The mission of Maui United Way is to bridge resources to enrich and empower our County of Maui community.
Maui United Way (MUW) is thrilled to announce our 23 new Community Impact Grant awardees for the 2023-2025 cycle. These organizations have demonstrated their exceptional commitment to creating measurable, lasting change in the Maui community.
Each awardee represents our shared goal of uniting people and resources to build a healthier community. Their projects focus on advancing the common good in areas like education, income stability, health, and basic needs – the building blocks for a good quality of life.
This year, our Evaluation Panel, made up of volunteer community members, has chosen organizations with the greatest potential to create impactful change in our community. Our awardees include:
The goal of the Aloha House, Inc. (AHI) Medically Monitored Detoxification (MMD) program is to safely manage withdrawal symptoms when an individual stops using alcohol and/or other substances. The detoxification experience is influenced by the type of drug used, frequency of use and duration. Withdrawal can be an uncomfortable, painful or even dangerous experience. Common withdrawal symptoms are nervousness/anxiety, insomnia, nausea, mood swings, poor sleep and difficulty concentrating. Medications used in detox help keep individuals comfortable while they stabilize. Detoxification services is the critical first step that addresses the physical dimension of dependence; but still it takes months for the brain to return to normal functioning and to learn to successfully manage the urges to use. For this reason, the larger purpose of detox is to encourage participants of the benefits of entering substance use disorder treatment and transition them to ongoing care. Medically Monitored Detoxification Services is available to all adults in Maui County with a substance use disorder, regardless of ability to pay.
The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
We fulfill this mission by providing food, shelter, and comfort to individuals and families in need, as well as casework and recovery assistance for disaster survivors. While we are always prepared to respond to disasters, we also work to prevent them. Swift action when an emergency occurs can save a life, so we help families, organizations and corporations become better prepared for crises through free educational presentations.
Since 1917, the American Red Cross of Hawaii has been a safety net for vulnerable populations in our community. The Red Cross is not a government agency. We rely on the generosity and aloha spirit of Hawaii’s people to deliver crucial services to the public free of charge and are grateful for the long-term commitment of our community.
Our mission at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui is to build and support one-to-one relationships to ignite the biggest possible futures for local youth. Through mentoring programs in our Mentor Center and in the community, the goal of our organization is to provide positive role models to help Maui’s youth to become the best versions of themselves and to avoid risky behaviors, embrace higher aspirations and hope for the future, and succeed in school. These youth face many challenges and being matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister helps them navigate a path to reach their fullest potential. The positive impact of our programs is experienced by the entire community of Maui.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Maui (BGCM) endeavors to improve the mental health and overall well-being of Maui's youth through the implementation of our Healthy Minds, Hopeful Futures program presented to Maui United Way in consideration of the 2023-2025 Community Impact Grant. BGCM's trauma-informed staff with an accumulated 150 years of youth development experience aims to achieve this goal with the support of MUW by means of incorporating 'A Game Plan for the Mind, Body and Soul' known nationally as Triple Play.
Triple Play is Boys and Girls Clubs of America's (BGCA) proven health and wellness program co-sponsored by the Anthem Foundation and founding partner The Coca-Cola Company. Since launching in 2005, Triple Play has made more than 14.4 million connections with kids and teens, promoting the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition through the program’s three components: mind, body and soul.
Child & Family Service (CFS), one of Hawaii's oldest and most comprehensive social service organizations, was founded in 1899 and has dedicated itself since to its mission of, "Strengthening families and fostering the healthy development of children." The Maui Sexual Assault Center (MSAC), a program of CFS, is the sole provider of critical services to the residents of Maui County; namely, sexual assault crisis, clinical, prevention and education services.
The Prevention & Education (P&E) services offered through MSAC is Maui's only sexual assault prevention service. Maui United Way's funding will enable CFS to provide children and adolescents with critical education in personal safety, reporting skills, bystander intervention, and healthy relationships. It will also provide needed supports to teachers, childcare providers and many child-serving organizations who are mandated reporters via planned presentations, health fairs and community events in Maui County.
