Hawaii Wildfires - What You Need to Know + Ways to Help

Hawaii is in mourning. On Tuesday, August 8th, 2023, deadly wildfires broke out across Maui destroying the seaside town of Lahaina and causing thousands to evacuate. These fires are now considered the most devasting natural disaster in Hawaii's history. Over a hundred people have tragically died with hundreds more displaced from their homes.

If you're looking for ways to support Maui in this dire time, we have compiled a list of nonprofits that are collecting donations below. You can also scroll for resources to stay up-to-date on the latest information and what to do if you are currently visiting or plan to visit Maui anytime soon.

We will update this page periodically as more information becomes available.

Ways You Can Help

Below is a list of reputable nonprofits that are providing immediate support to the community.

Council For Native Hawaiian Advancement

CNHA is matching donations up to $1.5 million in donations.

Donate

American Red Cross of Hawaii

Offering shelter and assistance to those impacted by the fires.

Donate

Maui Food Bank

Working with various organizations to provide relief throughout Maui.

Donate

Maui United Way

All donations provide direct relief to families and nonprofits.

Donate

The Salvation Army Hawaii

Providing food and other essential items to evacuees.

Donate

Maui Humane Society

Supporting animals that have been displaced at this time.

Donate

Hawaii Community Foundation

Providing resources for disaster response and recovery through the Maui Strong Fund.

Donate

Stay Up-to-Date

Below is a list of resources for the most up-to-date information on the Hawaii wildfires.

Visiting Hawaii? Here's What You Need to Know

Visitors who are on non-essential travel are being asked to leave West Maui, and non-essential travel to West Maui is strongly discouraged at this time as the search and recovery continues. Visitors who have travel plans to West Maui in the coming weeks are encouraged to consider rescheduling their travel plans for a later time. The Governor has issued an emergency proclamation through October 17th, and travel to West Maui is discouraged throughout the duration of this emergency proclamation.

Hotels in West Maui have temporarily stopped accepting bookings of future reservations. The area most affected by the wildfires is off-limits to the general public - proof of residency or work is required to enter at this time.

Visitors with travel plans to other parts of Maui (including Kahului, Wailuku, Kīhei, Wailea, and Mākena) should reach out to their accommodations to ensure they can still be hosted. The Hawaii Tourism Authority is encouraging travelers to continue visiting other areas of Maui, as well as the other Hawaiian islands.

For more information about travel to Hawaii at this time, check out the FAQ's below.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where islands were affected by the wildfires?
Maui - specifically Lahaina and West Maui - were most impacted by wildfires.

2. I have an upcoming trip to Maui - should I postpone?
It depends on where in Maui you're going. Non-essential travel to West Maui is strongly discouraged at this time and in the near future (until at least October 17th). Visitors currently on West Maui for non-essential travel are being asked to leave the island as rescue and recovery efforts continue. Airlines are being very supportive during this emergency crisis and providing additional flights to help visitors depart from Maui. Currently, access to West Maui is closed to visitors and hotels have stopped accepting future bookings.

If you're visiting other parts of Maui, please contact your hotel directly to see if they can support your visit. However, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is encouraging travel to other parts of Maui as many small businesses depend on tourism. If you are visiting another part of Maui, you can show your support by buying local.

Travel to the other Hawaiian Islands, like Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island, is not affected at this time.

3. I’m on Maui, should I head to the airport without a confirmed flight?
Check with your airline for any flight changes or cancellations, or for assistance with rebooking. Airlines are accommodating travelers at this time.

4. Where can people find the latest information and updates on the situation?
Official channels are the best sources for the latest updates, including:

Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency: MauiStrong.hawaii.gov
Maui County Emergency Management Agency: https://www.mauicounty.gov
Hawaii Tourism Authority: Hawaii Tourism Authority

What are We Doing?

As a Hawaii-based company, we are heartbroken by the news coming out of Maui. We recently ran a donation campaign where we were matching a total of $1,000 in donations to the Salvation Army Hawaii. This campaign far exceeded our $1,000 goal and in total with the help of our customers and social media followers, we were able to raise over $50K for the Salvation Army Hawaii.

What is the Salvation Army Hawaii Doing with Donations?

100% of these donations will go to disaster relief in Maui.

Currently, the Salvation Army is providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all county and Red Cross shelters in Maui. They have contracted with a kitchen at the local community college and are purchasing all the food from stores and restaurants. Their volunteers are assembling and delivering food to different sites.

They are feeding 7,000+ on Maui.

What's Next for the Salvation Army Hawaii's Maui Relief Efforts?

The Salvation Army Hawaii team is starting to set up mobile feeding so they can go into the communities to provide meals.

They are also answering distress messages from people who are at shelters and going out into the community to find them and deliver food and water and any sort of emotional support they can.

The Salvation Army will stay in Maui until recovery relief is no longer needed.

SELF GUIDED AUDIO TOURS HAWAII

Hawaii Wildfires - What You Need to Know + Ways to Help