Convoy Delivering Relief in Response to Hawaii Wildfires

Convoy of Hope is responding to the deadliest wildfires the U.S. has seen in more than a century. Convoy’s teams are in Maui now distributing essential supplies like food, water, sports drinks, hygiene items, and more. 

As of Friday night, the fire that tore through Lahaina had been 85% contained, according to County of Maui officials. At least 96 people were confirmed to have died, but officials warned the figure was likely to rise.

Convoy of Hope had the honor of meeting with Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke over the weekend. Convoy’s team heard firsthand how devastating these fires have been and the impact they have had on everyone in the region. In the meeting, Convoy heard what the greatest needs will be moving forward and how to help meet them.

Through partnership with The Home Depot Foundation, Convoy has sourced essential supplies locally and began serving those in need over the weekend. Working alongside local church partners, Convoy is helping manage locally donated supplies and is strengthening its distribution network to serve the entire affected region.  

Many of the supplies Convoy will distribute will come from its new Regional Distribution Center in Sacramento. Its strategic location on the West Coast mean that the supplies will arrive in Hawaii a week faster than originally planned.

August 11, 2023 | 11:33 a.m.

A case of water, hygiene kit, and a bag of food can mean the world to someone in Hawaii who has lost everything. Convoy of Hope has staff and supplies en route to provide that life-changing support.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said in a recent briefing that hundreds of homes were destroyed and at least 2,000 people will need to find places to stay — he added it’s the greatest emergency the state had experienced in decades. Green has called on people to take in displaced residents from west Maui if they are able to do so.

The National Weather Service says Hurricane Dora was partly to blame for strong winds that drove the flames, interfering with response to the fire. The number of deaths increased to 55 on Thursday evening.

Together, we can respond to the urgent need in Hawaii. Thank you for your support that directly helps survivors of disasters.

August 10, 2023 | 9 a.m.

Convoy of Hope is responding in Maui, Hawaii. Team members and resources are en route to help provide relief amid the devastation that multiple communities face. 

The Maui wildfires have now killed 36 people. Though the winds are finally decreasing as Hurricane Dora moves farther away, fires are still burning on the island. 

Maui resident Dustin Kaleiopu reported that, in a matter of 36 hours, his entire town was destroyed. 

“Every single person that I work with, the people that I see at the bank, the grocery store, everyone I know is now homeless. … There’s nothing left,” he told NBC News.

More than 14,000 people were displaced in Maui yesterday. The fires have burned hundreds of acres, destroyed homes and businesses, and left tens of thousands of people devastated. 

“These were small businesses that invested in Maui. These were local residents. We need to figure out a way to help a lot of people in the next several years,” Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke told CNN.

The road to recovery is long, but Convoy of Hope is there to relieve some of the burdens today and provide hope for tomorrow. 

August 9, 2023 | 8:40 p.m.

Convoy of Hope is in communication with partners on the ground in Maui, Hawaii, as raging wildfires have decimated entire communities on the island. Relief supplies are being prepared for delivery as communities are grappling with the disaster.

The fires are still out of control and hundreds of people are evacuating their homes — some even fleeing into the ocean to escape the flames. 

At least six fatalities and 20 serious injuries have been reported. The Hawaii wildfire is fueled in part by the strong winds off of Hurricane Dora, a Category 4 storm. 

“Our main focus right now is to save lives and preserve lives,” Mayor Richard T. Bissen Jr. told NBC News. 

“We never anticipated in this state that a hurricane which did not make impact on our islands, will cause this type of wildfires,” Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke told reporters at Wednesday’s news conference. “Wildfires that wiped out communities, wildfires that wiped out businesses, wildfires that destroyed homes.”

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