Maui Derm leadership calls for support for those impacted by Lahaina wildfires

Key takeaways:

• The wildfires on the island of Maui have taken dozens of lives and left thousands homeless.
• The Hawaii Community Foundation and Aloha United Way are two organizations on the ground in Maui, but they need financial support.

The historic town of Lahaina on the island of Maui has been decimated by unprecedented wildfires that have left thousands homeless.

George Martin, MD, founder of the Maui Derm dermatology meetings and owner of Dr. George Martin Dermatology Associates on the island, sent a message this week to attendees of his meetings asking for dermatologists across the country to help where they can.

He detailed power outages, lack of telecommunication services and lack of food for many island residents.

“No one is allowed into the Lahaina area (traffic is blocked at Maalaea) and if you leave, you can’t come back. This effectively isolates the entire Lahaina area from the rest of the island and prevents providing direct help,” he wrote.

While private citizens on the island are doing what they can, help from the mainland and beyond is necessary for relief efforts, according to Martin.

The Hawaii Community Foundation is dedicating 100% of funds collected for Maui directly to community needs. Additionally, Aloha United Way is collecting funds to go directly to supporting Maui United Way.

The Wyanoke Group, the parent company of Healio Dermatology and the organization behind the Hawaiian Eye and Retina ophthalmology meetings, has also pledged $10,000 to the relief efforts.

“We all treasure our memories of Hawaii, including the natural beauty of the islands and the contagious aloha spirit of the people who call it home. We hope you will join us in helping to keep Maui strong,” Peter N. Slack, president of the Wyanoke Group, and the meetings’ course directors, wrote.