Top 10 Maui Non-Profits

They do so by supporting Maui’s economy, quality of life, and unique Hawaiian culture. MMN provides services and programs on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

MMN presents a variety of community activities throughout the year including beach clean-ups, Maui reef cleanups, recycling events, and various litter pickups. This organization is also one out of the 600 members of Keep America Beautiful, a nationwide non profit focused on ‘building and sustaining vibrant communities.’

Whether you are a Maui visitor or a resident, there are a variety of ways to be involved with Malama Maui Nui. Volunteering on vacation, joining a beach clean up, donating and sharing their mission, and volunteering at fundraisers are just a few simple ways to be involved. Follow them in social media to stay informed about their projects. Not only is MMN constantly supporting the better well being of Maui Nui, but they also provide documentation for Maui County residents on pertinent ways we can all protect our island environment.

Throughout the Hawaiian Islands, MNMRC is widely recognized for their community efforts, scientific research, and cross-networking skills with various organizations to reach goals. Their community-based programs aim to restore and protect Maui County’s reef systems from ‘Mauka to Makai,’ (mountain to sea).

The amount of projects managed by MNMRC is, without a doubt, outstanding. Their Maui Coral Reef Recovery Team is an active group of 16 of Hawaii’s leading coral reef scientists and community members. The group advises and monitors progress with qualitative and quantitative measures.

MNMRC’s Sunscreen Pollution project aims to prevent the use of dangerous sunscreens that harm and kill the coral reefs. By educating the community, tour boat operators, and County officials, MNMRC creates awareness of the dangers of sunscreen pollution. They offer alternatives plus scientific information in ways that are absolutely understood by all.

More projects headed by MNMRC include the Olowalu Biomarker Project, the Hui O Ka Wai Ola Water Quality Testing Program (39 locations), the Oyster Restoration Pilot Project to improve water quality in Ma’alaea Harbor), and more.

The EMWP (East Maui Watershed Project) is a very cool organization, and the work they do is crucial for Maui’s continued sustainability. They are a movement of combined efforts from federal, state and private landowners. In total, the EMWP encompasses over 123,000 acres of East Maui watershed land. The areas produce over 60-billion gallons of water for Maui’s residents, farmers, and agribusinesses each year. The East Maui Watershed is actually the largest source of surface water in the entire State of Hawaii. Wow!

East Maui Watershed Project is not a political organization, nor a group that has its hands in the development of new water resources. Their main goal is to preserve Maui’s native forests to ensure that future generations of residents and farmers have a clean source of water. Since 1991, the staff of the EMWP has implemented a variety of programs and projects to monitor Maui’s ecosystems.

Projects have included removing invasive feral animal species from the watershed, such as Mongoose, Rats, Cats, Axis Deer, and Wild Boar. They are also continually removing invasive plants species such as Miconia, Strawberry Guava, Pampas Grass, and African Tulips. They have implemented a hunting program to increase access for hunters, developed ongoing water management and monitoring programs, created protection measures for runoff and streams, and constructed over 7-miles of fencing surrounding the more remote areas of the East Maui Watershed.

Since 1953, the Maui Humane Society has been doing their very best to improve animal welfare conditions on Maui. In 1987, the Maui Humane Society received a contract with the County of Maui to handle all animal related field issues for animal management and partial funding for an animal shelter and an adoption center. They are an independent non-profit organization and rely on donations for over 60% of their operational costs. They have the largest spay/neuter assistance program in the county, they are Maui’s only open-admission animal shelter, offer educational training programs, and more animal-related services.

Unfortunately, widespread treatment of domesticated and feral animals is not best in the State of Hawaii, Maui included. Compared to California, where residents can easily find free spay/neuter programs and animal activists are ready to roll heads at any time, Maui is just at the tip of this type of change. The community needs an organization like the Maui Humane Society to help increase awareness on issues such as humane animal care, spay/neuter necessities, animal abuse, and neglect, and lost and found pets.

The most significant time in each child’s development occurs in the first five years of life. Research shows continued therapeutic early intervention service for children through the age of five reduces long term social costs and lays the foundation for a healthy, productive life. Our work would not be successful without the dedicated individuals listed here who have a passion for our Maui families.” (imuafamilyservices.org, 2018)

Imua Family Services is a non-profit organization based on Maui and the outer Island of Lanai. Since 1947, they have been providing invaluable community services for Maui families that have child development, disabilities, and behavioral challenges. Their services are focused on children from birth to 6 years old and their families.

Imua provides a variety of specialty programs including Camp Imua, Infant & Child Development Programs, Early Childhood Development Programs, Newborn Hearing Screening, Support Groups, Clinics, Workshops, and more. They also provide education and training events addressing needs related to specific support services, like the everyday challenges of Autism. Just in the past three years, Imua has implemented an excellent Preschool program for children 3-5 years old, with a student to teacher ratio of 8:1. The preschool is a ‘play based’ curriculum that encourages the development of social and communication skills.