Common Ground Collective (CGC) is a grassroots 501c3, formed in 2017, to grow food security and economic opportunities in Maui County. CGC’s mission is to transform Maui into a bountiful and productive island that benefits both the environment and the people who live here, for generations to come. CGC assists food insecure sectors, through the redistribution of harvested food that would otherwise rot. Through actively educating and providing hands-on assistance to the community, CGC is able to promote responsible resource management and environmental stewardship.
Habitat Maui believes everyone deserves a decent place to live. This doesn't just mean building affordable homes, but also providing financial literacy training and homeowner education so people have the skills to make their own well-informed decisions that can lead to economic self-sufficiency and financial stability.
Habitat Maui's Homeownership Education & Financial Literacy course is an 8-hour, HUD-certified curriculum and comes with personalized budget and credit counseling sessions. This course is open to the general public - but is a requirement for Habitat Maui's low-income partner families.
Hale Mahaolu, a private non-profit corporation, was organized in 1967 and has experiences as a sponsor, developer, owner and manager of 16 properties (over 1,200 units) in Maui County (Lanai and Molokai included). The corporation's mission is to create and manage vibrant, quality, affordable rental communities and provide supportive programs and services for seniors, families and individuals.
Hale Mahaolu has also been a HUD-Approved Comprehensive Housing Counseling Agency for the State of Hawaii since October 1989 (Homeownership/Housing Counseling Program). We provide self-paced and virtual homebuyer education classes and individualized counseling sessions focusing on foreclosure, pre/post-purchase, non-delinquency, and financial literacy.
In 2016, HUD established the Housing Counseling New Certification Requirements Final Rule which ensures that housing counselors are knowledgeable and meet specific requirements. All counselors within Hale Mahaolu's Homeownership/Housing Counseling Program have earned certification as of 2020.
Hana Arts is the primary provider of art education in Hana/East Maui, offering structured education to all residents from keiki to kupuna, regardless of social status. Due to the Weighted Student Formula used by the State of Hawai'i, the public school system in Hana lacks sufficient art education, leaving many of our children, 77% of who are of Native Hawaiian ancestry, without even the most basic artistic education. Art education is essential for childhood development and can enhance creativity, innovation, and self-esteem, making it a vital supplementary learning path for at-risk youth. Hana Arts collaborates with Hana School to provide integrated Arts education curriculum through coordination with DOE Science, Language Arts, Math and History programs. Hana Arts provides afterschool and intersession programs, and workshops, support programs, and events targeting young adults. By using the arts to teach creative thinking, Hana Arts is empowering the Hana community and providing a critical opportunity to acquire the skills needed to become a healthy and functional member of society. Hana Arts is the only organization providing these opportunities in the community.
Kupu was founded in 2007 with a heart to develop the next generation of leaders with the experience, knowledge, passion, and character necessary to build a more sustainable and pono future for Hawaii, including Maui County. The mission of Kupu is “to empower youth to serve their communities through character-building, service-learning, and environmental stewardship opportunities that encourage integrity (pono) with God (Ke Akua), self, and others.” Predicated on the Hawaiian concept of “ma ka hana ka ‘ike”—in doing, one learns—Kupu’s unique, experiential programs teach leadership skills, a lifelong environmental mindset, cultural awareness, and civic engagement while also creating opportunities for young adults to gain vital work experience and professional skills in the green jobs sector. Kupu’s beginnings trace back to 2001 when founder/CEO John Leong and his team at Pono Pacific Land Management, LLC began coordinating the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps (HYCC) under a contract with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The Lahaina Arts Guild teaches six art classes per week to children in a diverse ethnic population on Maui's west side. As of this writing, in the past few months we have taught art and art history to 1,684 children in schools where there is no art instruction. All supplies and teaching are provided at no cost to the children, parents and the schools. We also hold Student Art Shows, provide Scholarships, and we run Summer Camps and PaintOuts for the children. In the past year we have taught children's art classes and/or presented awards or scholarships at King Kamehameha III Elementary School, Sacred Hearts School, Maui Preparatory Academy, Lahainaluna High School and Princess Nahi'ena'ena Elementary School. We welcome all participants, especially the disadvantaged.
