Letter from Hawai‘i Community Foundation
Micah A. Kāne, CEO and president of HCF, introduces the 2025 Hawai‘i Disaster Preparation Guide, sponsored by HCF.
As Hawai‘i continues to face a future shaped by more frequent and complex disasters, we are reminded that the most resilient communities are the ones anchored in relationships, prepared with foresight, and united in action.
Over the past decade, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation has responded to four major disasters across our islands. Each one shaped our understanding and offered valuable lessons that continue to guide our work today. We’ve learned the importance of pooling resources, resourcing local nonprofits, and acting quickly in collaboration with trusted partners already embedded in communities.
Our most recent and largest response, the Maui Strong Fund, was built on that foundation. From the early moments after the August 2023 fires, it was clear that Hawai‘i’s response would require more than short-term relief; it would require long-term commitment.
Each family’s path to healing is unique, and the nonprofit sector has been instrumental in crafting individualized recovery plans and helping people navigate the web of available resources. Today, 100% of impacted lots are cleared, and more than 200 new homes are already under construction. That progress reflects not only funding, but the unwavering strength and commitment of a community determined to rebuild together.
Even before the fires, housing was one of Maui’s most urgent challenges. That’s why HCF launched the House Maui Initiative to create a sustainable, affordable housing market for local families. The fires only deepened the need. But we’ve reinforced community collaboration, focusing on solutions that are coordinated and scalable.
True preparedness is more than stockpiling supplies. It’s about strengthening the systems that hold our communities together and ensuring that when disaster strikes, we are ready to respond not just with speed, but with intentionality and heart.
As we plan for the future, let us continue investing in the people and organizations that know their communities best. Let’s build a Stronger Hawai‘i where our ability to recover is rooted in our ability to care for one another.
Me ke aloha,
Micah A. Kāne
CEO and President
Hawai‘i Community Foundation
