Nā Kia’i O Maui is seeking to raise money for the Lahaina Resource and Recovery Center! Please help us meet our fundraising goal of $1,155,530 which will cover one year of operations.

Hālau Lahaina, Malu I Ka ‘Ulu

Lahaina is like a large house shaded by breadfruit trees

‘Ōlelo No‘eau, Traditional Hawaiian Proverb

Come take a glimpse for just a moment through our eyes. Imagine we have paddled out on a canoe and we are looking back at Lahaina. We see homes clustered in neighborhoods where children play and kūpuna sit on lānai—their gentle eyes taking in the beauty of a vibrant and thriving landscape. The island is green from the mountains to the sea, and we see well-established groves of ‘ulu offering cool shade while life-giving waters flow freely along ancient pathways feeding the pond at Mokuhinia. Food is growing in abundance, nourished by drenching Ka Ua Pa’ūpili rains, providing sustenance to ‘ohana that have lived on these lands for generations. Native Hawaiian values and practices are embraced by a community that celebrates its interconnectedness and diversity. Locally-rooted and community-centered businesses are thriving, and Front Street is a beloved hub of social, cultural, and economic activity connected by our shared values of aloha ‘āina and aloha kekahi i kekahi—love for the land and for one another. Generations have gathered under the dense foliage and curving branches of Lahaina’s beloved banyan tree, while laughter makes audible the deep joy rising like a spring in the hearts of the people.

We are on a voyage to pull this island from the sea, guided by an inner compass that resides in our na‘au and ever points to our true north. Lahaina will rise and once again be as it was—a thriving center of cultural and spiritual abundance.

No Nā Kānaka, meaning for the people, is a movement founded on the belief that the people of Lahaina can rebuild Lahaina. Every decision we make, everything we do, every thought, word, or deed must be fueled by this—our unwavering love for the people and our belief in their inherent power to be the navigators of their own destinies.

Keikei Lahaina i ka ua Pa‘ūpili

Majestic Lahaina in the Pa‘ūpili rain

‘Ōlelo No‘eau, Traditional Hawaiian Proverb

Deepening our understanding of Lahaina’s history can act as a beacon along our healing journey. Like the proverb that teaches us “i ka wā mamua, ka wā mahope,” meaning our future can be found in our past, we look to the rich history of Lahaina as our zenith star on this voyage of rebirth.

In the past two and a half centuries, Lahaina has undergone immense social, environmental, and cultural disruption that drastically shifted its ecosystems from the mountains to the sea. What was once floodplains, taro patches, and wetlands has become arid, fire-prone landscapes vegetated by invasive grasses. No longer beckoned by shady ‘ulu groves, the rain that once drenched the pili grass falls sparingly. The fishpond at Mokuhinia is a dusty field and beloved Moku’ula resides only in the stories, chants, and songs of our people.

As we seek to heal and rebuild Lahaina from the devastating impacts of the August 8th fires, it is imperative that we understand the greater context of our work. We root ourselves in a continuum that extends thousands of years before us and extends forward for thousands of years to come.

He ‘ohu ke aloha, ‘a‘ohe kuahiwi kau ‘ole

Love is a mist, there is no hill upon which it does not settle

‘Ōlelo No‘eau, Traditional Hawaiian Proverb

The devastating August 8th Maui fires claimed 101 lives, displaced countless families, destroyed 2,200 structures and caused an estimated 5.5 billion dollars of damage.

We do not realize how much we take for granted until it is gone, or until we are helping someone that has just lost everything—the home we live in, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the car we drive, the simple tasks that accompany our day-to-day life, brushing our teeth, using the bathroom, taking a shower.

Nā Kia’i O Maui’s origin story starts in the incredible outpouring of human kindness and compassion we took part in at the War Memorial which sheltered survivors immediately after the fire. Under the steadfast leadership of Aunty Nettie Aquino, a grassroots group dubbed “Da Hui” organized to manage volunteers and donations while also providing loving direct support to survivors at the shelter.

