A Maui health provider team that mobilized during the 2023 wildfires earns national G.R.I.T. award

In August 2023, as families and students were scattered across the island, Hawaiʻi Keiki’s Maui provider team mobilized to ensure access to care for Hawaiʻi Department of Education students, assisting in shelters, providing virtual telehealth visits, managing health hotlines, and supporting the community through various efforts including partnering with Federally Qualified Health Centers for medical care, conducting health assessments, refilling prescriptions, and facilitating access to vaccinations in affected areas.

Twenty Maui residents working with the Hawaiʻi Keiki: Healthy & Ready to Learn program have been nationally recognized with the 2024 G.R.I.T. Award from the School-Based Health Alliance for their outstanding service during the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The inaugural award honors those who exhibit Genuine, Resilient, Innovative, and Tenacious qualities in school-based health care.

The surprise recognition came at the annual Hawaiʻi Keiki Back to School meeting held at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on July 29, 2024. The awardees include registered nurses, nurse practitioners (APRNs), and health technicians, all of whom demonstrated exceptional dedication during the crisis. The awardees include:

• Lisa Alejandro, health technician at Kīhei Elementary School
• Eva Balagso, health technician at Kamehameha III Elementary School
• Janel Branson, Complex Area APRN and Complex Area lead at Kalama Intermediate School
• Ashley Dent, Complex RN at Pāʻia Elementary School
• Alliyah Dudoit, health technician at Baldwin High School
• Zoe Elder, health technician at Hāna High & Elementary School
• Madison Furlong, Complex Area APRN, Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary School
• Aprilcarren Failano, health technician at Kahului Elementary School
• Cherie Gonzalez, health technician at Kilohana Elementary School
• Shaelyn Jardine-Feiteira, health technician at Kalama Intermediate School
• Willene Lono, health technician at Wailuku Elementary School
• Dana MacDonald, Complex RN and Complex Area lead at Lahainaluna High School
• Benevee McGee, health technician at Maunaloa Elementary School
• Christa Marzitelli, Complex RN at Kahului Elementary School
• Kaberi Mozumder, APRN, Neighbor Island Supervisor
• Kathleen Oliveira, health technician at Kekaulike High School
• Melissa Stallbaumer, Complex RN at Baldwin High School
• Melody Taborada, health technician at Puʻu Kukui Elementary School
• Amanda Valdez, Complex RN at Kūlanihākoʻi High School
• Chayanne Angel Viloria, health technician at Lokelani Intermediate School

School nurses and health technicians made a difference in Maui

In August 2023, lives were lost, residents were displaced, and schools were closed. Four Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) schools were damaged, and one was completely destroyed. Hawaiʻi Keiki had school-based clinics at two of the damaged schools, and one Hawaiʻi Keiki health technician supported the school that was destroyed.

Even though many in its Maui team were personally affected by the disaster, they continued to perform first-responder work. The team partnered with Federally Qualified Health Centers to provide medical care to students and families in shelters with its dedicated RNs assisting with health histories and patient intakes, while its APRNs performed health assessments and refilled prescriptions for those families whose medications were left behind as they urgently evacuated their homes. Additionally, the nursing team worked closely with community partners to increase access to vaccines in areas decimated by the wildfires.

After their shifts, Hawaiʻi Keiki’s Maui team played music for families living in emergency shelters, facilitated yoga classes, and focused on the mental health and well-being of the keiki. They also provided moments of respite for parents, allowing them to attend to disaster-related matters.

Moving forward together

More than 3,000 HIDOE students were directly impacted by the loss of homes and schools. But also, many of the 24,448 HIDOE Maui students were indirectly affected due to the impact on the entire island, their family and friends, and the overall economic impact felt by all of Maui. When schools were ready to reopen, the nursing team worked with school administrators and staff to assist with school health requirements, entered health data into computer systems and tracked down missing medical records for students.

“As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Maui wildfires, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our Hawaiʻi Keiki team, with a special heartfelt mahalo to our Maui team,” stated the program in their announcement.