Strengthening Community Connections and Care Two Years After Maui Fires
August 8 marked two years since devastating wildfires struck Maui, destroying more than 2,200 homes. Beginning with emergency food and supplies and ranging to resources for grief care and legal guidance, Peace Winds has worked with local partners to support relief and recovery for the last two years.
Last September, we partnered with Family Life Center (FLC), a local housing-focused nonprofit, to build a community space and strengthen grief care for families who lost their homes. FLC runs Ohana Hope Village, a temporary housing community in Kahului, Maui. The organization has been providing various forms of temporary housing support since the early stages of the disaster response.
Peace Winds helped FLC construct a playground and community space at Ohana Hope Village. The ability for children to play and adults to connect with one another is much-needed amid the stress of financial hardship and housing instability that many survivors are facing.
Children play at the new playground and community space at Ohana Hope Village
Additionally, Peace Winds is working to create a long-term system for grief care and psychosocial support. With the help of professional mental health consultants, training sessions have strengthened FLC staff’s ability to provide survivors with disaster-specific care. This includes grief support for children and trauma-informed care–a framework that takes into account the variety of ways that trauma affects a person’s life. Residents will be able to access support networks even after the Peace Winds project has ended.
Many survivors who lost their homes and loved ones continue to cope with financial hardship and other logistical challenges. Despite this, Ohana Hope Village is living up to its name–its sense of community and new connections offer a ray of hope for families working to rebuild.
The community center program in Ohana Hope Village is made possible by a grant from the Japan Platform and by contributions from our donors.
