By Jennifer Rector Hawaii Catholic Herald The president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA visited Hawaii earlier this month to see the aftermath of last year’s devastating wildfire in Lahaina and to thank staff members of the organization’s Hawaii branch for their efforts in facing that crisis as well as others across the islands. Catholic […]
Hope, gratitude endure
Maui’s Catholic community remains steadfast in faith and unity as recovery from last year’s wildfires continues By Jennifer Rector Hawaii Catholic Herald Half a year ago, disaster struck the island of Maui as fires spread through Lahaina and Kula, leaving a trail of destruction and killing at least 101 people. For many, the trauma still […]
Maria Lanakila: a special place in my heart
REFLECTION By Sherry Hayes-Peirce Special to the Herald On Dec. 9, I was given the extraordinary gift of visiting Maria Lanakila Church in Lahaina, the church that miraculously was untouched by the raging fires that swept through the area in August. It was an honor to be the first non-resident to be given access to […]
Retired California nurse spreads holiday cheer to students
Boxes of Christmas stockings were also delivered to Lahaina public school students In the spirit of bringing some Christmas joy to students affected by the devastating wildfires in Lahaina, retired nurse Linda Higgins of Los Gatos, Calif., led a project to deliver hundreds of handmade Christmas stockings, stuffed with candy and small presents. One hundred […]
Charity arrives on Maui via San Francisco foundation
By Esther Tokars Special to the Herald Dr. Amelia Valdez (in the white blouse) of San Francisco, the founder of the Valdez Charitable Foundation, extended her hands in outreach to the survivors of the Maui wildfires last month at two locations on the Valley Isle. Backpacks, school supplies, eyeglasses, toys, stuffed animals, hair accessories, medical […]
St. Joseph Kokua Center: Spontaneous compassion in Upcountry Maui
By Brian Perry Special to the Herald The Maui wildfires left their mark on Upcountry, Maui, on the slopes of Haleakala, destroying 16 homes in Kula and three in Olinda. In a compassionate response, the Upcountry and Catholic communities have rallied to help impacted families and created the St. Joseph Church Emergency Kokua Center. Although […]
Photo: She sells sea shells
Meet Zaya Moylan Ayson, one of the newest students of the children’s sacramental preparation class at St. Jude Parish, Kapolei. The parish religious education program is so very proud of 8-year-old Zaya, who raised $500 for the Maui Wildfire Victims by selling these Maui-themed hand-decorated seashells (background). Moved by her selfless gesture, the parish wishes […]
Donations to diocesan Maui wildfire relief fund tops $4 million
By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Among the most generous givers to the Diocese of Honolulu’s Maui Wildfire Relief fund have been other American dioceses. The largest donation, $543,898.16, came from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Orange, California, funds it collected in a special parish appeal. The Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, gave $213,634.45. As […]
Relief fund suspends applications to focus on timely aid
Maui fires By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Applications to the Maui Disaster Relief Fund were suspended Oct. 11 after an overwhelming response of more than 1,500 online applications poured in since the program opened on Oct. 1. “Our goal is to get financial assistance quickly into the hands of those most in need in […]
Photo: Expanding the temporary school
Volunteers continue their work to make Sacred Hearts Mission in Kapalua a temporary home for Lahaina’s Sacred Hearts School that burned down on Aug. 8. Pictured are volunteer parents and Knights of Columbus installing flooring and assembling desks in space adjacent to the church on Oct. 16. Sacred Hearts principal Tonata Lolesio said she is […]