Maui Wildfire Relief

Beginning on August 8, 2023, Maui experienced (and is experiencing) widespread wildfires due to a combination of drought conditions and hurricane weather. The town of Lahaina is gone, and these wildfires are officially the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii's history with hundreds of people still missing.

Hawaii natives have been warning us of the dangers of excessive and exploitative tourism in Hawaii for many years now, and these wildfires are just part of the consequences of this industry.

While residents have been under water restrictions to conserve water in Maui, hotels, resorts, and other short-term tourist accommodations are using a majority of the available water.

Combine land exploitation, climate change, invasive plant species, and ecosystems deprived of water and you have the ideal conditions for absolutely devastating fires.

Here's how you can help:

  • Do not travel to Maui. If you had upcoming travel plans, cancel them. The less visitors taking up limited resources, the better. Survivors of the fires are the priority for hotels and flights.

  • Follow people and organizations on social media that are working towards social and environmental justice in Hawaii. (I've started following @ainamomona and @kakoo_haleakala)

  • Donate. If you have the resources, donate to on-the-ground organizations or directly to families in need. Here is a list of vetted resources and organizations from ‘Āina Momona.

Here's how we're helping:

As a small business, our resources and funds are incredibly limited. However, I cannot do nothing, and I am using this platform to amplify the voices of those doing the work and those directly affected. 

Remember - "We cannot do all the good needs. But the world needs all the good we can do." (Jana Stanfield)

My heart goes out to everyone affected by these fires, and I thank you for helping these families and organizations in any way you can.

All my love,
Krystina
Founder + CEO, A Drop in the Ocean