By Christine Bork | Chief Development Officer
The Hawaii Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics received a Disaster Recovery Grant to provide new ukuleles to school children and people living in shelters to replace instruments lost or damaged in the Lahaina fire. At the Keiki Health Fair at Whaler’s Village, 93 instruments were given out by local music teachers, who offered free lessons.
The teachers continued community with regular sessions at shelters and supply distribution areas, including coordinating after-school ukulele classes with the Maui Music Mission. This has been a beautiful way to support the community and bring joy to Lahaina.
The event was also included administering vaccines, updating medical records, and dedicating the day to the collective healing of the community.
Many survivors are reluctant to talk about their trauma, but some children expressed gratitude to the teachers. One said, “This is the first time I’ve smiled since the fire.” Another said, “This is my therapy and my way of connecting to the Lahaina community.”
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