Resources for victims of the Lahaina and Upcountry fires

    Georgie
west maui labyrinth

So much loss, but so much hope

The wild fires on Maui on August 8th have been life changing for many here on Maui.  It’s been a month since that day, and the need for help continues.  I’m posting some resources here as a way to help.  Some of these might be outdated, and some will still apply because it’s going to be a long road to recovery.  This great list was compiled by another Hawai’i Life agent who lives on the west side.

Thanks for any assistance you can provide!

Supply Needs Form: Maui Rapid Response https://bit.ly/Needs-SuppliesForm

Funds for immediate needs – Hawaii Department of Human Services
• Website: https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/
• Phone – public information assistance line: 855-643-1643
• What it is: Funds for immediate needs. DHS administers the individual and family grant program, which helps with immediate needs. Administers food stamp program for disaster victims

FEMA – 800-621-3362 Website: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4724  Mobile App: https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products In Person UH Maui College 310 W Kaahumanu Ave 8am-7pm Daily 

Contact your insurance company
• Guide from Hawaii DCCA about post-disaster insurance claims: https://cca.hawaii.gov/ins/files/2023/01/post-disaster-claims-guide.pdf

American Red Cross – 1-800-RED CROSS

800-733-2767 select option 4 follow voice prompts for “Hawaii Wildfires”

Glasses – emergency replacements – https://www.vspvision.com/eyes-of-hope/get-help.html#relief For lost or broken eyewear (even if an individual is not a VSP member or doesn’t have vision insurance), contact a local Red Cross chapter or shelter to request a VSP Eyes of Hope Disaster Relief gift certificate using the link above. “VSP Eyes of Hope” gift certificates (or “vouchers”) are available to all people who have been affected by disasters.

Champs Pediatrics for Shelters in Kahului/Kihei 808-495-9616Transportation: Roberts of Hawaii same day reservation 808-871-4838

Maui County Resource Website https://www.mauinuistrong.info/

GAS: Kahana Shell, Honokowai Texaco, Minute Stop Keawe St, Lahaina Shell

MEMA Family Assistance Center

Kahului Community Center 275 Uhu St.  Hours 10am-8pm

Housing – Realtor Association of Maui 808-873-8585.  Hawaii Housing finance and development corporation applications online httpp://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hhfdc  808-587-0469  hhfdcfirereliefhousing@hawaii.gov

Legal Services: Free Legal Hotline by Hawaii State Bar Association Tuesday August 15 and 22, Wednesday August 16 and 23, Thursday August 17 and 24 9am-5pm CALL 888-533-2773

Advice and information from the public defenders that came to Honokawai yesterday.

  1. There are predatory lawyers, groups posing as lawyers, and other folks out there from outside of Hawaii who may be trying to get people to sign things and collect money from us. Hawaii lawyers are regulated by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) and are required to follow a set of rules. The ODC is also aware of out-of-state lawyers or even people within the state who are trying to practice law without a license. Please share this press release that details what to do when people are claiming to be attorneys: https://dbhawaii.org/wp-content/uploads/230814-wildfire-press-release.pdf
  2. If you or a loved one knows that you have court in a criminal case and are concerned about missing a court date, we urge you to contact us on the main line: 808.984.5018. We can track it down and get you in touch with a public defender who will assist you.
  3. Our office is also concerned about prosecutions that may arise from violating emergency orders or any other criminal matter. If people were questioned by the police or have issues with law enforcement, please contact us.

Ben Lowenthal

The Office of the Public Defender

81 North Market Street

Wailuku, Maui, Hawai’i 96793

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Medicare assistance

If you have Medicare and lost or realized damage to your durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, or other medical supplies, you are entitled to receive replacements. Contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for assistance.

End State Renal Disease assistance

If you have endstage renal disease and need information for accessing treatment, you can call the Kidney Care Emergency Response Network hotline at 1-800-232-3773.

FEMA assistance

If you have been impacted by the Maui wildfires, you may qualify for federal assistance.

  • If you are applying for both home and business disaster assistance, complete one registration to cover both.
  • If you are applying for multiple disasters, you will need to complete a registration for each disaster.

You’ll need the following to complete your application:

  • A current phone number where you can be contacted
  • The address of the affected/damaged property
  • Your Social Security number
  • A general list of damages and losses
  • Banking information, if you choose direct deposit
  • If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or company name
  • Survivors may be eligible to receive assistance for uninsured and underinsured damage and losses resulting from the Maui wildfires

Take photos to document the damage and begin cleanup and repairs to prevent further damage. Remember to keep receipts for all purchases related to the cleanup and repair.

Disaster assistance may include financial help with temporary lodging and home repairs, as well as other disaster related expenses

* Note: You must provide an email address if you want to get your application status online. If you do not provide an email address, you will be required to contact the FEMA Helpline for any updates to your application.

Apply online at: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or by downloading the

FEMA mobile app at: https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-products#download.

If you need more information or assistance:

Call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 (711 available), 24 hours, 7 days a week.

If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS), or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.

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Financial assistance

Unemployment Claims: Maui residents who have lost their jobs can apply for unemployment insurance online, here: huiclaims.hawaii.gov/ If you have questions about unemployment benefits or eligibility, or would like assistance with your application, please call 808-984-8400 or schedule a phone appointment with the Unemployment office, here: https://labor.hawaii.gov/ui/ui-claims-maui/

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – SNAP, previously known as Food Stamps, provides supplemental food benefits for qualifying Hawai’i residents. Resources, how to, FAQs, provided by The Food Basket: https://linktr.ee/thefoodbaskethi_snapo Apply for SNAP benefits at:

https://pais-benefits.dhs.hawaii.gov/

Medicaid – Medicaid provides assistance with health insurance to qualifying individuals and families. Apply directly online here: https://medical.mybenefits.hawaii.gov/ For more information about Medicaid eligibility and assistance with the application, contact Malama I Ke Ola: 808-871-7772

Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. – Administers several County, State and Federally funded housing assistance programs and grants. Each program has different guidelines and requirements to best serve our community with different levels of need. Each application received is reviewed by a Housing Specialist to determine what current program may be available to best meet the client’s needs. Apply

at https://www.meoinc.org/programs-services/community-services/housing-assistance/

Department of Hawaiian Homelands – https://dhhl.hawaii.gov/

Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement Kūpuna Rental Subsidy Program – https://www.hawaiiancouncil.org/kupuna/

Modest Needs – https://modestneeds.org

Social Security Office (Maui County)

  • Address: Suite 125, 2200 Main Street, Wailuku
  • Phone: (808) 572-4863

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Maui Food Bank – https://mauifoodbank.org/ Emergency Donation Collection & Distribution Sites

Central Maui

  • In His House of Restoration

Service: Donation collection site, shelter, grocery distribution

Days and Hours: Open Daily 8am – 6pm

Address: 63 La’a Street, Kahului

  • King’s Cathedral

Service: Donation collection site, shelter, meal distribution

Days and Hours: Open Daily 8am – 8pm

Address: 777 Maui Veterans Hwy, Kahului

  • Salvation Army Kahului

Service: Donation collection site, meal distribution Days and Hours: Open Daily 9am – 4pm Address: 45 Kamehameha St, Kahului

South Maui

  • Calvary Chapel South Maui

Service: Donation collection site, grocery distribution

Days and Hours: Open Daily 9am – 2pm

Address: 320 Ohukai Rd, Ste 420, Kihei

 

Guava Tree Bar & Grill

  • Service: Donation collection site, shelter, meal distribution
  • Days and Hours: Open at 9:00 a.m. as of 8/10/23 (updates regarding their hours are provided via Instagram and Facebook).
  • Address: 270 Waiehu Beach Rd. Suite 106, Wailuku

 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/snap/

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as Food Stamps, provides supplemental food benefits for qualifying Hawai’i residents. SNAP is a federally funded program administered by the State of Hawai’i Department of Human Services (DHS).

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FAQ: how to file an insurance claim:

  1. Contact your insurer to get the claims process started. All policyholders should contact your insurer. Insurers can be contacted via their toll-free contact numbers (scan the QR code below to find your provider’s phone number), app or website.
  2. Auto Insurance – If your car was destroyed in the wildfires and you have comprehensive coverage, your company will work with you to file a claim and get you the benefits of your policy.
  3. Boat/Marine Insurance – If your boat was damaged or destroyed in the wildfires, contact your boat insurer to file a claim.
  4. Business Property Insurance – Businesses that have business property coverage should make a list of their inventory that has been destroyed. If your business has been closed due to wildfires or loss of power, you may have business interruption coverage available under your policy. Talk to your agent or company.
  5. Homeowners – Discuss coverage for temporary housing with your insurer. Your insurance may pay for temporary shelter immediately and if your property is damaged, your coverage will help cover the cost of housing while you rebuild. Homeowners and renters insurance policies generally provide coverage for additional living expenses if a covered loss makes your home uninhabitable. Keep your hotel and meal receipts. If you own and rent out a secondary home that has been affected, talk to your agent or company on coverage you may have available under a landlord policy. This might include loss of rental income while the home is repaired.
  6. Travel Insurance – Tourists on vacation in Maui are being asked to move to another island or return home. If you purchased travel insurance, contact your insurer for assistance and to ensure you know what documentation you will need to file a claim. Save your receipts for additional expenses you incur.

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Pharmacies

Maui Health’s pharmacy services are for inpatients only. Below are some of the outpatient pharmacies available on Maui.

