On Tuesday, several brush fires quickly spread throughout Maui’s beloved communities, including historic Lahaina town. The fire destroyed many people’s homes and took many lives.

Within 24 hours of the tragic event, Sacred Heart Academy’s parent organization planned a donation drive at the front of the Kaimuki campus. The drive today included items such as clothing, baby food, diapers, nonperishable items, feminine hygiene products, and much more.

“When you have nothing, this is when the community should come together and help each other,” said alumna and parent board president Natasha Haukea Ho ‘97.

Today’s donation drive, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., included help from parents, the LIFE Team, and our Student Council, making it a success.

Freshman Kaila Teves volunteered and felt very inspired by the donation drive. She wrote a statement and prayer for Maui.
“As a small state, we need to band together to support one another throughout the hard times we suffer through,” she said. “When one of us needs the other, we will do anything in our power to support them. During this drive-through for Maui, we worked together to help each other, and it brought a sense of unity and motivation to our community.”

Part of her prayer included the following, “I pray for those who are suffering. If it is your will, I pray that you heal them, Lord. I ask that you be with them, comfort them and provide them with peace. Keep Maui in your hearts and your prayers for we only have one state that is us.”

While there are many donation efforts across the state and nation, Ho recommended that if you want to donate in support of Maui, make sure it is to a reputable source, such as the Red Cross.

The Academy dropped off all donations to the nonprofit Ke Kula Nui O Waimanalo. They will be distributed to the Red Cross for the people affected in Maui.