In the chaotic aftermath of the Aug. 8 wildfires, lives were lost; homes, businesses and livelihoods were destroyed; residents displaced; and schools closed.

That’s when providers of the Hawaii Keiki Healthy & Ready to Learn program on Maui mobilized to ensure access to care for Hawaii Department of Education students.

They assisted at shelters, provided virtual telehealth visits, managed the health hotline and supported the students, each other and the Maui community, according to a news release.

On July 29, these providers — registered nurses, nurse practitioners and health technicians — were nationally recognized for their outstanding service with a 2024 G.R.I.T. Award from the School-Based Health Alliance. The surprised recognition was announced at the annual Hawaii Keiki Back to School meeting.

The inaugural G.R.I.T. Award recognizes individuals who have made a difference in school-based health care and who demonstrate “Genuine, Resilient, Innovative and Tenacious” qualities, per the release.

Hawaii Keiki's Maui Provider Team. (Courtesy of the University of Hawaii at Manoa)

• Lisa Alejandro, Health Technician at Kīhei Elementary School
• Eva Balagso, Health Technician at Kamehameha III Elementary School
• Janel Branson, Complex Area APRN at Kalama Intermediate School
• Ashley Dent, Complex RN at Pā‘ia Elementary School
• Alliyah Dudoit, Health Technician at Baldwin High School
• Zoe Elder, Health Technician at Hāna High & Elementary School
• Madison Furlong, Complex Area APRN at Nāhi‘ena‘ena Elementary School
• Aprilcarren Failano, Health Technician at Kahului Elementary School
• Cherie Gonzalez, Health Technician at Kilohana Elementary School
• Shaelyn Jardine-Feiteira, Health Technician at Kalama Intermediate School
• Willene Lono, Health Technician at Wailuku Elementary School
• Dana MacDonald, Complex RN at Lahainaluna High School
• Benevee McGee, Health Technician at Maunaloa Elementary School
• Christa Marzitelli, Complex RN at Kahului Elementary School
• Kaberi Mozumder, APRN, Neighbor Island Supervisor
• Kathleen Oliveira, Health Technician at Kekaulike High School
• Melissa Stallbaumer, Complex RN at Baldwin High School
• Melody Taborada, Health Technician at Pu‘u Kukui Elementary School
• Amanda Valdez, Complex RN at Kūlanihāko‘i High School
• Chayanne Angel Viloria, Health Technician at Lokelani Intermediate School

The School-Based Health Alliance is a national nonprofit organization that advocates for the growth of school-based health clinics and services, expansion and diversification of the school-based health workforce, dissemination of best practices, development of electronic data collection and analysis, and increase of the use of telehealth in schools.

Following the wildfires, the Maui Hawaii Keiki team worked with Federally Qualified Health Centers to provide medical care to students and families in shelters, assisted with health histories and patient intakes, performed health assessments and refilled prescriptions for residents who barely escaped the wildfire with their lives. The nursing team worked with community partners to increase access to vaccines.

The team also dedicated themselves to a community in need after their shifts by playing music for families at the emergency shelters, facilitating yoga classes, spending time with keiki and focusing on their mental health and well-being, as well as taking care of keiki as parents/guardians attended to disaster-related matters.

Over 3,000 HIDOE students were directly impacted by the loss of homes and schools — four HIDOE schools were damaged and one was completely destroyed.

More so, 24,448 HIDOE Maui students were indirectly affected by the impact to the entire island, their family and friends and the economy as a whole felt islandwide.

When schools were ready to reopen, the nursing team worked with school administrators and staff to assist with school health requirements, entered health data into computer systems and tracked down missing medical records for students.

Though many on the Maui team were personally affected by the disaster, they managed to perform as “first responders” to help others in their community.

The Hawaii Keiki: Healthy & Ready to Learn program is a partnership between UH Manoa Nursing, the Hawaii Department of Education and the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission aimed at providing safe, quality healthcare to HIDOE students in school.

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