Lahaina
Strong
Community-led recovery for Lahaina wildfire survivors.
We fight to keep Lahaina lands in local hands through housing justice, water rights advocacy, and grassroots organizing rooted in Hawaiian values.
From Ashes to Strength
Lahaina Strong was first formed in 2018 after smaller fires threatened our community. When the devastating August 8, 2023 wildfire killed over 102 people and destroyed more than 2,200 structures, we reactivated with greater determination than ever.
Our mission is to prevent speculative land grabs, keep Lahaina lands in local hands, and ensure that the people of Lahaina control the future of their hometown.
We work across the full spectrum of recovery: from immediate disaster relief and food distribution, to long-term systemic change through legislative advocacy, housing justice campaigns, and water rights restoration. All of it is grounded in Hawaiian cultural practices and values.
Community Programs
Our programs address both the immediate needs of Lahaina survivors and the systemic changes required for a just, resident-led recovery.
Community Education and Empowerment
We host regular gatherings to educate Lahaina residents on their rights, recovery resources, and pathways to rebuild on their own terms. Knowledge is the foundation of community power.
Learn MoreCivic Engagement and Legislative Action
From Maui County Council chambers to the Hawaii State Legislature, Lahaina Strong advocates for policies that protect residents from speculative land grabs and preserve affordable housing in the rebuild.
Learn MoreDemonstrations for Justice and Resilience
When words are not enough, we organize. Our community demonstrations have drawn national attention to the housing crisis, water rights violations, and the urgent need for resident-centered recovery.
Learn MoreHealing the Land, Strengthening the People
Recovery is not just rebuilding structures. It is healing relationships with aina. We integrate Hawaiian cultural practices into restoration efforts, honoring the deep roots of Lahaina.
Learn MoreCommunity Healing and Mental Wellness
Trauma from the August 8, 2023 fires runs deep. We connect survivors with culturally grounded mental wellness programs, peer support networks, and healing spaces rooted in aloha.
Learn MoreAmplifying Voices, Preserving Culture
Through media, storytelling, and cultural events, we ensure the authentic voices of Lahaina's people shape the narrative of this rebuild. Not outside developers. Not politicians. The people.
Learn More
Lahaina Energy Partnership
The Lahaina Energy Partnership (LEP) is a community-led effort intended to ensure that Lahaina's future energy system is rooted in our local values, our vision, and our hands.
The LEP brings together residents, local organizations, and energy experts to shape the future of Lahaina's energy system. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR).
Lahaina Strong is a founding partner alongside Ha Sustainability and Shake Energy Collaborative, ensuring this process stays community-led from start to finish.
Lahaina Strong in the News
Our fight for Lahaina has been covered by local and national media. Here is what they are saying.
Maui Vacation Rental Bill That Divided Community Is Signed Into Law
The landmark legislation phasing out short-term vacation rentals in West Maui was signed into law — the culmination of years of organizing by Pa'ele Kiakona and Lahaina Strong on behalf of displaced fire survivors.
5 Questions: Jordan Ruidas, of Lahaina Strong
The Star Advertiser sits down with Jordan Ruidas, founder of Lahaina Strong, on what it means to organize your own community from within while raising three children and fighting for the land your family has always called home.
Tourist Tinderbox
American Indian Magazine profiles Courtney Lazo, a Native Hawaiian with 15 generations of roots in Lahaina, who joined Lahaina Strong and helped lead the Kaanapali Beach occupation demanding dignified housing for fire survivors.
Lahaina Rising film wins best-made-in-Hawaii ahead of release
De Andre Makakoa, Lahaina Strong's creative director and community filmmaker, co-produced Lahaina Rising, a documentary using film as a tool for truth-telling and community-driven recovery. It won best-made-in-Hawaii before its release.
The Struggle to Rebuild Lahaina: Where Is Recovery Two Years After the Fires?
Nonprofit Quarterly examines where Lahaina's recovery stands two years after the fires, featuring Lahaina Strong's ongoing organizing to ensure the rebuild centers residents and not outside developers or speculators.
Maui community invited to inaugural Lahaina Strong Makeke
Lahaina Strong launches its inaugural Makeke, a community market celebrating local vendors, Hawaiian culture, and economic resilience as Lahaina works to rebuild on its own terms.
Make a Donation Today
Your support fuels direct action: legal advocacy, community gatherings, housing campaigns, and the voices of Lahaina survivors.
Every dollar stays local. Every dollar fights for residents, not developers.
Donate NowLahaina Strong is a grassroots organization. All donations support community recovery programs.