When crisis touched communities in Maui, we met the moment—listening, mobilizing, and adapting to diverse needs on the ground
The wildfires that swept through Lahaina, Maui, in August 2023 were the deadliest in the U.S. in over a century. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to ash—while 1,300 pets were reported lost, over 5,000 residents were displaced.
Recognizing that entire communities were in need, Greater Good Charities began working alongside trusted local partners to mobilize quickly on the ground.
Through a sustained and diverse response effort, our teams provided emergency packs and school supplies, critical animal transport, and hands-on ground trapping to locate, treat, and reunite pets with families.
Mobilizing immediate aid—with people at the center
When hotels first opened their doors to evacuees, entire families arrived with nothing. Essentials ran out within days. Our teams assembled and delivered hundreds of emergency backpacks filled with hygiene items, flashlights, blankets, clothing, and other comfort essentials. And we kept showing up—listening closely, adapting as needs changed, and staying committed to Maui’s long-term recovery.
For the children and students bravely facing the devastation, prioritizing a smooth transition back to school can create ripple effects for entire communities. We supplied hundreds of students—many of whom were experiencing the loss of their home—with backpacks and school supplies, one less concern in an impossible time. We also provided families affected by the disaster with $1,650 grocery and restaurant gift cards, empowering communities to meet their needs with dignity.
At the same time—one month after the initial wildfires—we were able to distribute another round of packs filled with hygiene and comfort essentials through the support of donations from partners like Colgate.
Creating space for reunification—reducing overcrowding at animal shelters
Understanding that community needs can be diverse in the wake of crisis, Greater Good Charities added immediate support to a vital part of families and communities: their pets and animals. With wide-ranging destruction spreading as fast as the fires, the overcrowded Maui Humane Society faced their own crisis at the onset: overcrowding.
“When the wildfires started, we were at maximum capacity, and I mean every kennel was completely full. We were totally overrun,” Jenny Miller, Director of Development at Maui Humane Society, said.
“We knew that we needed to get these animals out of the shelter in order to take in the animals that were going to be critically injured and burned.”
As a longtime partner with the Maui Humane Society, our team not only saw this critical gap, but identified the solution to fill it. We partnered with Southwest Airlines—and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue—to assemble an August 17th emergency flight that airlifted more than 100 adoptable shelter pets off the island to find new homes in Portland, Oregon.
“When our team heard that there were over a hundred animals that needed rescuing and safe homes, we were all over it,” Kelly Knox, Corporate Responsibility Advisor for Southwest Airlines, said. “It’s really beautiful when organizations come together to do good things, what you can do in just a short matter of a couple of days.”
Search, rescue, and reunification – Finn’s story
With space cleared at the shelter, Greater Good Charities’ teams were able to shift their focus to the “burn scar”—the devastated heart of Lahaina where wildfires left little standing. Working directly with the Maui Humane Society, our teams worked tirelessly on the ground, setting traps in devastated residential areas and searching for pets separated from their families.
These teams—after four nights of search and rescue—brought more than 100 cats to safety. On the second night of searching, they found Finn.
Workers spotted Finn, an affectionate orange tabby, sitting in a sandy driveway, four houses down from where his family’s home used to stand. Finn was skittish, but after setting a non-invasive trap, our team returned to find Finn calmly waiting for them—meowing.
These efforts brought Finn to the Maui Humane Society and, ultimately, to a chip scan. Danielle, Finn’s owner, had already lost her home to the fires, and was hoping for a miracle in finding Finn.
“It was a really rough night for our team. . . the first time entering that specific area,” Greater Good Charities volunteer Leigh said. “Finding Finn and hearing that he had a person—that was a big win that night.”
Because the Maui Humane Society had the space they needed to temporarily house and care for Finn, this family reunification story was possible. Today, Finn is safe with his family, and even more affectionate than before.
A long-term commitment
In February 2024, as rebuilding efforts were ongoing and extensive, we returned, again. Hand-delivering 500 more emergency packs, our teams brought needed supplies wherever displaced families were finding temporary shelter: hotels, beaches, and parks.
When Denise Bash of Greater Good Charities saw the destruction and helped with distribution herself, her experience was profound: “I saw tears of gratitude, felt countless hugs, and had many heartfelt conversations. Their gratitude was overwhelming.”
Another ongoing need in the Maui area has been continued support with pet overpopulation issues after the fires. Our Veterinary Services teams have now conducted 3 additional sterilization clinics for Maui Humane Society to support.
In responding holistically to the wildfires in Maui, Greater Good Charities is charting a path for disaster relief and recovery—one that values diverse solutions, sustained engagement, and active listening.
This is the kind of response your support makes possible. Thanks to our donors, volunteers, and partners, we’re rebuilding more than homes and shelters—we’re helping an entire community thrive for years to come.
Whether it’s delivering emergency packs, supporting displaced families, reuniting pets with their people, or strengthening animal welfare systems for the future, we’ll be there for as long as it takes.
Mahalo for helping us show up—and stay.🙏