Once the shelter closed at War Memorial, Da Hui relocated to 150 Hāna Highway to build a central hub where donations could be received, sorted, and distributed to a network of 38+ community hubs in Lahaina and throughout Maui. These hubs provided a critical lifeline to impacted ‘ohana by delivering essential goods and services directly to families near where they were residing.

During our time at 150 Hana Hwy we learned of the plight of the Kelawea Mauka Makai community where neighborhoods in Lahaina that were spared adjacent to the burn zone were largely being forgotten. Toxins in the air and water were a huge concern and there was a need for essential supplies such as drinking water and air purifiers. We quickly responded and helped to set up infrastructure for this hub while securing and distributing these critical donations.

In late September, we showed up with a small army of volunteers to help build an off-grid tent city in Central Maui to house Lahaina’s houseless community as they were being evicted from hotels and had nowhere to go. Due to the timeline, we had three days to transform an open industrial lot into a small city with residential units, kitchen, cafeteria, intake and medic tents, bathrooms/showers, recreation areas, and off-grid water and electrical infrastructure—including air conditioning for all the tents!

Anybody can make an impression, but Na Kia’i O Maui seeks to always make an imprint—leaving a lasting legacy of aloha with those we serve.

‘A’ohe hana nui ke ‘alu ‘ia

No task is too difficult when done together by all

‘Ōlelo No‘eau, Traditional Hawaiian Proverb

After more than seven months providing aid to impacted ‘ohana primarily in Central Maui, Nā Kia’i O Maui is being called to establish a presence in Lahaina. We are launching our newest endeavor to serve the people as they transition into short and then long-term housing—the Lahaina Resource and Recovery Center.

Nā Kia’i O Maui is seeking to raise our operating cost for at least one year for the Lahaina Resource and Recovery Center! Please help us meet our fundraising goal of $1,155,530 .

As families begin to move out of non-congregate shelters, Na Kia’i O Maui is pivoting to provide a robust array of support for this difficult transition. To alleviate this burden, Nā Kia’i O Maui will provide ‘ohana with everything needed to furnish and outfit their homes. From large items like furniture and appliances, to smaller things like lamps, rugs, linens, pots and pans, and dishes, to consumables like laundry detergent, dish soap, and cleaning supplies.

Goods will be donated and volunteers will provide delivery to homes across Maui and assist with getting everything situated in the home keeping all goods and services free to families. Additional support will be provided for elderly and those with limited physical capacity for moving heavy items. We will evolve and expand this work to meet needs as they arise or change.

We have been working hard to build a strong foundation for the Lahaina Resource and Recovery Center. We have key partnerships lined up, our core team trained, volunteers ready to go, policies and procedures created, donations promised, and most importantly families that need our support. We have successfully piloted our services with ten displaced ‘ohana so far. We have been operating in a mobile manner working out of storage containers. Our next step is to find a large warehouse to scale up our operations in preparation for the many families that will need this support.

We will continue to raise funds and welcome your support at any time. In addition to funding, we always welcome volunteers and partners. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and connect with us! You can also read more about our story and the LRRC through our No Nā Kānaka book.

Lahaina, I Ka Malu ‘Ulu O Lele

Lahaina, in the shade of the breadfruit trees of Lele

‘Ōlelo No‘eau, Traditional Hawaiian Proverb

We know that healing our land and people will take many years, perhaps even generations, and we acknowledge that the immense challenges we face today have been generations in the making. Nā Kia’i O Maui is committed to the long road ahead and we wholeheartedly embrace our kuleana to this work. I would like to invite you to join us on this journey.

Let us amplify all voices no nā kānaka to ensure that no one is forgotten and every single person, every family, every neighborhood is held lovingly in our collective embrace for as long as it takes to restore complete health, wholeness, and well-being for all.

Lahaina Resource and Recovery Center

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