The Hawaiian island of Maui was recently devasted by wildfires stoked by 80 mile-per-hour blow-torch winds caused by Hurricane Dora. The sky was blackened by ash and smoke in the daylight hours. People were abandoning their cars and running into the ocean to avoid being burned. The historic town of Lahaina, once the capital of Hawaii, was hit the hardest with strong winds and fires that burned down hundreds of homes and businesses, killing at least 36 people (at the time of this writing), causing numerous persons and pets to go missing, power outages and cell service dead zones, and more.

The island is still reeling from the destruction and loss. People are trying to locate missing family members and friends to make sure they are okay. Thousands of displaced vistors have slept overnight in the airport awaiting flights out of Maui, and thousands more visitors and residents alike have slept in parking lots of Walmart and other stores as well as emergency pop-up shelters in churches and school gyms around the island.

Needless to say, many are wondering how they can help victims of this tragedy.

How to help Hawaii residents displaced by Maui wildfires

First of all, if you are planning to come to Maui in the next week or so, don't. The island is shipping tourists off-island for almost free right now and all the main airlines are participating. This is because with the emergency response and rebuilding efforts, Maui's current infrastructure and resources cannot also support tourism. However, if you are planning to visit Maui further out than the coming weeks, please refer to this post, which has the relevant official resources and news to help you make an informed decision. Pay particular attention to the Hawaii Tourism Management Authority's alerts, as they'll provide visitors with the most pertinent and up-to-date information.

But even if you aren't a visitor or planning to be one soon, keep reading to find out how you can help.

How to help Hawaii residents displaced by Maui wildfires as a local/resident

There are several ways to help below quoted from Hawaii News Now's article on how to help, which I've organized by category and donor location (non-residents click here). Note: where I've added information myself, I've indicated it in parentheses so as not to confuse information from Hawaii News Now.

• Help locally. Here is a list of reputable places where you can help.

  • Drop-off shelter donations at Maui’s War Memorial Complex.

    • Maui Police Department is calling for donations of non-perishable food, bottled water, hygiene items, and blankets.

    • Those interested in dropping off donations should enter the complex through Kanaloa Avenue and drop off goods on the field to the left.

    • Donations will be accepted through 6 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 a.m. through 6 p.m. Thursday.

  • Drop off goods at certain local Maui businesses.

    • Ice cream shop Cream B and Hoomana Barbell gym are organizing donations at 1826 Kaohu St.

    • The businesses are asking for donations of food, drinks, snacks, bedding, pillows, and personal hygiene products.

    • More information can be found here.

    • Kahului Florist is doing the same. More information can be found here. (The author of this article added this to the list)

  • Foster a Maui Humane Society animal. Maui Humane Society says its animals are safe but needs to free up space to take in more displaced pets. Mainlanders and locals can:

    • Drop off pet supplies to displaced families who still have their animals.

    • Donate money to help the shelter meet an increase in demand for care.

    • Report a lost or found pet here.

    • Call (808) 877-3680 for more information or visit their website

• Donate time and services. Volunteers are needed to help coordinate efforts in administering to various needs. Here's that information.

  • Fill out these forms to volunteer in relief efforts and transportation of evacuees. The Hawaii Restaurant Association is organizing donations and volunteer efforts on Maui and for evacuees on Oahu.

    • You can contribute to relief efforts on Maui here.

    • You can contribute to evacuees transported to Oahu here.

• Donate money.

  • Hawaii Salvation Army

    Hawaii Salvation Army is providing meals for thousands displaced in Maui emergency shelters.

    • Hawaii Salvation Army is asking for monetary donations and large volume meal donations from restaurants and certified kitchens to aid in mass meal service at Maui shelters.

    • Making monetary donations is the best way the public can help, Victor Leonardi, Divisional Director of Emergency Services & Safety for The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division, said.

    • All money donated for disaster relief will go to disaster operations, Leonardi said.

    • Donations can be made at Hawaii.SalvationArmy.org.

    ‘Āina Momona

    • This fundraiser is through the Hawaii Community Foundation.

    • For details, click here.

    Kakoo Maui fund

    • The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Alakaina Foundation Family, and Kakoo Haleakala will match up to $100,000 in donations for Kakoo Maui.

    • Funds will go to families and businesses.

    • You can donate here.

    Donate at your nearest Foodland

    Foodland stores are accepting donations at checkout to support the American Red Cross of Hawaii’s efforts toward Maui fire relief. Shoppers can:

    • Make donations of up to $249

    • Donate 250 Maikai points ($5 equivalent donation)

    • Round up purchases to the nearest dollar

    • Donate change

    • Aloha United Way

      Aloha United Way has created the Maui Relief Fund that will go directly to efforts supporting victims of the fires.

      • You can donate here.

      Maui Food Bank

      The Maui Food Bank is seeking monetary donations in efforts to feed thousands of displaced residents.

      • Donations can be made here.

      • The Maui Food Bank is asking the public to limit phone and email inquiries so the organization can focus on emergency relief.

      Maui Mutual Aid

      Maui Mutual Aid is seeking donations to support Maui families, kupuna, people with disabilities, and those with limited or no insurance.

      • Donations can be made here.

      Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund

      The Maui Strong Fund will be used to support Maui communities affected by recent fires, including response and recovery efforts.

      • Donations can be made on their website.

      • Donations can also be made through ‘Āina Momona here.

    • Fundraiser by Kahului Florist : Residents of Maui affected by the wildfires (gofundme.com)

      • Donations can be made to this GoFundMe. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to families affected by the fires. (The author of this article knows and vouches for the owner of Kahului Florist and this effort. All info below this is added by the author and not representative of Hawaii News Now, which the author has no affiliation with.)

• Other important ways for locals to help:

  • If you have a condo or short-term rental unit, you can offer it to displaced residents by contributing information about it including dates you're offering to a google doc organized by volunteers with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That doc is forthcoming and will be posted here.

  • Pray and fast for those affected.

  • Stick with reputable donation sites and organizers. Scammers are coming out of the wood works to take advantage of this disaster and could cause the loss of hundred of thousands if not millions of dollars by redirecting it to their personal bank accounts. If I find a specific scam I'll post about it here.

• If you aren't a resident or local and you'd like to help from afar, here's what you can do:

  • If you have a condo or short-term rental unit, you can offer it to displaced residents by contributing information about it including dates you're offering to a google doc organized by volunteers with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That doc is forthcoming and will be posted here with a link soon.

  • Donate money. See the above list or click here.

  • Pray and fast for those affected.

  • Stick with reputable donation sites and organizers. Scammers are coming out of the wood works to take advantage of this disaster and could cause the loss of hundred of thousands if not millions of dollars by redirecting it to their personal bank accounts. If I find a specific scam I'll post about it here.

Mahalo for your kōkua (help and cooperation). This is a huge effort that will bless the lives of so many in a great time of need. Aloha and may Maui be Maui Strong.

Here's a longer list put together by Maui Mutual Aid, a legitimate non-profit mentioned above. It details resources and opportunities to donate in-person or online. And if you have friends on Maui now who were displaced you can point them to this resource to help them find a place to shelter.