Akwesasronon Learn of Native Hawaiian Struggle and Trauma in Hawaii

On a recent trip to Hawaii, Theresa Bear Fox, Konwasennawi David and Ida Cameron, met with several Indigenous Hawaiians while visiting. Rudy Tahawennase Webster, Oneida and his wife Jaydeen, whose family organizes the Hawaii Islands All Nations Powwow invited Fox to sing in Hilo, Hawaii.

Fox said, "Many nations were there. They encouraged who ever wanted to speak and introduce themselves and where they were from. After I sang, a woman came up to me and told me she liked the songs. We began sharing where we were from and when she shared how she is helping people in Maui, I told her I'd like to help get some support for Maui also from our community."

Fox was then informed of Loelani Ahia, co-founder of Maui Medic Healers, which 'provides multidisciplinary care from traditional Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) healers to western and eastern medicine as they strive to create spaces for healing after a very traumatizing disaster.'

At least 106 were killed by the Maui wildfires which devastated the island, wiping out the historic neighborhood of Lahaina, the former home of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

The emotional toll of this trauma is still fresh, and healing has only just begun for survivors.

When the fires devastated Lahaina in August, the Mauna Medics located mobilized immediately under the guidance of our Maui co-founder, Noelani Ahia, a Kanaka Maoli genealogical descendant of Lahaina, to form a sister 'Hui' we called the Maui Medic Healers. Their goal is to build trust, create safety, and continue to build communities of care during this time of trauma.

Ahia wrote, "We understand the violence of entry and exit that often happens in volunteer work after a disaster and are committed to being a consistent, long-term support during this time of great need to the island of Maui. Our health care provider volunteers have been on the west side and because many are from Maui and plan to continue providing care for the long haul. Our hui provides multidisciplinary care from traditional Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) healers, to western and eastern medicine as we strive to create spaces for healing after a very traumatizing disaster."

Maui Medic Healers have been working with health care providers on the west side and they've been there ever since. They provide a variety of services to maintain stability in a very uncertain and unstable dynamic after a very traumatizing disaster. Maui Medic Healers have been a consistent thread of support during a deeply traumatizing time to the island of Maui.

Mauna Medic Healers Hui was first formed in 2017 as a response to the horrific police violence during the protests at Haleakala and served native Hawaiians during the 2019 Mauna Kea frontline action, spending  eight months protecting the KIA'I (protectors of land, water, iwi and Kanaka Maoli rights). 

"We are a proud to be a Kānaka Maoli led team that provides grassroots community driven services and empowers the people." 

Donations are accepted through their fiscal partners Maui Mutual Aid and Grants Central Station and are tax deductible. Donation may be made on their website through PayPal. All funds raised in our Maui Mutual Aid Fund and any other fundraising efforts are administered by nonprofit fiscal sponsor Grants Central Station, a 501(c)(3) organization.