Maui Hero Project receives $65,300 for mental health programs for Lahaina youth

The Maui Hero Project has received $65,300 in funding from Rotary District 5000 to support mental health programs for Lahaina youth affected by the 2023 Maui Wildfires. The funding will help provide trauma recovery and disaster preparedness programs for students at Lahaina Intermediate School, Lahainaluna High School and other impacted Lahaina schools.

The PYCC Maui Hero Project is an eight-week, adventure-driven, rite of passage program designed around the traditional stories and teachings of the Hawaiian Hero, Maui. Students register for the program as a closed, pledge class and commit to attending twice weekly, on Mondays and Wednesdays, after school until 7 p.m.

According to its project landing page, adventures include hiking, waterfalls, paintball, archery, tracking, fire-making and more. Disaster preparedness and other first responder skills such as search and rescue and CPR/first aid are taught by volunteer professionals, while Hawaiian practices such as farming and canoe paddling are taught by cultural experts.

The Maui Hero Project is directed by its founder, Loren Lapow, who holds a master’s degree in social work and has contributed to the program’s development as a national best-practice over the past 20 years. According to Lapow: “Rotarians will also play an integral part in supporting MHP’s Epic Day events, contributing to community engagement and fostering healing through shared activities leading to a sustainable, interconnected network of community leaders, ensuring long-term disaster preparedness and resilience.”

The funding provided by Rotary reflects the organization’s commitment to helping the Lahaina community recover. Rotary District 5000 encompasses approximately 1,500 Rotarians across 47 clubs statewide. For more information about the nine Rotary clubs on Maui, contact Maui Island Resource Chair Joanne Laird at mamalrd01@gmail.com.