From “No Can” to “How Can”: The power of relationships in Lahaina

As Hawaiian Electric’s West Maui Community Liaison, a recent volunteer workday with community partners to protect Lahainaluna High School with a firebreak reminded me that our community relationships continue to be the strongest infrastructure that we build together across our islands.

Turning a “No Can” into a “How Can”

Hawaiian Electric has been developing its Wildfire Safety Strategy for years, well before the August 2023 fires. As part of our efforts, we received government funding for community-led wildfire mitigation projects. One potential project included Lahainaluna High School. However, we later received word the government funding would not be currently available for such community work.

Sharing that news with Lahainaluna School Principal Richard Carosso was difficult. Lahainaluna is the beacon of West Maui — nearly two centuries of culture, education, and pride live within that campus. Leaving that meeting, I thought to myself: this can’t be the way the story ends.

Relationships create opportunity

In conversation with my friend and fellow Lahaina resident, Jeeyun Lee, and current Interim Chief Executive Officer of Maui United Way, we reflected on the “no can” moments our community faces and how they can become “how can” opportunities. (Mahalo to the late Mayor Billy Kenoi for inspiring that mindset.) From that moment, a plan began to take shape.

Jee reached out to her friend Ashley Takitani, VP of Operations at Maui Land & Pine, where many employees are Lahaina residents and proud Lahainaluna alumni. All together with Principal Carosso, we envisioned a volunteer-led firebreak and vegetation management project — one powered by organic partnerships.

Huli Ka Lima i Lalo — Putting hands to work

Maui United Way took the lead in organizing what became Malama I Lahainaluna Community Aina Day. Lahaina Excavation’s Keoni Moore, another proud Luna, joined other alum from Maui Land & Pine in prepping the work area of dry grass and invasive vegetation so volunteers could safely clear the area. When the call for volunteers went out across our organizations, the response was overwhelming — because at the end of the day, we’re all Maui.

On Sept. 27, about 70 volunteers gathered above the Lahainaluna football field. By noon, nine acres had been cleared and three roll-off bins, provided by Malama Maui Nui, were filled. The Lahaina sun was hot, the work was hard, but our spirits were bright.

A lasting lesson in community power

That day revealed that relationships are our strongest infrastructure. They are what allow us to move past obstacles and create real, tangible change for our island home. The experience reaffirmed what we all know to be true — that when Community shows up together, we can do anything.

Mahalo to all who answered the call: my fellow Hawaiian Electric ohana, Lahainaluna High School, Maui United Way, Maui Land & Pine, Lahaina Excavation, Maui Emergency Management Agency, Tropic Water, Malama Maui Nui, and Service Rentals — and especially to Jeeyun for her friendship and leadership.

Turning to the strength of community relationships, what initially was a setback became a story of collaboration, resilience, and aloha. When we cultivate relationships with sincerity, we create networks of possibility — pathways to action that no single entity could forge alone.