Hawaiʻi United Okinawa Association donates $672,000 to Maui Strong Fund

The Hawaiʻi Community Foundation (HCF) today announced a monumental donation of $672,076.98 from the Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association (HUOA) to its Maui Strong Fund (MSF). The majority of the gift comes directly from residents who donated at various city halls throughout the prefecture, as well as from businesses, and elected leaders in Okinawa. The effort was coordinated by the Yuimaaru Maui fundraising campaign with HUOA’s sister organization Okinawa Hawai‘i Kyokai.

“Through this donation, members of the Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association, the Maui Okinawa Kenjin Kai and our brothers and sisters in Okinawa wish to show yuimaaru, communities supporting one another especially in times of need, for the victims and survivors of the devastating wildfires,” said Jon Itomura, executive director of Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association. “For the people of Okinawa, it’s their way of expressing immense gratitude to Hawai‘i for playing an integral role in Okinawa’s post-World War II relief efforts by providing monetary donations and in-kind gifts.”

As of Aug. 9, HCF has awarded more than $109 million from its Maui Strong Fund to 196 organizations, with additional grantmaking in progress. With the Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association’s contribution, the Maui Strong Fund has received $196 million from donors in Hawai‘i and around the world.

“The generosity of the Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association reflects the deep sense of shared responsibility that defines both of our island communities,” said Micah Kāne, president and CEO of HCF. “This remarkable gift not only honors the legacy of support between Hawai‘i and Okinawa, but it also plays a vital role in our ongoing efforts to rebuild and strengthen Maui.”

The Maui Strong Fund was activated the morning after the Maui wildfires. HCF has been working with a network of partners, including federal, state, and county agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community members, to ensure the Maui community received the relief they needed quickly and with maximum impact. 

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association and the people of Okinawa,” said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen. “We have a long road of recovery ahead of us, and donations like this show us that we have many partners and friends who are there to support our journey.”

HCF is currently in Phase 3 of its Maui Strong Fund disaster response, Recovery and Stabilization, focusing on longer-range efforts, including interventions and programs designed to strengthen the health of Maui’s economy and communities while supporting community organizations engaging with families. 

HCF is not collecting its standard administrative fee for donating to the Maui Strong fund. Instead, 100% of the funds are distributed for community needs stemming from the Maui fires, and HCF is reinvesting any investment earnings derived from Maui Strong Fund assets back into the fund.