Maui Volunteers Repay Moloka'i After 2023 Wildfire Help

When flooding hit Moloka'i hard this spring, Maui residents remembered who showed up for them first after the 2023 Lahaina wildfires.

Blake Ramelb didn't hesitate. The Lahaina resident has made several boat trips to Moloka'i over the past month, bringing tools, volunteers, and a determination to give back. "Moloka'i showed up for us in Lahaina without even a second thought," he said. "They were the first boats we saw come over."

Now Maui volunteers are shoveling mud from driveways, repairing leaky roofs, and clearing ditches to prevent future flooding. Many experienced flood damage themselves but still made the journey. "It just feels like it's within us to continue to show that aloha spirit we experienced after the fires," Ramelb said.

The volunteers represent a partnership between Lahaina's Ka La'i Ola and other Lahaina residents working with Moloka'i nonprofit Ho'aka Mana. They've focused on helping kūpuna whose cars were buried in mud and homes left wet and moldy from roof leaks.

Adri Haia of Lahaina understands the vulnerability of accepting help. Taking a break from shoveling mud, she reflected on her own experience after the fires. "Sometimes it's hard when people are shame, or like they don't want to ask for help," she said. "And we learned after the fires how much it did help us to receive the help from people."

Ho'aka Mana Executive Director Kanoelani Davis coordinates the volunteer efforts and stresses the importance of working through local organizations. "Please do not come to island if you're just going to volunteer randomly," she said. "You need to be with somebody who is from Moloka'i that can put you in the right direction."

The Ripple Effect

This exchange between neighboring islands demonstrates how communities touched by disaster can become sources of strength for each other. The 2023 Lahaina fires created more than memories of tragedy. They forged relationships that endure beyond crisis, turning survivors into helpers and neighbors into ohana.

Davis said the volunteers have been invaluable in reaching residents who need help most. The bonds formed through mutual aid have created something beautiful and lasting.

One act of kindness continues to ripple across the Hawaiian islands, proving that communities heal strongest when they heal together.