Maui County: Expanding Outreach Through Community and Cultural Connection

Caption: Maui County CTFH Coordinator (right) pictured with the newly crowned 2025 Miss Maui Filipina at the recent pageant hosted by the Maui Filipino Community Council, one of the coalition’s newest community partners in tobacco prevention outreach.

The Maui County Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i continues its mission to help build a healthier Hawai‘i by educating youth and adults about the harms of tobacco and e-cigarette use, the manipulative tactics of the tobacco industry, and the importance of raising our voices to support stronger tobacco laws. This year, the coalition is prioritizing expanded outreach— connecting with athletic clubs, school administrators, Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), and other key community leaders across the county. 

As the coalition continues to grow, it has been reaching new audiences and building partnerships with organizations that are deeply rooted in culture and community. One such group is the Maui Filipino Community Council, whose mission is to preserve Filipino culture while guiding future generations. The coalition is scheduled to give a presentation at their June 14, 2025, meeting, attended regularly by at least 13 board members and community leaders. 

Cherry Urias, Board Member and Finance Committee Chair for the Council, is an active community leader and mother of two teens. She and her sons are also involved in the Boy Scouts of America and have witnessed firsthand the toll the vaping epidemic has taken on local youth. Cherry shared: 

“The Filipino community continues to progress and thrive in many areas of work, education, and the bayanihan spirit. Bayanihan is a term that we refer to as unity. The Filipino community believes in coming together to help one another, especially when facing challenges or difficult tasks. Our great grandparents moved to Hawai‘i for a better future, instilling a lot of important values in hopes that we continue to pass those onto the future generations.” 

When asked how vaping affects her community, she responded: 

“The vaping epidemic does not allow us to create a healthy generation, or one at all. Our mission with the Maui Filipino Community Council is to guide, educate, and uplift the youth, in hopes that they become the leaders for our community one day.”

The upcoming presentation will be led by a member of the Coalition for a Tobacco-free Hawai‘i Youth Council, a recent Lahainaluna High School graduate of Filipino descent. He is excited to share his knowledge and personal experiences with vaping among peers. Youth-led education like this has a powerful impact, offering a relatable voice while also inspiring hope that young leaders are stepping up to create change.

Collaborations like this one between the Maui Filipino Community Council and the Maui County Coalition for a Tobacco-free Hawai‘i not only ease the burden on communities confronting these public health issues but also help advance more comprehensive, culturally informed tobacco policies for our county and state.

To schedule tobacco and e-cigarette prevention education presentations at your next meeting or event, contact Maui County Coalition Coordinator Leslie Garo at leslie@hiphi.org.