Imua Family Services has a variety of fun promotional events throughout the year. They offer multiple events in public schools, car washes, and consistent annual events. Imua’s annual Maui non-profit events are Fantasia Ball, Paddle Imua, and Roy’s Restaurant Golf Classic. Whether you are a teacher, mental health professional, philanthropist, or a volunteer, there are numerous ways to support Imua’s mission.

Since 1977, Women Helping Women has been assisting women on Maui that are dealing with domestic violence. Once a grassroots agency, they are now an established non-profit that offers a variety of services for over 600 Maui women a year. With offices located on Maui and Lanai, their organization is focused on direct intervention, advocacy, education, and prevention.

In 1981, Women Helping Women opened Maui’s only shelter dedicated to helping female victims of violence and their children. The shelter offers a variety of support services including intake, case management, progress evaluation, support groups, parenting classes, goal setting, transportation, individual and group advocacy, legal referrals, and assistance with temporary restraining orders. They also provide women with medical, housing, welfare, substance abuse, and mental health services.
The Children’s Program through Women Helping Women provides invaluable services to Maui’s children that are affected by domestic violence. At the shelter, the Women Helping Women staff provides a private intake of each child, socialization activities, and individual and group therapy sessions. In the community, the Children’s Program provides group sessions for children who have experienced violence and abuse, and help to implement exit plans. They encourage the mother and child to work together for their safety. Women Helping Women Maui also works with teenaged domestic violence victims and those who are experiencing or affected by teen dating violence.

The ReVive Boutique is Women Helping Women’s trendy and fashionable thrift store located in Kahului. All proceeds of this resale boutique go directly into their programs and services. Donations are always welcome!

Paia Youth and Cultural Center’s (PYCC) primary goal is to build community through Maui’s youth. They provide a safe place for Maui’s children to receive a variety of valuable social, educational, cultural, recreational, and vocational activities and experiences. Located right on Paia Bay on the North Shore of Maui, their facilities consist of an ocean coastline for water sports activities and lessons, Stone Wave Skate Park, Hekili Multimedia Lab, a clubhouse, a radio station (radiOpio), Paia Bay Cafe, and more.

PYCC is founded upon a Mission, Values, and Purposes. These are ideals that are drawn upon Hawaiian values of Social Interaction, Economics, Ethics, Health and Well-Being, Learning & Human Development, Science and Technology, Aesthetics, and Governance.

Youth membership at PYCC is free and offers a variety of daily activities and services at their Drop-In Center. The Drop-In Center is a great place for the youth to engage in healthy and safe after-school activities, including pool games and tournaments, basketball, outdoor team sports, hula hooping, yoga, ping pong, art projects, homework help, a computer and media lab, music, videos and games, and Friday Night (and rainy day) Movies.

Hospice Maui is a necessary organization on the Island of Maui. They know that caring for a dying person is one of the most challenging and emotional experiences that anyone will come across in their entire life. Since 1981, their professional staff has been providing the Maui community with a full range of services for individual and family support.

A team of trained support professionals provides services rendered by Hospice Maui: Physicians, RN Nurses, Hospice Aides, Social Workers, Counselors, and Chaplains. They can assist with pain and symptom management, 24-hr on-call services, medicines and supplies related to illness types, caregiving instruction, spiritual and emotional support, trained volunteers, and post-death support. Hospice Maui offers services regardless of insurance and ability to pay. Community donations and promotional events cover the cost of care for those without HMSA, Medicare, Kaiser, or Medicaid.

Maui United Way at times seems like it is just a fundraising organization, but they are much more. Their work focuses on a variety of issues within the Maui community, and have become something like a ‘bridge between the gaps.’ They serve as a network between many different community organizations and pick up the pieces in between. They develop resources for the Maui community between governmental services, religious and ethnic groups, various non-profits, businesses, and Maui residents. Through their successful fundraising, they help to assist other organizations in their network.

Programs initiated by Maui United Way include:

Information & Referrals: Pairing individuals with a network of services they need for specific issues

Volunteer Matching: Linking volunteers with the correct organizations so that opportunities can be maximized for all parties involved

Fund Distribution: Explore ways to improve community conditions and execute distributions accordingly; review grants and applications, agency site visits, resource distribution, etc.

Gifts-In-Kind Program: Donation support services; acquires donated goods and distributes them through their network related to a need basis.

The island and waters surrounding Kaho’olawe are currently under restoration from years of abuse and neglect. In the past, the Island of Kaho’olawe was used by the United States Military for military bombing and routine foraging. The natural environment of this island was literally destroyed, even though there was a 10-year cleanup implemented by the US Navy. Due to destruction, the island loses approximately 1.9 million tons of soil per year from erosion. Runoffs are affecting surrounding reef and ocean ecosystems, and over 3,000 of the islands historic sites are always in need of protection.

There is much work to do to rehabilitate the Island of Kaho’olawe to say the very least. The grand vision is that the land is restored, native Hawaiian flora and fauna are abundant in all slopes and valleys, and the reef and ocean ecosystems are healthy and thriving.