Kaiser Permanente: Maui Lani Pharmacy

55 Maui Lani Pkwy Wailuku, HI 96793.  808.643.7979

Costco (In-store pharmacy)

540 Haleakala Hwy. Kahului, HI 96732 Driving directions 808.871.8755

Hours: Refer to website

Maui Clinic Pharmacy

53 S. Puunene Ave. #120 Kahului, HI 96732 Driving directions 808.877.6222

Hours: Call for details

Long’s Drugs (In-store pharmacy)

70 E. Kaahumanu Ave. Kahului, HI 96732 Driving directions 808.877.0068

Hours: Refer to website

Safeway (In-store pharmacy) 58 Maui Lani Parkway Wailuku, HI 96793

Driving directions

808.243.3527

Hours: Refer to website

Walgreens (In-store pharmacy)

10 E. Kamehameha Ave. Kahului, HI 96732 Driving directions 808.872.3301

Hours: Refer to website

Walmart (In-store pharmacy)

101 Pakaula St.

Kahului, HI 96732 Driving directions 808.871.7012

Hours: Refer to website

No transportation?

Many pharmacies are offering courier services. Please ask when you call.

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School supplies and registration

Department of Education Community Liaison Jewelyn Kahele can assist students and families with school registration and obtaining school supplies. Please contact Jewelyn with:

  • Name of child
  • Age / Birth date
  • School / campus, and
  • Supplies needed

Residents in need of assistance can contact Jewelyn at 808-856-5317 or jewelyn.kahele@k12.hi.us

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Transportation

Roberts Hawaii is offering FREE transportation to most shopping centers and medical facilities from county-listed Central Maui shelters including:

  • War Memorial Gymnasium in Wailuku
  • Maui High School
  • Hannibal Tavares Community Center
  • King’s Cathedral in Kahului
  • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kahului
  • Grace Bible Church

Mobility devices, including wheel chairs, can be accommodated. Riders will need to call for reservations: 808-871-4838

Maui County Office on Aging offers assisted transportation programs for seniors; call for eligibility, 808- 270-7774

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Military veterans affected by wildfire

School Attendance

  • If your school is temporarily closed, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will consider your attendance as continuous, and your benefits will not be affected.
  • Students using Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) or Chapter 35 (Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program): As long as the enrollment was submitted prior to the recent disaster, no further action is necessary to continue to receive benefits.
  • Please contact our Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551 (Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST) for any questions about your GI Bill benefits. If you’re unable to contact us by phone, you can send us a secure inquiry through Ask VA.

Benefit Payments

  • If a veteran or beneficiary does not/cannot receive a benefits payment due to the effects of the natural disaster and indicates financial hardship, the contact center agents must request a one- time special payment address where a replacement payment can be sent.
  • VBA can issue a same-day EFT payment to affected veterans. To do this, the veteran needs to enroll in Direct Deposit.
  • If a veteran does not have a bank account into which they can receive direct deposit, VA has established the Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP). Veterans can find more information about VBBP here.

Insurance

  • VA provides assistance to help ease the hardships of those affected. VA offers Instant Loan Approval online and expedited same-day processing for policy loans when veterans contact the call center.
  • The Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) is following disaster alerts that are issued by each state department of insurance in the event of natural disaster. These alerts generally provide a moratorium on lapsing or extension of premium payments.
  • Veterans may call the Insurance Center at 1-800-669-8477 or OSGLI at 1-800-419-1473.

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Counseling

Hawai‘i CARES 988

Local crisis counselors are available 24/7 via phone, text, or chat to connect you with resources for mental illness, substance use, suicide prevention, as well as services for children and adolescents.

  • Call or text 988, 24/7
  • If you do not have a phone number with an 808 area code, call the hotline directly at (808-832- 3100) or toll-free (800-753-6879)
  • Chat, 24/7 at https://988lifeline.org/chat

The State of Hawai‘i Department of Health, Maui Community Mental Health Center

Offering crisis mental health services and expanding hours to those experiencing emotional or psychological distress as a result of the Maui wildfires. To receive emergency services, contact Maui CMHC. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

We will have expanded clinic hours on Saturday and Sunday to accommodate immediate needs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For after-hours support, please contact Hawai‘i CARES 988.

Catholic Charities Hawai‘i – https://www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org/counseling-mental-health/

Our counspeling programs offer individuals, couples and families the support they need to build healthy relationships and enhance personal wellness. Call: (808) 527-4470

Child & Family Service – https://www.childandfamilyservice.org/programs/ccss/

Comprehensive Counseling and Support Services – A child abuse prevention and treatment program, providing a broad array of services to meet the needs of children and their families. The goal is to help parents or caretakers, children at risk, foster families or reunited families live in a safe, permanent home.

O‘AHU: (808) 681-1467

91-1841 Fort Weaver Rd. Ewa Beach, HI 96706

KAUA‘I: (808) 245-5914

2970 Kele St. Suite 203 Lihue, HI 96766

MAUI COUNTY: (808) 877-6888

293 North Market St. Wailuku, HI 96793

Disaster Distress Hotline: Call or text the Disaster Distress Hotline at 1-800-989-5990 any time of day to access crisis counseling and support.

 

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Thanks for reading my Maui blog…

Got questions about the market?  Buying or selling real estate on Maui? That’s what I do. Let me help YOU.

Georgie Hunter R(S) e-Pro, Hawai’i Life Real Estate Brokers
1043 Makawao Ave 203B, Makawao HI 96768
E-mail or call/text: 808 283-0635

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