The fire destroyed most of the historic town of Lahaina in Maui. This is considered the worst natural disaster in Hawaii state history.
There is lots of red tape with the big NGOs, so we gave monies raised to help Apela Colorado who lost her home in the blaze.Apela is founder of the Indigenous Science Network and hopefully this will help her rebuild her life.
The Clean Water Foundation is in Seattle, and they also decided to also support the Maui Project in order to have “boots on the ground in a series of three trips to the island”.
This was the letter they received askng fo collboration:
Seattle to Maui with Love
The strength of our communities are the relationships and trust we have with them. When our neighbors in Maui asked us for help, we didn’t hesitate to respond. To advance the work of our one Planet, we focus on “ Healthy Communities, Healthy Homes and Healthy Kitchens.”
This is where our heart starts and where seeds of change begin to be planted.
As Maui communities have begun the long road to recovery from a once-in-a-lifetime fire disaster, relief efforts have hit the ground running. We were honored when asked to be part of the disaster-relief response. Comprised of various non-profits and organizations, our team includes Eco Infinity Nation, Filipino Community of Seattle, SL Digital Media, Clean Water Foundation, Seattle Community Connect (Local Connectivity Lab), VET-Connect, Kicking Gas,
Ethnic Chamber of Commerce Coalition, and State Representative Mia Gregerson. Beginning the second Sunday in September, 2023, 14 members from our team will join folks from MauiStrong, a local group, who are leading the immediate and long-term recovery needs for the surrounding communities.
This trip will be the first of three phases. During Phase One, our team will collaborate with individuals, families and community leaders to install broadband networks, telecom and establish the groundwork for solar and electrification needs. Other crucial aspects of Phase One will be to listen directly from communities about their needs and plan for appropriate mutual aid that will empower and raise up local voices. Thanks to the generosity of donations made by countless organizations, companies, and WA community members, our team will also be
bringing much needed supplies requested by local communities.
Phase Two will begin at the end of 2023. Along with continued efforts to find mutual aid and ways where we can help with supplies, we will focus on infrastructure for the local middle and elementary schools and rebuilding the first 100 homes for displaced families in Lahaina.
In Phase Three, we will continue to work on electrification and clean water investments
and begin to work on supporting urban farming programs. We will take intentional actions to
respect the needs of the local communities by following the lead of local groups and programs.
Nothing of this magnitude can happen all at once. Throughout the three phases, data will
be collected and analyzed to make sure we make milestones and follow through on project goals.
We are looking forward to supporting and working directly with the communities affected to
ensure that the recovery process is done equitably and remains in their hands. To learn more
about our efforts, donate or join our team please follow us at…..
