LAHAINA, Hawaii (KHON2) — As the one-year anniversary of the wildfires on Maui arrives, many survivors are still in need of assistance, and the local community has given millions of dollars in support.
Micah Kane, president and CEO of the Hawaii Community Foundation and its Maui Strong Fund, spoke to NewsNation affiliate KHON on Wednesday to talk about what the help has done, and where it’s going next.
“When the Maui fires hit we had a really good understanding of the role we could play and I’m really proud of our team and what’s been done so far,” Kane said of the Hawaii Community Foundation’s work on Kauai’s flooding in 2018, the Kilauea eruption that year and COVID.
He added that to date, they’ve received $195 million raised from over 240,000 individuals from over 75 countries.
“Every U.S. territory, every U.S. state in our country. Over 5,000 corporate contributors. Just an amazing showing of aloha for the people and place of Maui. Very grateful for all of that support,” Kane said.
That money has been dispersed to 244 grants to 196 different organizations, according to the foundation.
“Majority of them based or operating on Maui, which was very important to us to invest in that capacity,” Kane said. “Upwards close to $110 million to date with still a lot of activity and a lot of grants going out the door every week.”
Kane added the foundation has mirrored its approach with FEMA so it knows what resources are needed.
“I think there’s three primary buckets that we’re focused on right now. First and foremost we’re trying to make sure every family has secure and safe housing for at least five years. Give them a sense of confidence and certainty that they can look forward,” Kane said.
“I think the second is continuing to invest in long-term planning and assuring that every individual in West Maui sees their role, has a voice. I think Maui County has done an outstanding job, they’ve held over 50 community meetings very formal community meetings anywhere from 5 to 500 people. We’re resourcing those activities and that’s important.
“Finally, where we’re spending a lot of time is on a much more robust case management program where every individual who’s unique circumstances can be supported. It’s an extremely complex broad and deep disaster.”
The help will be something that many West Maui residents will need to rely on in the years to come.
“Many of the families are upside down on their mortgage and their mortgage insurance, so there’s a lot of fear, there’s a lot of uncertainty, and each of those families have a unique journey that they’re going to be on and we’re going to do our best to just try to wrap around them and make sure they have the support they need and that’s going to be a long-haul,” Kane said. “It’s not going to be months, it’s going to be years.”
You can still help give to the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund.