Mahalo from Maui

After two weeks on Maui, today is our last day running camp for kids impacted by the wildfires that ravaged the island. 

As we get ready to turn over childcare to our local partners, we’re struck by the profound connections we’ve made on Maui and the outpouring of support for children and families from the community. 

We saw this community spirit from day one, when 100 or so people showed up at the Maui Family YMCA asking how they could contribute to the wellbeing of kids. Two weeks later, we’re seeing how that initial gathering has the potential to turn into something lasting and sustainable. 

This type of local coalition building is exactly the model we seek to build when we pop up camps. We know that the best way to care for kids is to galvanize local resources and provide a framework for longer term action in communities around the needs of children and families. We are always cognizant that our role is to be a stopgap while these networks are disrupted, and the faster we can help rebuild them after a disaster, the better the outcome for impacted kids. We hope that not only do childcare networks get back to normal, they are more connected, more robust and more capable than they were before the fire.

The fact that we are passing off camp to local organizations two weeks after these devastating fires is a remarkable testament to the island of Maui and how deeply connected its residents are to the needs of children. As we move forward, we will look to this response as a model for what community support and local action can be. 

As we get ready to depart, we’d like to say a big mahalo to everyone who helped us get here – it’s been a truly magical two weeks. 

With gratitude,
Mikey