On Tuesday, several brush fires quickly spread throughout Maui’s communities, including historic Lahaina town. The fire destroyed many people’s homes and took many lives.
Within 24 hours of the event, Sacred Heart Academy’s parent organization planned a donation drive at the front of the Kaimuki campus. The drive today collected 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 the Student Council. Community members dropped off donations to the front of campus. The volunteers collected, sorted through and boxed up the items.
Freshman Kaila Teves volunteered and felt very inspired by the donation drive.
“As a small state, we need to band together to support one another throughout the hard times,” she said. “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.”
According to Maui County officials, the fire was 80% contained in Lahaina yesterday. There were also fires in Kihei and upcountry. The Maui firefighters continue to patrol these towns.
While the cause of the fire is still being investigated, 270 structures throughout the state were affected by the fire.
There are 67 confirmed fatalities, as of today.
Teves wrote a prayer. 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.”
Sophomore Lillian Kaleikini-Thompson has family in Lahaina. On the day of the fire, she and her family watched the local news reports and texted relatives on Maui to find out if they were safe.
“My cousins are young and to see all the videos of families running away from the fires, and some families not making it, it was bad to think of the worst,” she said.
Kaleikini-Thompson did not volunteer at the Academy’s donation drive. Her family’s focus was to first help those closest to them.
“We helped because that is what families do,” she said. “We sent over four boxes and a suitcase of necessities to my uncles and their family…from clothes, home goods, medical supplies, medicine, toys and gift cards.”
Kaleikini-Thompson applauds the Academy’s efforts.
“It’s absolutely helpful to donate for the Maui victims,” she said. “Knowing that Sacred Hearts lead a donation drive shows empathy and shows that Hawaii is so special that we can help every community in times of need.”
While the Academy’s drive is one of many local and nationwide efforts, coordinator Ho recommends that people only give to reputable sources, such as the American Red Cross.
Following the drive today, volunteers dropped off all donations to the nonprofit Ke Kula Nui O Waimanalo. In total, the Academy donated enough necessities to fill up a large truck and three vans, according to Ho. They will be distributed to the American Red Cross for the people affected in Maui.
