WAILUKU, Hawaii — Over 7,000 individuals who have requested financial assistance through Maui United Way will begin receiving relief this week as the first round of payment notifications was issued Tuesday evening, according to a Maui United Way release. This will continue over the next week to 10 days.

What You Need To Know

  • Over a period of 10 days, applications for assistance through the nonprofit organization came via the website, in-person outreach events in Lahaina and over the phone

  • Maui United Way encourages fire-impacted residents who need assistance to call the 211 Information and Referral Helpline, open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

  • The first phase of Maui United Way’s fire response has ended, but there will be a second phase of support based on feedback from impacted residents

Maui United Way’s Emergency Financial Assistance program provides a one-time $1,000 financial assistance payment, “not to exceed $5,000 per household,” for each adult impacted by the Lahaina and Kula wildfires. Donations from kamaaina and folks from the Mainland and around the world have made the financial assistance possible.

“We know that every day matters to these folks, but we must conduct due diligence to ensure the funds are going to those living in the fire impact zones. We are working as fast as we can,” said Maui United Way President Nicholas Winfrey.

Over a period of 10 days, applications for assistance through the nonprofit organization came via the website, in-person outreach events in Lahaina and over the phone.

Maui United Way encourages fire-impacted residents who need assistance to call the 211 Information and Referral Helpline. It’s open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, connecting residents with a live and local community resource specialist who can then refer them to essential services and information.

In addition to direct financial assistance, Maui United Way has approved 18 grants to nonprofit partners that offer direct relief to impacted residents, including locally grown food by Maui farmers, transportation for people who have lost their vehicles, mortgage and insurance assistance, help replacing identification lost in the fires, crisis counseling, and child care services and health care.

The first phase of Maui United Way’s fire response has ended, according to the organization, but there will be a second phase of support based on feedback from impacted residents.

“We know the road is a long one and we want to light the way as much as we can. We have to more,” said Winfrey.

Email Maui United Way at relief@mauiunitedway.org for general information or how you can help. For questions about a pending application for emergency financial assistance, email mauirelief@auw.org. Community resource specialists are also available to help at the 211 Information and Referral Helpline.

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.