Our kuleana to Lahaina
Ahonui (patience), kanaloa (firm; steadfast), and aloha (compassion; love): these are the core values that DAWSON and fellow members of the Hoʻōla Maui hui remind ourselves of every day during our morning meeting before we begin our work. This reminder helps us to embody these values as we carry out our kuleana to conduct thorough, safe and efficient hazardous site assessments to contribute to the cleanup in Lahaina.
But we know our kuleana is greater than the scope of any contract, or the specific requirements of a debris removal project. Our deeper kuleana is to the people of Lahaina – to support their healing and recovery, and ultimately, to help rebuild a community.
In October, DAWSON and the Hoʻōla Maui hui participated in a community Halloween event, teaming up with partners from across the West Maui community. After a day of field work in the burn zone, Hoʻōla Maui crew members changed into fresh clothes and spent the evening handing out candy and talking story with local families. While this year’s Halloween was a stark departure from Lahaina’s historical Halloween celebrations that took place on Front Street, this event helped bring a semblance of normalcy to the community.
In November, crew members from DAWSON and other Hoʻōla Maui members were able to take part in a collective workday in Kahoma. We helped in the loʻi by pulling weeds and preparing the beds for new planting. Preparing the loʻi and working alongside community members served as a profound reminder of Lahaina’s rich environmental and cultural resources. As a community, we have a duty to restore and protect these precious resources as Lahaina charts its path toward rebuilding.
To help raise spirits around the holidays, Ho’ōla Maui member DAWSON and partner DebrisTech participated in a Christmas event for the keiki of displaced families who work in the hospitality industry. DebrisTech generously donated over 100 iPads, which went to kids from affected families along with Apple gift cards to use for accessories and app purchases. The littlest ones received gift-wrapped toys, courtesy of DAWSON. Crew members from across Hoʻōla Maui contributed to this event – from volunteering to wrapping presents, to making gift bags, and even dressing up as Santa Claus himself.
We know true healing for Lahaina will take time, steadfast support, and enduring care. Small gestures of support like bringing smiles to the faces of ʻohana are just one of the ways the Hoʻōla Maui hui strives to uphold its deeper kuleana to foster the long-term healing of this community; the collective bonds of community will carry Lahaina forward.
