Back to School: Maui Organizations Come Together for Education and Resources

As the first day of school approached, students and teachers were hard at work preparing to return to their classrooms. To get ready for the school year, the Maui community came together to ensure that resources were accessible for the keiki of Maui. Numerous events led by organizations in the community offered backpacks, school supplies, back-to-school physicals and immunizations, and a wide range of other resources to help families get back on track. Many Lahaina survivors and families on Maui are still in search of housing or adjusting to their new “homes.”

The Boys and Girls Club of Maui hosted a Back to School Fair at Queen Kaʻahumanu Shopping Center on July 19, where more than 20 nonprofit organizations and businesses participated and distributed over 200 backpacks. Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, and Hui No Ke Ola Pono mobile dental services also participated, making the event a one-stop shop for families and keiki. 

Boys and Girls Club of Maui Community Outreach Liaison Alyssa Nava-Vergara shared, “We create these events to remind the community that we are here to serve our keiki and families. As a Lahaina-born and raised girl, I still hear about the obstacles and hardships people are facing. The least we can do is alleviate the task and cost of obtaining school supplies for the school year.” 

Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute’s (HIPHI) Tobacco-Free and Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) Maui County coalition coordinators participated in the event and educated keiki and families about the importance of wellness and breathing in clean air. HIPHI’s table offered recipe cards, face masks, stickers, lanyards, and informational brochures to take home. The Department of Health also emphasized the importance of eating healthy and limiting drinks high in sugar. At their table, keiki engaged in a hands-on activity showing them how many tablespoons of sugar were in their favorite beverage. 

The outcome was amazing and HIPHI staff were proud to be able to reach so many families. “As a mother, student, and worker myself, it can be difficult to make time to schedule appointments or make it to different distribution and resource fairs. This event brought everything into one area, which made it easier for parents and guardians to attend and complete their tasks to ensure their kids were ready for school,” shared Leslie Garo, HIPHI’s Maui County Tobacco-Free Coordinator. The Back to School Fair was such a success that it was extended two additional days to offer more school supplies and backpack distribution, along with physicals from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies. 

The Unto-One Foundation also hosted a backpack distribution drive at the J. Walter Cameron Center on July 13. The drive, called “Backpacks of Hope,” shared the same goal of ensuring that the keiki and families of Maui did not have to worry about purchasing backpacks and school supplies this year. The event also distributed food boxes from Maui Food Bank that included canned goods, eggs, and fresh produce, helping to ensure food security for Maui families as the school year begins. HIPHI’s Tobacco-Free and HEAL Maui County coalition coordinators participated in this event as well. From assembling the backpacks to the day of the event itself, everyone felt a strong sense of community. Other volunteers included Maui Target staff and Global Leadership Adventures for Teens. Founder Brianna Collo shared, “The partnership and collaboration with HIPHI was an absolute joy and amazing process to be able to work alongside such incredible, caring people was a huge blessing in making a difference in our keiki and Maui Community.”

The hard work of these organizations ensured many Maui families were ready for the school year despite recent hardships, and without the financial burden of purchasing supplies. It is now more important than ever to come together and collaborate on ideas, projects, and events like these, because when we all show up to the table, we can reach more of our community. HIPHI is honored to work alongside many partners and organizations that share the goal of building a healthier Hawaiʻi.