Earlier this week, massive fires spread rapidly across Hawaii’s Maui and Big Island, fueled by dry conditions and Hurricane Dora, which passed offshore but brought strong winds to the islands.

While the fires still burn across the islands, it’s hard to fully understand the damage done to these Indigenous, historic and beautiful communities. However, it’s clear that the fires are devastating and deadly. Lahaina, the area hit hardest by the fires in Maui, is a popular tourist destination and the primary economic driver for the island. Thousands of historic and cultural structures, businesses, homes and other infrastructure have been destroyed.

What philanthropy can do

While we wait to learn more about the full extent of the damage caused by the fires, here are some suggestions for philanthropy’s consideration:

  • Support local organizations on the ground with flexible funding through all phases of the disaster, especially those working with marginalized populations without access to other resources.
  • Fund mitigation efforts to prevent or minimize the effects of future disasters.
  • Invest in advocacy organizations and communications efforts that share promising practices for wildfire and drought mitigation as well as living with climate change.
  • Support local economic recovery, especially small, locally owned, culturally relevant businesses.

Read the full article about the Hawaii wildfires at The Center for Disaster Philanthropy.