This project provides funds to support Maui County inviduals and families in moving forward toward family and economic stability. While LASH has funding sources that allow us to provide free civil legal services to many lower-income residents, such funding sources rarely address fees encountered by clients in the course of the legal services. This project will provide funding for Kids First fees required of the children of those going through divorce and custody proceedings, as well as providing funding for low-income clients who cannot pay the fees required to obtain birth certificates and drivers licenses, which are required for employment, housing, and public benefits access. The project will additionally provide for Lanai staff to deliver two outreach sessions per year on Lanai related to renter resources and responsibilities, as Lanai residents have not, in the recent past, received information related to available rental assistance and eviction laws to the same degree as residents of other islands.
The goal of Malama Family Recovery Center (MFRC) is to prevent or reduce the impact of alcohol and/or substance use disorder among single, pregnant and parenting women and their young children. The Therapeutic Living Program (TLP) is designed to meet the unique needs of women struggling with this chronic, relapsing disease. Thus we focus on providing therapeutic interventions that address the issues of alcohol and/or substance use disorder, but also the underlying trauma caused by their own experiences of poverty, child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence and other forms of family violence. Healing trauma is at the center of successful recovery for women in our program. We provide tools to manage stress, conflict and co-dependency in treatment. Support services are provided to children and significant family members. The positive changes we see as a result of services are abstinence; improved family relationships; increased coping skills; strengthened protective factors; and improved parenting skills. MFRC provides the only gender specific treatment facility in Maui County, and is one of two providers in the State of Hawaii. Maui County residents are prioritized.
The goal of Maui Youth and Family Services is to completely eliminate or reduce substance use among Maui County youth. Adolescent substance use disorder is a significant health crisis facing our County. There are multiple individual and societal impacts that occur when youth use substances: these include school disengagement, youth engagement in high risk activities and involvement with the criminal justice system. MYFS provides evidence-based program components through our Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Treatment (OP) for adolescents of middle and high school age. Through its program, MYFS helps youth form healthy relationships with family members, get involved in positive activities, and develop the ability to recognize and cope with feelings and strong emotions. MYFS believes in treating the whole family along with the youth. The program emphasizes variety and age appropriateness. Materials used are developed for the teen and young adult population. Our substance use treatment program incorporates current best practices and meets the developmental needs of adolescent youth and their families struggling with substance use disorder.
MCAPP will co-organize two community events promoting healthy relationships to prevent child abuse and neglect on Molokai. Events take place in April, Child Abuse and Neglect Awareness and Sexual Assault Awareness Months. Nonprofits across Hawaii work together to raise awareness and provide information about child and family issues, parenting education, and the importance of child abuse and neglect prevention (CANP) in their communities. The primary activity on Molokai is Keiki Fest, a community event for families to gather for games, activities, food and essential supplies (free backpacks, school supplies, slippers, groceries), entertainment, and a hot meal. An elementary school poster contest invites students to reflect on what a safe space looks like. MCAPP will also co-organize Teen Fest, a safe space providing youth with fellowship, food, and positive interactive and engaging activities to strengthen protective factors. A stamp card documents participant engagement with resources. Information regarding sexual assault prevention, intervention, and where to go for help is provided.
For many older adults and people with disabilities, the key to remaining independent can be something as simple as a home delivered meal, a ride to the pharmacy or a few hours of respite for a family caregiver. Unfortunately, an often, disjointed maze of eligibility criteria, forms, programs, and agencies can prevent even the most determined individuals from obtaining these critical supports. By offering personal, one-on-one, FREE of CHARGE assistance to the home-bound, Na Hoaloha is an industry leader in supportive services for the elderly and people with disabilities in Maui County. Na Hoaloha began as a grass-root, community driven organization providing FREE services by volunteers in community service to others. This unique agency provides a supportive platform that coordinates, arranges, executes, and delivers common household tasks and assistance that elevates the quality of life for Maui County’s aging population while keeping them safe. This multi-functional organization provides many logistic solutions to basic transportation problems, provides daily telephone and friendly visitor maintenance checks, and offers scheduled, in-home solutions for respite caregivers.
