There have been more than 100 fatalities confirmed in the Maui wildfire that destroyed the city of Lahaina last week. That number is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue.
About 2,700 structures have been destroyed and more than 1,400 people are being temporarily housed at six different shelters, according to Maui authorities.
The fire in Lahaina was reportedly 85% contained as of Wednesday. For other wildfires on the island of Maui, the Kula fire was reportedly 65% contained and other blazes in Pūlehu/Kihei and Ka’anapali were 100% contained.
For Santa Barbara County residents, the images of destructive wildfires are all too familiar.
Especially for South Coast residents who saw the devastating 2017 Thomas Fire burn through Ventura County and into Carpinteria and Montecito communities.
In the week since the Lahaina fire burned through town, more guidance has become available for how off-island people can help Maui residents impacted by the wildfires.
Direct Relief, which is headquartered in Goleta, has been sending medical aid and financial assistance to Maui since the fires began. The nonprofit organization focuses on helping community health centers by supplying medicine and aid so medical professionals can better treat their patients.
For people who want to help Maui residents with monetary donations, Chris Alleway, Emergency Response Manager for Direct Relief, suggests that everyone research organizations they trust when deciding to donate financially to help Maui wildfire victims.
Alleway also urges everyone to stay informed on the situation and listen to those directly impacted by the disaster.
Hawaiian officials are asking that people do not send clothes and other items unless they are specifically requested or if there is someone on the island to pick it up.
GoFundMe is often used to help donate to specific people in need of aid, but in times of tragedy, scammers will take advantage of people’s goodwill to benefit their own pockets.
Maui Information Guide has been reposting verified GoFundMe pages from Hawaiians in need on its social media pages.
One page is for a local chef preparing meals for Maui residents in shelters.
“All proceeds will go directly to covering food costs, and directly into the hands of our Maui community in need. Havens restaurants Maui will provide the grade A kitchen to produce the meals for our community,” Havens Maui wrote on its GoFundMe page.
Some other Hawaii-based fundraising efforts include:
Hawai‘i Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund
United Way Maui Fire Disaster Fund
Maui Humane Society
Anyone planning on vacationing in Hawaii during August is recommended to reschedule, according to Maui Guide.
People planning a trip in September are recommended to keep an eye on the situation and listen to updates from government officials. From October onward, officials are encouraging visitors to still come since tourism is a big part of Maui’s economy.
“We can’t afford to have no jobs or a future for our children,” Hawaii Governor Josh Green said during a press conference on Friday. “We don’t want other businesses after this devastation to leave and also leave other parts of Maui devastated, that wouldn’t be okay.”
For Direct Relief, representatives plan to stay on Maui as long as their help is needed.
“Direct Relief has been working here for over 10 years and we will continue to do so for as as long as as needed,” Alleway told Noozhawk. “We’ll be here for years to come as the residents of Maui and the communities build back.”
Anyone wanting to donate to Direct Relief can do so here.
