As part of our long-term recovery efforts, the American Red Cross has partnered with various organizations through grant programs to let the impacted Maui community guide in its disaster response. Each of these specialized partners works to connect the people of Lahaina to means by which they are given a greater measure of control over how their own recovery.

The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) is designed to serve as a hub of wildfire prevention and education. The Red Cross is proud to partner with them as they support community groups and volunteers working in Lahaina.

What is your name and title?
Nani Barretto, Co-Executive Director, Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO).

What has the grant from the Red Cross allowed your organization to do?
The Red Cross grant allowed HWMO to provide the social, technical, and financial support that communities across Maui Nui asked for, helping them organize their neighborhoods and take action to prepare their homes, families, and communities for future wildfires. The grant also enabled community leaders to attend the 3-day Hawaiʻi Wildfire Summit in Kona, where they shared their experiences and connected with other leaders and agency partners committed to wildfire preparedness and community resilience. With this support from the Red Cross, we've been able to lay the groundwork for long-term, community-led recovery and resilience planning.

What have been your organization’s biggest successes so far?
One of our biggest successes has been giving community members, especially those with limited resources, the space, time, and support to reflect, voice their concerns, and explore new paths forward. Whether it’s building stronger relationships between neighbors, improving coordination with the fire department, or helping HOA boards understand wildfire risk, we meet people where they are and ask, “How can we support you?” We’ve earned trust gradually and genuinely, simply by showing up with no other motive than to serve. Our team cares deeply, and that shows in the relationships we’ve built. Through these partnerships, we’ve launched and grown community-led efforts like the Firewise Communities and Community Wildfire Ambassador programs. We’ve also helped bridge communication between agencies, communities, and neighboring landowners so that wildfire preparedness efforts are more connected, informed, and grounded in local priorities. At the end of the day, it’s not about what we’ve done; it’s about what’s happening in the neighborhoods: more connected communities, more empowered residents, and more families actively preparing for wildfire together.

What does your organization still have planned to accomplish?
We plan to continue growing community awareness and participation in community-level wildfire risk reduction. This includes supporting Firewise site development, offering technical guidance for (re)building/retrofitting with wildfire resistance in mind, and assisting in the creation of long-term mitigation strategies that reflect the values and needs of Maui’s residents.

What have been the most powerful moments or lessons learned while working towards Lahaina’s recovery?
Some of the most powerful moments have come from listening to residents share their deep connection to the land and reflect on what they’ve lost or fear they may lose in the future. These conversations remind us that preparedness is not just about infrastructure; it deeply influences recovery. Being organized as a neighborhood, knowing your neighbors, and working together to prepare homes, yards, and families for wildfire builds resilience and the capacity to recover.

Recovery also means preparing for future wildfires. Our engagement with communities impacted by the Maui fires has helped lay the groundwork for real, community-led planning. Neighbors come together to talk-story, organize, and take meaningful steps to protect their homes and places. We’ve learned that trust, consistency, and cultural respect are essential to this kind of long-term, healing work.

What is the impact your organization has seen in the community?
We’ve seen a huge shift. More people are aware, they’re asking questions, and most importantly they’re taking action. Before the 2023 fires, we had just 4 recognized Firewise communities on Maui. Now we’ve got 10 with another 6 in the pipeline. That’s not just numbers. It’s neighbors organizing, stepping up, and really owning their wildfire risk. They’re not waiting around for someone else to solve the problem. They’re hosting dumpster days so folks can clear out green waste and reduce fuels. They’re walking their neighborhoods, identifying hazards, and making plans. Some are practicing evacuation routes or clearing roadside brush so fire trucks can get in and out more easily, and so a hot car idling on dry grass doesn’t spark a fire. They’re creating fire breaks, talking to neighboring landowners, updating their association rules, and thinking hard about water (access, storage, ownership). We’ve even seen them building phone trees to keep each other informed, organizing potlucks and work days to get things done together. People are also starting to rebuild and retrofit with wildfire in mind, which is so important. Honestly, it’s been inspiring to witness. Our team feels really lucky to support and walk alongside them on this journey.

How has working with your organization helped you, personally?
This work has given me a deeper sense of purpose and renewed my hope in humanity. Seeing people come together - linking arms, organizing, and stepping up for their communities - reminds me that real change is possible when we work collectively. It’s incredibly humbling and inspiring to be part of that.

Mahalo to Nani and the team from HWMO for sharing their stories and contributing to the work being done to see Lahaina shine again.