Supporting Maui
On Tuesday, August 8, the town of Lāhainā on the island of Maui was the site of a natural disaster due to a severe wildfire that swept through the area. The fire prompted mass evacuations, and caused significant damage and loss of life. For those in the library community looking to support the residents of Maui, please see the resource list below which was curated by the Boards of HLA and the Hawaiʻi Association of School Librarians (HASL). There are many other organizations and individuals that are hosting fundraisers; as with any monetary transaction, please do your due diligence before donating. Click on the yellow bar below to expand the list of funds you may wish to contribute to.
Mutual aid funds that provide immediate assistance
- Maui Strong Fund
https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong
The Maui Strong Fund is providing financial resources that can be deployed quickly, with a focus on rapid response and recovery for the devastating wildfires on Maui. - Aloha United Way’s Maui Fire Relief Fund
https://ignite.stratuslive.com/auw/get-involved/donate/mauirelief
Aloha United Way advances the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community by bringing together resources, organizations, and people. - ‘Āina Momona Relief Listing
https://www.kaainamomona.org/maui
‘Āina Momona is a Native Hawaiian 501(c)(3) organization founded by Walter Ritte for the purpose of achieving environmental health and sustainability through restoring social justice and Hawaiian sovereignty. ʻĀina Momona is not affiliated with any religious institution. - Maui Humane Society
https://www.mauihumanesociety.org/donate-olx
Maui Humane Society’s mission is to protect and save the lives of Maui’s animals, accepting all in need, educating the community, and inspiring respect and compassion towards all animals. Funds not needed for wildfire victims will be used for future lifesaving efforts for Maui's homeless animals. - Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation
https://pshf.org/donations-page/
The Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation (PSHF) is partnering with the Hawaii State Department of Education to support our public school communities impacted by the destructive wildfires on Maui. All monetary donations in support of this effort received by PSHF through October 1, 2023 will be designated solely for Maui public schools affected by the wildfire disaster. - Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association
https://www.hsta.org/news/recent-stories/donate-to-teachers-affected-by-maui-wildfires/
Initial counts indicate more than 50 Maui educators have either lost their homes entirely in the fires or their homes suffered damage to the extent that they have to temporarily relocate. All of the teachers at King Kamehameha III Elementary School have lost their classrooms. - Maui Food Bank
https://mauifoodbank.org/
A partner of Hawaiʻi Foodbank, they are accepting donations and list food items that are needed.
It is our understanding that two libraries on Maui were extensively damaged by the wildfires: the Lāhainā Public Library and King Kamehameha III Elementary School Library. Book donations are not being asked for at this point. When information about how to directly support the rebuilding efforts of these libraries is available to share, we will post that information here. In the meantime, please see the following general library support fund below, along with other funds, projects, and resources you may wish to explore further.
Local Library Support:
Local Preservation Support:
Other Library Related-Efforts:
Maui Nui Strong
More Connections and Resources:
The resources below were sent in by various individuals in the library and academic communities. They may be of use to people affected by the wildfires and others who are planning for future responses to natural disasters. Click on the yellow bar below to access the full list.
Local Library Support:
- Maui Friends of the Library
https://www.mfol.org/donate
The Maui Friends of the Library is a nonprofit, all volunteer organization that serves the people of Maui County, primarily through support of the island’s libraries. - UH Maui College Library Foundation Account
https://giving.uhfoundation.org/funds/12018354
Over 200 students at UH Maui College are believed to have been directly impacted by the fires. Donations will support the Library's efforts to respond to those immediate and future student needs, including expanding their access to hotspots and other integral technology.
Local Preservation Support:
- Lahaina Restoration Foundation
https://lahainarestoration.org/donate/
Lahaina Restoration Foundation is a 501(c)3 Hawai‘i nonprofit organization chartered in 1962. Its mission is to be stewards and storytellers of Lahaina’s Historic & Cultural Heritage. Your gift will be used to help with the recovery efforts for Lahaina. Please make sure this tragedy is not the end of Lahaina’s story.
Other Library Related-Efforts:
- We are trying to compile stories and research about how other libraries that have been directly affected by disasters - whether natural or as a result of other circumstances - have stepped up to serve the community. If you have examples of such stories, please consider sending them to us. Examples might include ways in which affected libraries connected patrons with available financial or mental health support options, or how libraries created dedicated spaces for meditation/mindfulness so that patrons could decompress and reduce anxiety, or how librarians created "free libraries" at locations where large groups of displaced people were temporarily residing. The stories will be shared with library workers on Maui who are figuring out the path forward.
