Mālama nā Keiki: Supporting Maui’s Youth Through Wildfire Recovery
Maui Youth & Family Services, in partnership with Maui United Way and Sentry’s Mālama nā Keiki Initiative, provides vital mental health support for keiki impacted by the Lahaina wildfires. Guided by the theme “He lei poʻina ʻole ke keiki”—a lei never forgotten is the beloved child—this initiative strengthens individual care and builds a network of community healing.
Mental Health Services
MYFS offers outpatient mental health care for youth across Central Maui and directly on middle and high school campuses. Services include individual and group counseling, substance use treatment, and community-based care for youth not enrolled in participating schools.
Community Outreach
Our trained team engages at wildfire recovery events, providing on-site emotional support and referrals. MYFS also sponsors youth-centered activities like Flow Fest, promoting healing through positive peer engagement.
Capacity Building for the Future
To ensure long-term community resilience, the initiative includes:
- Training for professionals in trauma-informed care, suicide prevention, and substance use response
- Peer-support hotline development and mentoring programs
- Support for internships and workforce development in youth mental health
Families are also offered culturally rooted tools like ho‘oponopono and mental health trainings to help nurture healing at home.
Cultural Integration
Through Ho‘aka Mana training, staff and partners learn to bridge clinical and cultural knowledge—ensuring care is both effective and grounded in community values.
Together, we are building a trauma-informed, culturally grounded foundation for Maui’s keiki to thrive—now and into the future.