Help Maui
Recover and Rebuild
August 8, 2023 will be a date that forever changed our Island and our Community. So many people lost loved ones, homes, businesses and more in the Maui fires that it’s almost impossible to imagine the impact and how to move forward. Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this terrible tragedy.
This foundation was created to help the people of our community, by the people of our community, in that process.
Our mission is to empower the Maui community devastated by the August 2023 fires through transparent grant-making processes and strategic partnerships to foster resilience and catalyze sustainable recovery initiatives.
We are committed to accountability and making sure your donations are used for what they were intended for, helping the people of Maui recover and rebuild.
Please look forward to regular updates that will show just how your donations are being used to help our community.
From the bottom of our hearts, we extend our sincerest gratitude for your support.
Aloha kākou
Maui Pono Foundation
Our
Story
Please take a moment to watch the short video, Restoring Lahaina: Maui Pono Foundation's Journey of Hope and Recovery.
1000+
Families Affected
2200+
Structures Damaged or Destroyed
102
Lives Lost
1
Island to Rebuild
Data based on major media outlets' reporting
Update on Debris Removal
Residential
1,390 parcels submitted to contractor for debris removal
1,390 properties cleared of ash and debris
1,384 properties completed and turned over to Maui County
Vehicles
3,152 removed and brought to be managed at Pioneer Mill
Commercial
159 parcels submitted to contractor for debris removal
102 properties cleared of ash and debris
72 properties completed and turned over to Maui County
Debris & Ash Removal
256K+ tons of wildfire ash and debris removed
*Data provided by the Army Corps of Engineers
Total Money Disbursed to the Community
$1,894,102
Putting Your Donations to Work
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So far, we have issued $1,042,500 in individual cash grants to people in our community affected by the Maui fires.
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Working with our friends at FilltheNeeds.org, we provided a $5,000 grant that helped bring 117 Ukulele starter kits to the Maui music community.
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We partnered with the Positively Kai Foundation by donating $25,000 to support the Raising Lahaina event on October 21, 2023.
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We worked with Slims Power Tools in Kahului to purchase and distribute $20,000 of tools to contractors that lost their tools in the fires.
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We donated $178,000 to local organizations that are dedicated to supporting our community.
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We awarded $564,202 in small business grants to support businesses reopening in our community.
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We donated $29,200 to the Mālamā ‘Āina Project to replant our forest and regenerate our soil to prevent future fires at Lahaina Intermediate School and Lahainaluna High School.
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We partnered with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and donated $25,000 for the Maui CARE Flights Program that sent 50 Lahaina families on an all expenses paid vacation to Disneyland.
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We donated $5,200 to Lahaina Intermediate School to help fund their 8th Grade Banquet, celebrating our students' accomplishments.
What People are Saying
"Thank you VERY MUCH, eternally and
insanely GRATEFUL!"
"Mahalo a nui!!! We are truly grateful and humbled by this!!!"
"Thank you so much! This means so much to our family during this time."
"Mahalo so much.
Take care and God bless you and your Ohana."
"Thank you so very very much. I can't tell you how helpful this is, especially with Christmas just weeks away. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!"
"A heartfelt THANK YOU to Maui Pono for their gracious financial support after losing our home in Lahaina. Your generous donations have helped us to regain a sense of normalcy as we navigate the journey of rebuilding our lives, and now even have an actual tool set to get started!"
"Aloha,
I am beyond, beyond grateful for this help!
Mahalo nui with all my heart."
"I can’t thank you and The Maui Pono Foundation enough for the support you have given me and my family. Having lost my house and absolutely all of my tools, it has been tremendous the helping hand you all have given us. Financial assistance and tools are a lifeline for us. Thank you !!!!!"
"Thank you so much for the great news!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!"
"We can’t thank you enough for your support and kindness. We appreciate everything you are doing for our community."
"Thank you so much to Maui Pono Foundation!! You have helped so many including myself in our greatest time of need! There are so many organizations out there saying they are helping but many with genuine needs are falling through the cracks.
Thank you so very much, from the bottom of my heart! "
Our hopes came through and we received $2,500 each from Maui Pono Foundation to help us begin to rebuild. Thank you so much for being there to help the people of Lahaina get back on their feet!"
About Maui Pono Foundation
We are a team of Maui residents dedicated to helping the Maui and Lahaina communities affected by the recent fires. Our mission is to use our unique ties to the community to recognize and provide immediate relief as well as support for long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Investing in the Future
We donated $20,700 to the Mālamā ‘Āina Project to plant trees at Lahaina Intermediate School. These trees will create a firebreak that will help protect the school against future wildfires.
Click the link for more information on this project.
Hope Rises With Every Donation
Your donation can make a real difference to the affected families, local small businesses and communities. Press play on Trevor Arnholt's video from Fuzz Box Productions to learn how your contributions can enact change. Please donate generously to support our efforts in providing immediate relief and long-term support.
The Maui wildfires destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, Maui, making it the worst natural disaster in state history. The Lahaina fire now ranks among the top 10 deadliest U.S. wildfires on record since 1871, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a global nonprofit focused on eliminating loss due to fire hazards.
An exclusive collection of merchandise featuring the artwork of Lahaina’s legendary and notorius “Outsider” artist, CAPTAIN KENNY Neizman (1932-2003) who was considered “The Picasso of The Pacific”. A portion of the proceeds will directly benefit the Maui Pono Foundation in our ongoing campaign to raise funds in aid of the fire recovery effort.
CAPTAIN KENNY
"Forever Lahaina"
T-Shirt Drive
Rebuilding the Business Community
We recently awarded $267,404 in small business grants to support businesses that were impacted by the fires. These grants will help their businesses recover so that they may continue to grow and prosper.
Small Business Grants
We are not accepting applications for small business grants at this time. Please follow us on social media and check our website for updates and future opportunities.