non-perishable food items, clean clothing, blankets and toiletries directly to these centers can make an immediate impact.

Social Media efforts to mobilize support

In addition to monetary and material donations, social media has proven to be a powerful tool in mobilizing support. Hashtags like #MauiWildfireRelief and #MauiStrong are spreading awareness about the ongoing crisis and encouraging people worldwide to contribute to relief efforts. Sharing stories, updates and information about donation drives and volunteer opportunities has helped amplify the impact of community initiatives.

Volunteer opportunities

Apart from monetary donations, many local organizations are seeking volunteers to help with various tasks, such as distributing supplies, providing emotional support and assisting in cleanup efforts once it’s safe to do so. Check with local community centers, churches and non-profit organizations for volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved.

As the Maui wildfires continue to test the resilience of the island’s community, the outpouring of support and solidarity — the extension of aloha — serves as a beacon of hope. “Aloha is the true meaning and symbol of the Hawaiian culture and lifestyle: respect and love one another, and live in harmony with everything around you. Aloha is not something that is spoken, it is something that must be experienced,” according to Skyline Hawaii.

For more information, visit Maui Strong, another resource providing a comprehensive guide on how to help.

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Photo Credit: Barnes Ian / Shutterstock.com