Today, I felt the need to connect with you all….my ohana that feels the same love for Hawaii that I do. I spent most of yesterday watching the wildfires in Maui and the Big Island. My heart broke as new video showed the massive amount of devastation especially on Maui and stories of locals who, in the blink of an eye, lost everything. 

Never in my life has my urge to kokua (pronounced: koh-koo-ah) or ‘help’ been stronger. I know you have seen this word before here in our Mindful Monday weekly emails and blog post, but today it feels that this word has more meaning and more depth than ever before. 

Many of us have had the opportunity to visit Lahaina on Maui. To see it completely leveled made me cry. And while the fires were out of human control, our ability to provide kokua is absolutely in our control. 

If you are able, please consider kokua for Maui ohana by donating to one of the organizations below. If you are a resident of Hawaii, please check for local drop off sites that are receiving donations. 

• Maui County Strong Fund (@hawaiicommunityfoundation) at: hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong (Funds to be used to make grants for immediate needs to organizations that are assisting community members that have lost their homes)

• Hawaiʻi Red Cross (@hawaiiredcross) at: www.redcross.org/donate/donation (specify Maui Red Cross fire relief in the appropriate box)

• Maui Food Bank (@mauifoodbank) at: mauifoodbank.org (donations will support food relief efforts across Maui)

• Maui Humane Society: https://www.mauihumanesociety.org/

Let’s kokua Maui.

(If you know of other organizations that are accepting donations, please share with us!)

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