How we’re helping fire victims on Maui
And how you can help too!
January 2025 UPDATE
Moving from Response to recovery
We are so grateful for the outpouring of support that came to us in the immediate aftermath of the Maui Wildfires in 2023. Its hard to believe that we are now more than a year out from that fateful day. Since our last update, there have been many challenges, some we have overcome and others we still face. The key to our recovery has been and will continue to be, collaboration and community. From near and far, our greatest strength lies in sharing our skills, resources and knowledge with each other.
During the response efforts, we joined forces with Kelea Foundation, our non profit partners. When you rent gear from us, buy shirts, go on adventures with us, that money goes directly to fund Kelea programs, including those that support Maui Wildfire survivors with disabilities. Through the generous support of the community, Kelea Foundation was able to open the community center and now has a full online inventory of donated durable medical equipment. You can visit the loan closet here. We encourage you to continue to donate to our efforts to rebuild Lahaina and Kula. Please visit Kelea Foundation to stay up to date and to get involved.
We continue to work hand in hand with our community partners to make a more accessible Maui. Thank you for your support and patience as we have navigated this unimaginable tragedy and begin to rise from the ashes.
How it started:
When the fire hit, we were there to receive victims in the shelters. Jenn, one of our co-founders is a lifeguard and worked alongside medical teams from day one to identify people with disabilities and those with complex medical cases, advocating for their needs and connecting them to vital services and extended medical care. We realized quickly that we would need to replace large quantities of durable medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs and more. We jumped into action and started sourcing these items from our community and then beyond. We have put together a "disability hui" of organizations and agencies who are working together to ensure Maui's most vulnerable don't fall through the cracks.
How its going:
Durable (& Consumable) Medical Equipment
We have been fortunate to acquire, through donations, many pieces and have already served nearly 150 people. We continue to seek donated items via our amazon wish list. Click on the link to donated items on our list. We are consistently updating needs on this list. If you donate, please be sure to fill out this form so we can keep track and get you a donation receipt. Donation Form
Community Building & Resilience
Now, we are raising funds to open an accessible community resilience HUB in central Maui. This location will serve as a storage and distribution center for medical equipment and other items needed in the community. Additionally this space will serve as a co-working space for social workers and community case workers that we are in partnership with. They will be able to meet with clients in a safe, comfortable and accessible space. This location will also serve as a spot for off island specialist (many of our specialists come from Oahu) to see patients free of charge. And finally, this place will serve as a community center for us to gather, plan, collaborate and heal as we move forward from this disaster. We will host accessible yoga and fitness classes, community safety classes, host support groups and more. This is a community space that will be truly inclusive.
You can donate to helping us creating this accessible community space here.
Our Values
Focus on the most vulnerable- Leave no one behind.
Community Led Action
Collaboration with agencies, organizations and individuals
Get Support!
Call or Text 808.276.1719 (Kelea Foundation)
If you are a fire survivor and have a disability, please reach out to get the support you need. We are here for you.
Ways to get in touch or learn more:
Follow us in Instagram @AdaptiveMaui & @KeleaFoundation
Reach out via email aloha@keleafoundation.org
Call or text Kelea Foundation at 808.276.1719