Here’s How You Can Help Maui’s Whales And The People Who Protect Them

Forbes Lifestyle Travel Here’s How You Can Help Maui’s Whales And The People Who Protect Them Johanna Read Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I cover travel and responsible tourism. Following Sep 29, 2023, 09:46pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Maui is slowly recovering following the fires of August 8, 2023, that killed at least 97 people, with residents starting to return to Lahaina to see the remains of their homes.

Many displaced residents are still staying in hotels and short-term rentals. The Maui Tourism Authority and government officials have been updating their recovery information, including a phased reopening allowing some nonessential travel to West Maui beginning October 8. However, questions remain about when and how tourism should return, as reported by The Maui News on September 29.

Your donations will help the Pacific Whale Foundation help whales and Maui. getty As decisions are being made, there are many ways beyond traveling to the island to help Maui recover. As you consider where best to channel your assistance and donations, consider the Pacific Whale Foundation .

How the Maui fires affected the Pacific Whale Foundation Pacific Whale Foundation volunteers load boats with supplies to deliver to West Maui families . . .

[+] affected by wildfires. PATRICK T. FALLON/ AFP via Getty Images The Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Based in Wailuku, in West Maui, the PWF has been serving the community in and around Maui for 43 years. The foundation’s mission is “to protect the ocean through science and advocacy and inspire environmental stewardship. ” In addition to its employees personally affected by the fires—including 22 members of their team who lost everything—the foundation lost its boat, Ocean Legacy , and its Lahaina Ocean Store in Lahaina’s harbor, as the entire harbor was destroyed.

MORE FOR YOU FC Barcelona Icon Lionel Messi Will Leave Inter Miami In 2025 And Has Chosen New Club To Retire, Report Says One Star Wars Rebels Design Choice Is Making Ahsoka Hard On The Eyes New Pixel 8 Pro Leaks Reveal Google s Exciting Decisions Annelise Cochran, who works for the Pacific Whale Foundation, was one of the many people . . .

[+] significantly affected by the Maui fires. PATRICK T. FALLON/ AFP via Getty Images Immediately following the fires, the foundation first focused on the immediate assistance—including food, clothing and housing—that its employees and their families needed.

They also helped the broader West Maui community, for example using their boats to transport supplies to people who were stranded and helping with evacuations. The PWF recently opened a new location of their Ocean Store in Ma’alaea and is using it to supply donations as well as opening its Ma’alaea offices to house people who lost their homes. To continue with their relief efforts, the PWF currently has two different funds to provide kōkua—help—to Maui.

Detailed information is available on the foundation’s PWF Maui Disaster Response Funds webpage. Destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina, August 10, 2023. PATRICK T.

FALLON/ AFP via Getty Images The Pacific Whale Foundation’s Maui Conservation Fund As the foundation describes, the fires affected Maui’s ‘āina—meaning land, air and ocean. You can donate directly at PWF Maui Conservation Fund to help the foundation continue its outreach, education, research and conservation work in support of whales, dolphins and other marine life and their ocean habitat off Maui. More specifically, the PWF’s post-disaster priorities include: Pacific Whale Foundation volunteers load boats with supplies to deliver to West Maui families .

. . [+] affected by wildfires August 12, 2023.

PATRICK T. FALLON AFP via Getty Images Monitoring the short- and long-term effects of the fires on marine ecosystems, such as from the spread of contaminated debris, oil and fuel and from the runoff of toxic ash and dust. This includes an expansion of the PWF’s Coastal Marine Debris Monitoring Program to include beaches and near-shore waters beyond the fires’ direct impact zone.

Monitoring the area’s whale and dolphin populations for potential behavior changes, including the cetaceans’ distribution in the waters around Maui. Tracking indicators of fire-related disease, malnutrition and stress in the marine mammals. Working with partner environmental organizations, such as the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, to protect other fauna and flora including turtles and native plants, and to assist with water sampling and erosion control programs.

Helping local families by offering free access to Maui keiki (children) who are affected by the fires to PWF’s Keiki Whalewatch and Ocean Camp programs. Humpback whales, Maui, Hawaii. getty The Pacific Whale Foundation’s Maui Community Relief Fund You can also donate directly to the PWF Maui Community Relief Fund to provide emergency supplies and assistance to individuals and organizations as they work to rebuild the Maui community and recover from the disaster.

For both funds, there are options to donate anonymously and to donate as a gift, in memory or in honor of someone, if you choose. As the Pacific Whale Foundation describes on its website, “Mālama i ka ʻāina, a mālama ka ʻāina iā ʻoe—Care for the land, air and ocean, and the land, air and ocean will care for you. ” Spotted dolphin, Maui, Hawaii.

getty Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn . Check out my website or some of my other work here . Johanna Read Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.