Maui Strong

Date of disaster: August 8, 2023

Location: Lahaina, Maui

Summary: Maui wildfires destroyed most of Lahaina, resulting from a combination of drought conditions and high winds (up to 70 mph) from Hurricane Dora.

Impacts: 115 killed, 66 still missing.

2200 structures damaged or destroyed.

6,000 displaced residents

On-site Response by: Maui Strong Mental Health Response

"Talk Story" in Maui Culture:

Talk Story” is a Hawaiian expression that means “to chat informally” or “to shoot the breeze.”

Or a longer history = “Talk story”, one of the great oral traditions in Hawaii is the act of sharing history, ideas, opinions and the events of the day with other people at any time and in any place. The missionaries who came to Hawaii in the late 1800’s disapproved of it but it has remained a vibrant part of the Hawaiian oral tradition. Oral language was the only medium of communication, so Hawaiians of old were good listeners. They needed to “get it” the first time because there was no recording or written work to look at later.

CPA-NA contact: Mary Lou Masko – Interfaith Eco-Chaplain

The Maui Strong Mental Health Response is a volunteer effort from the Hawaiʻi Psychological Association (HPA) providing support and links to resources for the Maui community.

CPA-NA members may volunteer in two ways:

Maui Strong 24/7 Support for Helpers – virtual Zoom room staffed by volunteers
HI licensed providers are needed to provide full-fee, low-fee, or pro-bono sessions to those impacted by the fires. You are asked to fill out this form only IF YOU HAVE AVAILABILITY.

Maui Strong 24/7 Support for Helpers – virtual Zoom room

As of Sept. 11th (one month of having the zoom room live), sign-ups have dropped off considerably.

If you have ANY availability to help this week, please sign-up ASAP. We are no longer aiming for full coverage, but any coverage is greatly appreciated.

What is the role of Zoom Room Volunteers?

Signing up means you are volunteering your time to be available in a virtual Zoom “room” to provide mutual support for helpers (including therapists, first responders, and other volunteers and workers) who are on the ground in Maui, and/or other volunteers who are helping in various capacities across the state and the world.

There is no guarantee that individuals will drop in. Think of this as volunteering your time at a support table at a local community center. Sometimes all volunteers will provide support, sometimes they will chat with one another or do other tasks.

All helpers who join the zoom support room are asked to sign a disclaimer before joining the meeting. This disclaimer clearly communicates that this zoom room is not offering therapy or insure confidentiality - and sets expectations for all participants of the role and limits for zoom room facilitators.

Zoom Rooms are NOT therapy spaces.

We are not requesting your help to provide psychotherapy.

Psychological First Aid is where interventions should be focused - as is connecting people with help, care, and other resources. Your role is to listen and hold the space for those who have been holding the people directly impacted.

5-Hour Psychological First Aid Training Recommended

If you're not familiar with disaster or crisis work, The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers Psychological First Aid Training. This is a free 5-hour online training that focuses on psychological first aid actions and applications in different post-disaster scenarios and with different survivor needs. This course also covers provider well-being before, during, and after disasters. This course is relevant for new providers and seasoned practitioners.

Liability Questions for Licensed Clinicians?

Because this room is staffed by volunteers, many of whom are not licensed mental health providers, please contact your liability insurance carrier BEFORE signing up if you are a licensed provider and have concerns about participating.

If this doesn’t sound like something you are interested in or able to do at this time, that is ok!

We need volunteers in many ways and probably for weeks and months to come.

Sign up on our Volunteer List if you’re interested in helping in other ways (see link below)

How to Sign Up

MAUI STRONG - RESOURCES

Google Group - Join, email access

Availability Form – HI licensed providers

Volunteer Form - Open to all, share widely

Call for Help - Admin, trainings, groups

24/7 Support Sign Up - Volunteer to cover shifts

Guidelines for 24/7 Volunteers

Climate Emotion Support Groups
HUB