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11 Jun 2024
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Description
Our program is a US-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization that addresses the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters by engaging and leveraging volunteers, partner organizations, and local communities. Our organization arrives early for the first response and stays late to rebuild schools and homes in a disaster-resilient way.
Since August 2023, we have been on the ground in Hawaii, working with local organizations to support the communities affected by the August 2023 Maui Wildfires. Our program is seeking volunteers to help with the program. Types of projects we do include helping harvest produce from local farms, preparing meals for survivors of the fires, and supporting the operations of community hubs, where they provide food and other supplies to fire survivors.
Our newest project is building "multipurpose units," which are small temporary units for displaced families to use as they wish and help provide more space for families who may be living in tight quarters after the fires. This is a construction-based scope and volunteers will be using power tools, framing, flooring, painting, etc.
We provide 3 meals a day on each working day and accommodation for the duration of your stay. We live on a plot of land at a local farm. Sleeping arrangements include a tenting area, as well as a few communal-style tents, with 3-4 cots per tent. Volunteers are responsible for all other expenses, including travel to and from Hawaii, as well as transportation to our base.
We will have wifi provided at the base.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will have the unique opportunity to interact and integrate into the Maui community. We are a community-led organization, and live by the mantra "Let Lahaina Lead." You will meet real Hawaiians, and learn about the culture. This kind of opportunity to experience Maui on such a local level is hardly present in the tourist setting.
Help
Food security is one of the main needs on Maui, and most of our scopes of work are focusing on this issue. One scope of work is supporting a community hub that serves displaced residents with fresh produce, canned and dry goods, and other essentials. Tasks here can include but are not limited to, helping in the grocery area, running the volunteer table, organizing new and existing products in the dry food storage, cold food storage, or paper goods storage, and helping with receiving new shipments of food orders/donations.
We also support another distribution hub that is not open to the public, but they send supplies to other hubs all over the island. We provide them with volunteer power to sort and organize goods to be able to get them to the distribution hubs.
Another scope we support is working with a local farm, and assisting with harvesting produce that ends up going to the distribution centers that we support. We work with chefs who use all local products to prepare meals to serve displaced residents in hotels, in their neighborhoods, and distribution hubs - up to 700 meals a week. We've been able to support them in food prep to achieve the timely readiness of those meals.
A new scope we have is a "multipurpose unit" build where we are constructing small temporary units for displaced families to use as they wish and help provide more space for families who may be living in tight quarters after the fires. This is a construction-based scope and volunteers will be using power tools, framing, flooring, painting, etc.
We occasionally support another hub where the work varies. It can range from sorting donations to helping with large moves.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Our base is located in an open field at an operating farm. There are portapotties, as well as running water sinks located in our base area. We have two showers on the base, one of which has warm water. We have a laundromat 10 minutes away, and there is also the option to hand wash clothes on the base. Personal tent camping is permitted and encouraged. We also have two large communal tents where volunteers might have the option to sleep on a cot. We have a kitchen tent and lounge/social tents available to spend your time in. There won't be much personal privacy outside of your tent, but it is a beautiful farm tucked into the mountains and we are grateful for the opportunity to be here.
*Please note that during heavy rains, the base can get muddy. It would be a good idea to bring shoes you don't mind getting dirty or rain boots, as well as a waterproof tent, and a good quality rain jacket and/or umbrella. *
Major stores and chains are located within 15-20 minutes drive, but you will need a car to access them. Our base is located in a remote area and is not walkable to any stores, restaurants, shops, etc.
What else ...
Maui is the second largest Hawaiian Island, sometimes nicknamed “The Valley Isle.” Maui is home to more than 165,000 residents, and people on the island have access to major restaurant and grocery chains, pharmacies, etc. such as Walmart and Target. There are two hospitals on the island, Maui Medical Memorial Center in Wailuku, HI and Kula hospital located in Kula.
During your free time, there are many activities that you can do on the island. A few options are heading to one of the dozens of beaches on the island, Haleakalā National Park, driving along the road to Hana, and so much more.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5 hours a day, 5 days a week