- List: Stories Compiled Thus Far
- To submit a story, either publicly or privately, please email the PDF to [email protected] and indicate your preference as to whether it can be added to the more "public" folder vs shared only with the library workers on Maui.
Maui Nui Strong
- Maui Nui Strong is a County of Maui economic development program that connects residents, businesses, and visitors to useful information about Maui County, our diverse islands, and a variety of resources that help to promote thriving and vibrant communities
https://www.mauinuistrong.info/
More Connections and Resources:
The resources below were sent in by various individuals in the library and academic communities. They may be of use to people affected by the wildfires and others who are planning for future responses to natural disasters. Click on the yellow bar below to access the full list.
Additional resources and information
Guidance for Heritage and Preservation
- If you have been affected by this disaster and need to consult with conservators, preservation architects, art handlers, and crating companies to aid in salvage and recovery, please contact the National Heritage Responders. Locally, Liane Naʻauao and Malia Van Heukelem are members of the group, and they are maintaining a working list of institutions whose building have been lost or damaged.
- Contacting the National Heritage Responders:
- Individuals, if your personal items have been damaged in an emergency, email: [email protected]
- Institutions, if your collections have been affected by an emergency, call: (202) 661-8068
- Not urgent? Email [email protected]
- Find a Professional: https://www.culturalheritage.org/about-conservation/find-a-conservator
- Contacting the National Heritage Responders:
- California Preservation Clearinghouse – Soot, Char Damage and Odors on Books & Paper
https://calpreservation.org/disasters/generic/soot_char_odor.pdf - Northeast Document Conservation Center – Recommended Wildfire Resources for Cultural Heritage Organizations
https://public-media.secure.si.edu/filer/41/aa/41aa0e72-5b93-440e-bd08-77c1f6353208/2021-wildfire-resources.pdf - Museums & Galleries of New South Wales – How To: Not All is Lost in a Fire
https://mgnsw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/how_to_not_all_is_lost_in_the_fire.pdf - Chicora Foundation – Tips for Cleaning Up After a Fire
http://chicora.org/fire.html - American Institute for Conservation – Soot and Ash segment (from Field Guide to Emergency Response)
https://youtu.be/s9i9BfofVFo - CDC – Worker Safety During Fire Cleanup
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/cleanupworkers.html#print - Library of Congress – Preservation: Additional Emergency Resources
https://loc.gov/preservation/emergprep/emerother - Northeast Document Conservation Center – NEDCC Preservation Leaflets
https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-leaflets/overview - National Park Service Museum Management Program – Leaflets on Caring for Museum Objects
https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/cons_toc.html - Connecting to Collections – Quick Salvage Tips
https://connectingtocollections.org/salvage-at-a-glance-waac/ - American Institute for Conservation – Emergency Response & Salvage Wheel (salvage tips)
https://store.culturalheritage.org/site/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=FAIC-1 - American Institute for Conservation – YouTube Field Guide to Emergency Response
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH0WXCtI2noiqtbY6nN11P-qKbf04lp7t - Connecting to Collections – The Supercharged Management System
https://connectingtocollections.org/ics/
- US Dept. of Homeland Security – Returning Home after a Wildfire
https://www.ready.gov/wildfires#after - [FEMA Dropbox] https://www.dropbox.com/e/scl/fi/69wgkc1fd1ja9ftsb57pd/fema_after-the-fire_2023.pdf?dl=0&rlkey=tyh7zn833hyyutr4rs4du6v9u
- US Dept. of Homeland Security – National Disaster Recovery Framework
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/national_disaster_recovery_framework_2nd.pdf - American Planning Association – Planning for Post Disaster Recovery: Next Generation
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/apa_planning-for-post-disaster-recovery-next-generation_03-04-2015.pdf - Related to Mental Health
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – Disaster Distress Helpline
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline - US Dept. of Homeland Security – Coping with Disaster
https://www.ready.gov/coping-disaster#:~:text=Talk%20to%20someone%20and%20seek,deal%20with%20post%2Ddisaster%20stress
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – Disaster Distress Helpline
If you have concerns about any of the information that has been posted here, please send us an email at [email protected].