Keiki events connect community during time of continuing need

Staff from Maui Behavioral Health Resources participated in a Summer ʻOhana Fun event on Friday, June 13 to bring fun, healing and mental health awareness to the communities of Ka Laʻi Ola and Kilohana in Lahaina.

The event included keiki-friendly activities like a water slide, face painting, balloon art, and a calming craft corner. Keiki development screenings were also offered for youth ages 0-5, to help parents identify any special needs their children may have.

Concerned about the mental health stressors of the many changes youth have been through since the wildfire disaster, Maui Behavioral Health Resources staff from Aloha House, Mālama Family Recovery Center, and Maui Youth & Family Services have been providing outreach and activities in the form of art projects, emotional education and parent resources.

“The keiki in this community have been witness to many challenging events over the past year and a half. Some have experienced the trauma of evacuating during the fire, some have lost loved ones, and many have lost their homes or school. We want to provide a fun, safe space where they can enjoy time with each other and their families,” said Dr. Lisa Ponichtera, Chief Clinical Officer at MBHR. “We also use this time to provide outreach to families who may need some support. We may not have an in-depth conversation at the event, but it gives us a chance to connect and talk further at a future date,” said Dr. Ponichtera.

The majority of families moved into these communities in early 2025, and this is the first summer vacation kids will spend in their new neighborhood. Youth are adjusting to their new environment, and may also be feeling the long-term effects of wildfire-related trauma.

The recently released UHERO Public Health Report, From Crisis to Recovery: Health and Resilience Two Years After the Maui Wildfires, demonstrates the mental health impacts on youth. “Over half (51%) of children ages 10–17 screen positive for depression, with 22% in the severe range. About 30% report anxiety symptoms, and nearly 45% still show signs of PTSD—4.3% at severe levels. One in four report low self-esteem, and many are experiencing functional challenges at school and home,” the report states.

Heather Long, MS., CSAC, and program director of Maui Youth and Family Services’ Adolescent Treatment Services, has seen these impacts in schools where her team provides counseling services.

“The trauma of the fires has led to unhealthy coping mechanisms for teens, and unhealthy coping can be drug use. We’ve seen an increase in drug use, specifically with intermediate school aged girls, and some as young as 10 years old, who are vaping high potency marijuana DAB pens. Because of this, I think it’s essential to get kids mental health support. At schools, and in community, we have to do more to support them.”

The Summer ‘Ohana Fun event kicked off a series of summer offerings for the Lahaina community, including an upcoming fishing tournament in July. For more on upcoming events, see https://mbhr.org/events-calendar/

Maui Behavioral Health Resources is an umbrella organization for three nonprofit agencies: Aloha House, Mālama Family Recovery Center, and Maui Youth & Family Services. All three agencies provide mental health and substance use disorder treatment to Maui residents. Together, the agencies serve almost 8,000 individuals in the Maui community each year.