Shoshana Robell-Margull ’10 and her stepfather Buster Medeiros
Helping in Hawai'i: Shoshana Robello-Margull ’10 volunteers and raises funds after Maui wildfires
Along with much of the nation, the Saint Mary’s community was following the heartbreaking updates from Maui last month following the deadly wildfires. Shoshana Robello-Margull ’10 lives in Kahalui, about 90 minutes from Lahaina. For the past four weeks, she has been volunteering and raising funds for her island neighbors—surviving families and individuals. It’s a duty she calls kuleana, a responsibility that’s a privilege to have.
Author’s note: At the start of the conversation, Shoshana iterated that her answers are only her own perspective and do not represent the multitude of experiences and reactions from all the people on the Hawaiian islands. This conversation took place on September 4, 2023.
Maui now, a month after the fires
“When everything first happened, everybody was in shock. For my mom and me it was a shock, too. It was 2 weeks after my stepdad passed. Honestly… I don’t even know how to describe it. We were so lucky that we were in an area that was safe: central Maui. A lot of our neighbors lost a home or family members in Lahaina. In the beginning it was trying to support our neighbors, cooking food. Everyone takes care of each other here.
“The grief here is so intense and heavy. It’s kind of amazing. There’s such a heaviness and sadness here in Maui. But the resiliency and the community is so amazing, it could make you cry. People are really pulling together and helping each other. It’s really beautiful.
“Lahaina is ravaged. Upcountry doesn’t have clean drinking water, people can’t shower, there’s no internet. Different parts of the island are affected differently.”
Kuleana
“With any trauma, there’s a juxtaposition of so much grief and sadness but so much aloha at the same time… There’s a Hawaiian word, kuleana. It’s a responsibility that’s a privilege to have. I think a lot of people living in Maui who didn’t lose a home feel kuleana; feel like it’s their responsibility that’s a privilege to help their community.
“There have been instances where fire survivors come into a donation center and are giving back money they’ve received. It’s really moving, even if they lost a lot they want to help.
“Local coffee shops are running drives to deliver coffee and pastries to the volunteers. A lot of the volunteering is very physical, it’s time-demanding, and it’s emotionally-involved.”
There’s a Hawaiian word, kuleana. It’s a responsibility that’s a privilege to have. I think a lot of people living in Maui who didn’t lose a home feel kuleana
Shoshana’s volunteering and fundraising
When we talked, Shoshana was driving home after finishing a series of supply runs, dropping off donated goods to distribution centers and hotels where displaced people are now living. That's how she's spent many days in the past month.
Shoshana says she and her family have raised nearly $10,000 thanks in large part to the artistry of her late stepfather, Buster Medeiros. Medeiros passed away a few weeks before the fires. He was a native Hawaiian and a mouth-painter, creating art despite not having use of his arms or legs. He never sold his work but would often donate it for fundraisers.
“A week after the fires my mom and I talked and agreed that he’d want to do this. He would want to do something to help the community. So we put on a small fundraiser and we would send out his prints in return for small donations. We were so touched and blessed, it was really really successful.”
Those funds are then donated directly to families who lost their homes, donated to organizations, or used to buy supplies that relief organizations ask for.
“You feel when you’re here you can never do enough. I’m so grateful that our community of friends really stepped up. It was incredible, it was really, really moving.”
“You feel when you’re here you can never do enough. I’m so grateful that our community of friends really stepped up. It was incredible, it was really, really moving.”
What do families need?
“With this level of a natural disaster, things are changing daily and it’s ever-evolving. Most people are out of the direct shelters and are now in hotel-shelters. That means there’s a shift in how things are being done and what they need.”
Shoshana mentioned a few non-profits that are making a major difference and rapidly responding to what the survivors need:
Upcountry Strong is renting out an empty warehouse and is allowing people to come in and get whatever they need - food, clothing, backpacks for kids, school supplies, feminine products - you could name it and they have it there.
Nā Keiki O Emalia deals with grief in children and teens, doing outreach programs for families. They’ve been running workshops for kids from Lahaina.
Maui Rapid Response is doing volunteer shifts on the west side of Maui, helping people do paperwork who lost their driver's license, birth certificate, social security. People can go through a checklist and the organization helps them fill out the paperwork.
What people can do
In response to a letter from the office of Alumni Engagement & Events, several alumni have asked about ways they can do more or make donations to help residents recover. Shoshana says there are so many organizations doing so much. “There are a million ways to help and every way is valid.”
"It feels hard when people aren’t on Maui and don’t know where to give or what to give to.
She shared a number of organizations that she has donated to or volunteered with.
Organizations
- The Maui Humane Society - protecting the lives and health of Maui’s pets and animals
- Nā Keiki O Emalia - offering grief support for families and children.
- The Pacific Birth Collective - birth and wellness support for expectant and new families
- Maui Rapid Response - disaster response team
- Upcountry Strong - various support to central Maui residents
- Hawaii Community Foundation - providing financial resources to support recovery needs
Families
Giving directly to families is incredibly impactful. Help Maui Rise has vetted family-based fundraisers and are giving attention to those that need more support. On their site you can read about hundreds of different families’ stories and needs.
Shop Maui
“The Maui economy is really, really struggling, too,” Shoshana noted. She encourages people to consider buying holiday gifts directly from a Maui-owned artisan or shop. Many have online stores and can ship to the mainland. “That would be really, really helpful.” She mentioned a few small businesse:
- Haku Maui
- Holoholo Surf
- Rooted in Wailuku
- Kulud
- Paradise Now Hawai'i
- Sticks and Pöhaku
- Ocean Jazz Maui
- Native Intelligence
“There are a million ways to help and every way is valid.”
What do you want people to know?
“There are thousands of ways to help right now,” Shoshana said. “Find the area that means something to you and it’ll make a big difference for Maui.”
There are hundreds of Saint Mary’s alumni and community members on the Hawaiian islands. All are welcome to contact the office of Alumni Engagement & Events at alumni@stmarys-ca.edu.
Saint Mary's Men's Basketball will play a charity exhibition game against the University of Hawai'i. The newly-announced game will serve as a means to help those impacted by the Maui wildfires and will be played Friday, Oct. 20 at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.