Maui Job Corps Helps Residents Displaced by Kahikinui Fire

Staff at the Maui Job Corps facility gathered donations and supplies to assist a resident displaced for several days by the recent Kahikinui fire along the southeast slopes of Haleakalā. The fire forced the evacuation of several residents who were left without power in the remote location.

Concerned workers at the Maui Job Corps decided to act by soliciting donations from community partners.  Maintenance Supervisor Art “AJ” De Lima Jr and Food Services Manager Brian Motooka collected the donations and AJ delivered them to residents late Friday afternoon, using a Job Corps vehicle.

Community partner donations included: cases of battled water from Mākena Resort and Menehune Water; bags of vegetables from Kula Produce; food, including tuna and rice from VIP; and money from Job Corps staff was used to purchase canned Spam and corned beef.

Over the last ten years Maui Job Corps has volunteered and donated time to build roadways, plant indigenous and native plants, and install a working water catchment and irrigation system in the remote region.  Job Corps representatives say much of the work done has now been destroyed by the fire.

AJ and his Job Corps crew plan on returning several times over the next few months to do a clean-up and work on some fire break and brush removal.

Today, firefighters responded to multiple flare-ups reported at the burn area, which had scorched 5,300 acres since Monday, Feb. 15, 2016.

Job Corps is the nation’s largest federally funded job training and education program for youth ages 16 through 24 years of age. For more information on the Job Corps program, interested individuals can call (808) 579-8450.

Kahikinui residents receiving donations from the Maui Job Corps.

Trucks loaded ready for delivery.

Maui Job Corps Students loading supplies from (L-R) Justin Sinon, Lywai Basa, Robert Elaydo, Kayven Phal, Sandra Corderio.