Hawaii wildfires: How to help those impacted on Maui, Big Island
Lahaina was "almost totally burnt to the ground," said Senator Brian Schatz. Hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed leaving thousands in shelters.
Aerial video shows complete devastation across parts of Maui after catastrophic brush fires
Richard Olsten, owner and operator of Air Maui Helicopter Tours, took video of the island after sunrise, which showed smoldering homes and businesses.
MAUI - Help is needed as Hawaii has experienced the worst natural disaster in the state's history.
Raging brush fires killed more than four dozen people and caused what the governor believes is billions of dollars worth of damage.
Lahaina, a major tourist destination and home to more than 12,000 people in Maui, was ravaged. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii said Lahaina was "almost totally burnt to the ground."
Officials say relief is needed immediately, and more will be required later as the islands recover from the impacts.
36 DEAD IN CATASTROPHIC HAWAII WILDFIRES AS HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS SLOWLY DECREASE THURSDAY
![Aerial View of Lahaina on the Coast of Maui]()
Image 1 of 8Aerial View of Lahaina on the Coast of Maui before and after. (Douglas Peebles/Corbis via Getty Images/Richard Olsten/Facebook)
![Lahaina Banyan Court area]()
Image 2 of 8Lahaina Banyan Court area. The before image is from June 25, 2023 and the after is from August 9, 2023. (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies)
![Lahaina Square Shopping area]()
Image 3 of 8Lahaina Square Shopping Center area. Before image: June 25, 2023, after image: August 9, 2023. (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies)
![An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. At least 36 people have died after a fast-moving wildfire turned Lahaina to ashes, officials said August 9, 2023 as visitors asked to leave the island of Maui found themselves stranded at the airport. The fires began burning early August 8, scorching thousands of acres and putting homes, businesses and 35,000 lives at risk on Maui, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 4 of 8An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
![An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. At least 36 people have died after a fast-moving wildfire turned Lahaina to ashes, officials said August 9, 2023 as visitors asked to leave the island of Maui found themselves stranded at the airport. The fires began burning early August 8, scorching thousands of acres and putting homes, businesses and 35,000 lives at risk on Maui, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 5 of 8An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
![An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed cars in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. At least 36 people have died after a fast-moving wildfire turned Lahaina to ashes, officials said August 9, 2023 as visitors asked to leave the island of Maui found themselves stranded at the airport. The fires began burning early August 8, scorching thousands of acres and putting homes, businesses and 35,000 lives at risk on Maui, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 6 of 8An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed cars in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
![An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. At least 36 people have died after a fast-moving wildfire turned Lahaina to ashes, officials said August 9, 2023 as visitors asked to leave the island of Maui found themselves stranded at the airport. The fires began burning early August 8, scorching thousands of acres and putting homes, businesses and 35,000 lives at risk on Maui, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 7 of 8An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
![An aerial image shows a burned building in the historic Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii, on August 10, 2023. At least 36 people have died after a fast-moving wildfire turned Lahaina to ashes, officials said August 9, as visitors asked to leave the island of Maui found themselves stranded at the airport. The fires began burning early August 8, scorching thousands of acres and putting homes, businesses and 35,000 lives at risk on Maui, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 8 of 8An aerial image shows a burned building in the historic Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii, on August 10, 2023. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
‘TOOK EVERYTHING WITH IT’: MAUI RESIDENT RECOUNTS ESCAPE FROM RAGING WILDFIRES
How to help the victims
If you want to donate to relief efforts, here are organizations currently accepting donations, including money and supplies.
- Maui Strong Fund – The Maui Strong Fund was created to provide community resilience with resources for disaster preparedness, response and recovery. The fund is currently being used to support communities affected by the wildfires on Maui.
- FOX/The American Red Cross FOX has teamed up with the American Red Cross to provide vital assistance and relief to the victims of the devastating Hawaii wildfires. The partnership is currently accepting monetary donations.
‘THIS IS NOT A SAFE PLACE TO BE’: RAGING BRUSH FIRES IMPACTING AIR TRAVEL TO SOME HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
Flames roar near a dock in Lahaina where U.S. National Guard Hawaii Pacific crews continue rescue operations from fires in Hawaii on Aug. 10, 2023. (Image: USGS Hawaii Pacific/Twitter)
(USGS)
- Maui United Way – Maui United Way, an organization committed to enriching and empowering the Maui Community, is accepting online donations for wildfire relief.
- Maui Humane Society – Pet shelters are expecting an influx of animals who need help as wildfires have displaced thousands. The group is currently accepting online donations.
- The Maui Food Bank – The Maui Food Bank said its staff is working diligently to supply relief to those in need. The bank is currently accepting online monetary donations, along with food, toiletries and diapers.
- Hawaii Wildfire Relief Fund The charity said the fund will initially help first responders meet survivors' immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, medicine, and shelter. As needs emerge, donations will support longer-term recovery efforts run by local, vetted organizations in impacted areas, particularly those working with low-income, historically underserved communities.
- The Salvation Army The organization is on the ground right now, overseeing the entire emergency feeding operation for the thousands of evacuees and first responders. The Salvation Army said 100 percent of donations designated for this disaster go toward serving those impacted by the fires.
- Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization, is preparing to deploy an emergency response team to help survivors of the wildfires. The organization is taking monetary donations to help provide medicine, hygiene and first aid kits and other relief supplies.