Mālama I Ke Ola Health Center expands Maui wildfire recovery programs

Aug 20, 2026

Maui students and families are getting more mental health and prevention support two years after the 2023 wildfires, a positive step for a community still recovering.

  • Nearly 20 organizations and programs now work on wildfire recovery needs across Maui.
  • Mālama I Ke Ola Health Center is one of them, offering primary care, women's health, dental, and school-based clinics.
  • Federal emergency grant money, run through Papa Ola Lōkahi, funds the Maui Surge program for healing, mental health, and substance abuse prevention.
  • Surge money has expanded work inside three schools — Maui High, Kīhei Elementary, and ʻĪao Intermediate — with calm-down rooms, a second breakfast program, and lessons on emotions and healthy relationships.
  • The aim is early support and trusted adult relationships, catching problems before they turn into crises.

Outlook: The school programs are set to keep running, with consistency seen as the key to reaching students who need help.

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