Hawaii Church Brings 2 Faiths Together to Rebuild Maui

A small church in Maui is proving that recovery looks like neighbors helping neighbors, even years after disaster strikes.

Po'okela Church, one of Hawaii's oldest churches, formally opened as a volunteer host site in February 2026. The space gives disaster recovery volunteers a place to stay while helping the island heal from the 2023 wildfires that killed over 100 people and destroyed entire communities.

What makes this site special goes beyond its mission. Po'okela represents the first time Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and the United Church of Christ have worked together to create a joint volunteer hub. The church itself reflects this unity, operating as a UCC church with a Presbyterian pastor, Rev. Dr. Kimberly Fong.

"The worship service was awesome and powerful," Fong said of the February commissioning ceremony. "Everybody came and witnessed what's going on. The church is serving as a role model of unity."

The host site welcomed its first volunteers in November 2025, transforming office and sanctuary space with comfortable chair beds. Volunteers don't need special skills to help. They work with local groups like the Kula Community Watershed Alliance, replanting native vegetation and restoring land damaged by the fires.

This marks a new approach for disaster recovery. While most volunteer sites focus on home reconstruction, Po'okela volunteers are healing the land itself, helping restore the island's natural resources for future generations.

The Ripple Effect

Po'okela has been showing up for its community since the fires first struck. The church distributed about $100,000 in emergency funds to help residents pay mortgages and rent. It runs a thrift store and has supported neighbors in countless ways throughout the long recovery.

Now, through the volunteer host site, that support extends beyond the local congregation. Teams from across the country can come help, coordinated through both Presbyterian and UCC networks. The partnership even produced co-branded T-shirts made locally to support Maui's economy.

"It is a joy to see how this small church continues to show up in big ways for its community," said Rev. Heidi Worthen Gamble of the Presbytery of the Pacific.

Katie Howe, UCC's minister for disaster response, quoted Fred Rogers at the commissioning service: "We are here to celebrate the helpers. You are the helpers in your community."

The collaboration shows what's possible when organizations put unity ahead of differences. As Maui faces years of recovery work ahead, Po'okela Church stands ready to welcome helpers from all backgrounds, proving that healing happens when communities work together.