A West Maui nonprofit that has offered free ocean education to Lahaina's children since the 2023 wildfire is racing to patch up storm-damaged classrooms, a knocked-out solar system and a broken outrigger canoe before its fall programs get underway. Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy is asking the community for $18,000 to finish the job.
The damage traces back to Hurricanes Lala and Lowell, which tore through West Maui and left the nonprofit's classrooms, solar system and waʻa in disrepair, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The nonprofit initially estimated it would need $30,000 to make things right, but that number has since come down substantially.
Two anonymous donors recently stepped forward with 15 solar panels and a four-person waʻa, cutting the academy's remaining fundraising goal to $18,000, the newspaper reported. The money still needed will go toward repairing the damaged canoe, restoring classroom doors and flooring, and installing the newly donated solar panels.
A Lifeline Born From the Lahaina Fire
Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy provides free ocean-based education and mentorship programs for West Maui children, according to Maui News. Founded in 2000, the organization has spent more than two decades building ocean education, mentorship and environmental stewardship programs for youth in the region. Since the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, it has leaned on hands-on ocean activities to support children's well-being and help them reconnect with the ocean and their community, the outlet reported.
Programs include hands-on ocean learning, the Riding the Waves of Life mentorship program, and internships and scholarships for young people interested in careers as ocean guardians, per the Star-Advertiser's reporting. The organization said losing its space would further limit the free resources available to West Maui families as the community continues recovering from the fires.
Founder Pledges to Keep Kids Connected
Zane Schweitzer, the academy's founder and executive director, said the organization intends to keep showing up for the community no matter what the repairs require. Speaking to Maui News, Schweitzer said, “We're pivoting programs, honoring our commitments to schools and families, and doing everything we can to keep our keiki connected while we rebuild.”
Schweitzer has also asked for kokua from anyone who believes in the organization's mission, according to the same report. The academy operates out of its headquarters at Honokahua Bay in D.T. Fleming Beach Park, which opened on Feb. 8 as detailed by Maui Now, with a stated focus on youth mental health and environmental education.
Storms Left a Wider Mark on Maui
The damage to Kahākūkahi's facilities came amid a broader pattern of storm disruption across the county. The County of Maui has noted that two Kona storms in March 2026 brought heavy rains and flooding that impacted communities across the state, according to mauirecovers.org. A separate Maui County recovery update in September described ongoing work clearing more than 1,500 properties, restoring infrastructure and developing recovery plans, per the County of Maui.
The academy accepts one-time and recurring donations through its website, and donations can also be mailed directly to Kahākūkahi Ocean Academy at 657 Kai Hele Ku St., Lahaina, HI 96761, according to the Star-Advertiser's reporting. For a nonprofit that has spent years helping Lahaina's children heal through time on the water, the next few weeks of fundraising could determine how smoothly its fall programs get back in the water.
