In order to help survivors of the Maui wildfires, the nonprofit Maui United Way, with the support of the nonprofit Center for Disaster Philanthropy, funded the distribution of $240,000 in gas cards to displaced families facing ongoing transportation challenges. 

The initiative, which provides $100 gas cards each month, benefits about 500 survivors who commute to and from the island’s west side for work and school. The cards will provide relief for the next six months as these families continue rebuilding their lives, according to a news release. 

Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset Foundation spearheaded the administrative effort for this program, partnering with Hawaii Petroleum, which donated an additional 5% in gas cards. 

Local organizations, including Kākoʻo Maui/Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Kaibigan Ng Lāhainā, Roots Reborn and the Disaster Case Management Program, helped identify survivors and distributed the gas cards. 

Hoʻōla Iā Mauiakama, Maui’s long-term recovery group, also helped by creating the space to have the need for transportation identified. 

“We understand the profound challenges faced by families who have lost their homes and livelihoods,” said Jeeyun Lee, Director of Impact at Maui United Way, in a statement. “By addressing transportation barriers, we hoped to ease some of their burdens, especially for families with young children or those traveling long distances for work and school.” 

For many recipients, the gas cards have already made an impact. “Getting to work and taking my kids to school every day has been one of the hardest parts of starting over,” shared fire survivor Nalani Abellanida. “This support gave us one less thing to worry about, and I can’t tell you how much that has meant.”