Maui News

Hoʻōla iā Mauiakama receives $760,528 grant to launch Volunteer Rebuild Housing Program for Maui fire survivors

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Kaipo Kekona, Chair & Board Executive Committee Member of Hoʻōla LTRG, speaks during the group’s Strategic Planning session focused on recovery and rebuilding. Photo credit: BKR, LLC

Hoʻōla iā Mauiakama Long Term Recovery Group (Hoʻōla LTRG) has received a $760,528 grant from the Maui Strong Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. The award will launch the new Volunteer Rebuild Housing Program, expand disaster recovery operations, and enhance coordination of direct services for families impacted by the August 2023 wildfires on Maui.

This investment supports critical recovery infrastructure to launch a volunteer homebuilding program that will help close major funding gaps for families unable to rebuild on their own. It includes startup costs for construction coordination, volunteer housing, and the first five homes—establishing a foundation for a scalable model that can deliver 10–20 homes annually.

Through an 18-month lease from the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, Hoʻōla Maui and its field partner, Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), will convert two fire-surviving buildings at Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina into volunteer sleeping quarters, with new facilities including an outdoor kitchen and showers to support ongoing deployment.

Recovery happens through strong partnerships and collective wisdom. Hoʻōla LTRG Board, Advisory Board, and Community Partners gathered for a full-day Strategic Planning session to align on recovery plans and strengthen community support. Facilitated by Kuʻulani Keohokalole, CEO of People Strategies Hawaiʻi, the group worked together to find solutions rooted in collaboration and shared commitment. Photo credit: BKR, LLC
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Homeowners are selected through the Hoʻōla Rebuild Coalition, a collaboration between Hawaiʻi Community Lending, Habitat for Humanity Maui, Lahaina Community Land Trust, and Hoʻōla LTRG. The coalition offers comprehensive recovery planning by leveraging grants, vendor discounts, donated materials, volunteer labor, and professional construction management services.

In parallel, Hoʻōla LTRG leads the Disaster Case Management (DCM) Coalition, which brings together a growing network of case managers from Roots Reborn, Hawaiʻi Community Lending, Kaibigan ng Lahaina, and Hoʻōla Maui’s own team. Seventeen case managers currently participate in ongoing training, receive peer support, and utilize shared tools to deliver coordinated and compassionate care to wildfire survivors.

To ensure that families with complex or urgent needs are not left behind, Hoʻōla Maui also facilitates a coordinated funder roundtable. This group allows philanthropic partners to hear directly from case managers about specific gaps in support, acting as a last-stop recovery resource when conventional options are unavailable. This targeted giving strategy has proven instrumental in helping families cross the final threshold to rebuilding and long-term stability.

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“The Maui Strong Fund is focused on investing in trusted, community-rooted partners who are ready to move recovery forward with care and coordination,” said Keanu Lau Hee, Senior Director of the Maui Recovery Effort at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. “Hoʻōla iā Mauiakama’s strong partnerships, and commitment to collaboration reflect the kind of capacity and alignment needed to help families not just rebuild, but recover with dignity.”

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“This grant from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation is more than a contribution—it’s a catalyst,” said Rhonda Alexander-Monkres, Executive Director of Hoʻōla iā Mauiakama. “We’re building homes, partnerships, and pathways to healing. With HCF’s support, our community can move forward with grace and gratitude. It’s a testament to the power of unity and the unwavering hope we share for Maui’s future.”

Construction is expected to begin in October 2025. Community members and partners interested in donating, volunteering, or learning more about Hoʻōla Maui’s programs are encouraged to visit mauilongtermrecovery.org

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