PCF is working with Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center to utilize an area on their property with two units not covered in their usual “1st to work programs”. Cancer patients are generally not able to work during treatment. These units have a have 5 beds, remodeled facilities with a clean bathroom, and a meal program. Cancer does not wait growing at an accelerated pace when not treated. These units would give PCF time to do the following:
1) Provide a place to live while treatment begins until PCF secures permanent housing.
2) Allow treatment to begin immediately.
3) Provides a meal plan for each patient so the patient can concentrate on eating and PCF will supply nutritional supplements to help the patients maintain a healthy weight during a time the patient will have challenges with eating.
4) Allow time for assessment of the patient’s likely outcome (e.g., should the patient be transferred to our partner Hospice Maui; is it likely they will go into remission?)
Maui Family Peace Center’s survivors program—aptly named “Puuhonua” (place of refuge)—offers individual, group, and crisis support, safety planning for assistance in preparing TROs, accompaniment and advocacy at court for victims/survivors of domestic violence. Assistance with shelter placement, flights to freedom, and other resources can also be provided based on the client’s individual needs. Maui FPC staff also provide educational presentations and training for community groups, schools, and agencies on Domestic Violence-related topics.
Every day, patients walk through the doors of Planned Parenthood health centers, knowing we will be there — with high quality, compassionate care. No matter what. Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider of reproductive health care and comprehensive sexual health education. Together we advocate, educate, and provide exceptional health care supporting sexual health, wellness, and reproductive freedom — without judgment, without fear, without fail. We believe that reproductive rights are basic human rights and that everyone should have access to quality health care. We work to ensure that the full spectrum of reproductive and sexual health care options is accessible to our patients, empowering them to make informed, personal choices that best meet their needs. Our services improve health outcomes for those most in need of care, thereby increasing the overall strength and wellbeing of the communities we serve. Increased access to care reduces rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as incidence of breast, cervical, and other cancers through screenings, early detection, and preventive vaccinations.
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-great-northwest-hawaii-alaska-indiana-kentuck
The Family Strengthening Program (FSP) incorporates a 2-acre educational farm into its program activities, using hands-on, farm-based skills building to improve the mental, emotional, and physical health of participants and help them become and remain self-sufficient. Participants benefit from the functional, recreational and therapeutic aspects of the farm, which help to build protective factors for better health outcomes and to develop life skills for greater financial stability and independence. Since 2006, TMF has successfully served 352 individuals (i.e.107 women and 245 children).
The Salvation Army has delivered critical social service programs to Maui’s less fortunate since December 1895. Through locations in Kahului, Lahaina and Molokai, and The Salvation Army's long history of providing social services to those in need in our community, The Maui Family Services Office is uniquely equipped to help families overcome these challenges and lead them down a path toward stability. Many Maui County families live paycheck to paycheck and are at risk of homelessness due to lay-offs, accidents, illness, high cost of housing, and emergencies. At the Salvation Army Maui Family Services offices in Kahului, Lahaina and Molokai, people in need get help from a case manager who reviews their circumstances, develops a plan with specific steps to stabilize their crisis, provides direct support, and collaborates with or provides referrals to other services and agencies to secure other services. Sometimes the assistance needed is as simple as a food box because the family cannot afford to buy groceries. Others may have suffered a devastating blow -- like the death of the family’s primary wage-earner -- and need one-time financial help to overcome a financial crisis.
Women Helping Women operates the only shelter services for victims of domestic violence in our service are, while also providing and facilitating the full range of supportive services for victims as well. We also have the distinction of being the only agency that exclusively focuses of victims' needs. Currently, we have 20 staff working at five locations (four on Maui, one on Lanai).
Our services are accessed directly by clients through self-referrals, sometimes through friends, family, clergy, etc or our literature was provided by one of our collaborative partners; HSCADV, CFS, PACT, and Maui Police Department, just to name a few. During our forty+ year history, our core philosophies remain applicable and fits well within the current "Trauma-Informed DV Services" model.
Activities include:
Providing safe shelter to 120 adults and 100 children per year.
Providing hotline service to callers in crisis. Typically we receive 750-1000 crisis calls to the hotline per year.