Mālama Kula awards first round of disaster relief funds to Kula fire survivors

In a grassroots push to support recovery after the 2023 Kula Fire, nonprofit Mālama Kula has distributed its first round of disaster relief aid to residents actively working to rebuild their homes.

The organization announced Tuesday that it has awarded more than $21,000 in total to seven Kula residents, with each receiving up to $3,000 to help cover rebuilding costs not addressed by insurance or government programs.

Executive Director Kyle Ellison said the funds are meant to “keep the momentum” and fill in critical financial gaps. “Wherever residents have reached into their own pockets to pay for a needed expense, that’s where these funds are meant to help out,” Ellison said.

Recipients have used the aid for projects such as retaining walls, septic systems, building permits and trenching for gas lines.

Although Kula was the first community to begin Phase 2 debris removal under FEMA and the US Army Corps of Engineers, Mālama Kula says rebuilding progress has been slow. Only three homes have passed final inspections, the nonprofit said, with a few others just beginning foundation work.

Beyond direct financial support, Mālama Kula has contributed to fire recovery through fuel reduction, green waste management and debris removal. The nonprofit reports over 27,000 volunteer labor hours logged across affected properties, both within and outside the fire zone.

To reduce erosion and stabilize scorched soil, the group has converted nearly one million pounds of hazardous wood into mulch, which is distributed to residents.

More information about Mālama Kula, including how to donate or volunteer, is available at www.malamakula.org or by contacting malamakula@gmail.com.