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The Maui fires in August 2023 deeply affected all of the Hawaiian islands. PDA and Pacific Presbytery met with our churches and pastors on O’ahu and Maui in person and online in the fall of 2023. We returned to ‘Oahu in person for a few days to listen and connect with our churches and to share what PDA and Pacific Presbytery have done in Maui, and to outline next steps ahead for long term recovery in Maui.
So what have PDA and Pacific Presbytery done so far? And what is on the horizon for our collective response in Maui?
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Approach to Disaster Relief
- IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. Immediately after a disaster, PDA connects with presbyteries and its local church leaders in the disaster zone with ways to support a church-based response, such as pastor’s discretionary funds for emergency unmet needs. We have been doing this in Maui for several months. PDA also deploys trained National Response Team to do emotional and spiritual care for survivors in makeshift shelters.
- LONG TERM RESPONSE. PDA’s approach to disaster relief is primarily focused on the long term recovery of a community. Years after most agencies leave, PDA remains. PDA builds a long term response by connecting with local leadership: church, community, government and non-profit. PDA works with local coalitions like Long Term Recovery Groups. This is what is being created on Maui now, and a strong LTRG is vital to Maui’s recovery. This is how PDA will determine what is most needed in the community and what PDA can offer.
- ONLY THROUGH THE PRESBYTERY. PDA’s model requires that all grant requests and volunteer efforts go through the Presbytery in whose geography the disaster resides. PDA relies on Presbytery and local church leadership to be highly engaged and involved in the community in order to create an effective response.
Rev. Edwin Gonzalez-Castillo, Director of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, spoke in a talk circle about the work of PDA and the shift towards long term recovery for Maui and the parallels of a history of colonization of the island of Puerto Rico, where he served as a local pastor and then the Stated Clerk of San Juan Presbytery in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
In Hawaiian culture, ʻohana is a term for family that includes blood relatives, adoptive relatives, and intentional family members. It can also include friends, neighbors, and others who are important in a person’s life; the idea is that family and friends are connected and support each other. It is a beautiful word to describe the goal of this work, as well as the connection we felt with our brothers and sisters in Christ on O’ahu.
Rev. Ron Pfeifer (top corner left) and Mililani Presbyterian Church hosted us for lunch. Mililani Pres. is literally the church of open doors–the walls of the church open on three sides. .
A delicious Korean dinner and laughter with Rev. and Mrs. Seok Jin In, pastor of Korean Eden Church in Honolulu. They are building a second wing on their church and ask for prayers.
***What would God like to do with this space? Rev. Kate Hogue, Pastor of CCU Kailua Build affordable housing crisis? Pray for the Spirit’s leading for their church!**