Maui Nonprofit Provides Monthly Cash Payments to Disaster Survivors

The Kahua Card program aims to stabilize those most at-risk during Lahaina's protracted recovery.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After the devastating Lahaina fires in 2023, a Maui nonprofit called Maui Rapid Response launched an experimental program to provide monthly cash assistance to 69 households impacted by the disaster. The Kahua Card program gives participants $700 per month on a special Mastercard for one year, with the goal of helping stabilize some of the most vulnerable survivors as the island's recovery continues. The program is based on research showing cash assistance can give people more agency over their recovery and flexibility to meet their specific needs.

Why it matters

The Lahaina fires killed at least 102 people, destroyed 2,200 structures, and displaced 12,000 residents. Maui's recovery has been hampered by a longstanding housing shortage, the blow to its tourism-dependent economy, and its remote location that makes construction slower and more expensive. This cash assistance program aims to help those who have fallen through the cracks of other disaster relief efforts, including those who were homeless, unbanked, or burdened by compounding challenges like disabilities or caregiving roles.

The details

The Kahua Card program launched last year as a six-month pilot, sending up to $1,100 per month to 18 households. Spending data showed participants mainly used the money for food, transportation, utilities, and personal items. By the pilot's end, 80% of recipients reported feeling less anxious or stressed, and one-third were able to seek out better jobs. The current program has 69 households enrolled in three cohorts, receiving $700 per month on a special Mastercard for one year.

  • The Lahaina fires occurred in August 2023.
  • The Kahua Card pilot program launched in 2025.
  • The current Kahua Card program began in December 2025 and will run for one year.

The players

Mari Younger

A 49-year-old Lahaina fire survivor who was forced to leave her job in the restaurant industry due to a health emergency, and then lost her home in the fires. She is now receiving $700 per month through the Kahua Card program.

Maui Rapid Response

A mutual aid nonprofit on Maui that launched the Kahua Card program to provide monthly cash assistance to Lahaina fire survivors.

Nicole Huguenin

The executive director of Maui Rapid Response, the organization behind the Kahua Card program.

Kirsten Trusko

The co-founder of Payments as a Lifeline, a financial technology nonprofit that promotes disaster cash assistance programs.

Stacia West

The co-founder and director of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Guaranteed Income Research and an associate professor at the University of Tennessee, who has researched the impacts of cash assistance programs.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's like the calvary has shown up. The war is not over, but at least there's more help coming.”

— Mari Younger

“When we let them choose, it unwinds the trauma and gets them out of survival mode faster.”

— Nicole Huguenin, Executive Director, Maui Rapid Response

“The need for longterm recovery is there in every disaster, but very seldom is that funded.”

— Kirsten Trusko, Co-founder, Payments as a Lifeline

“The agency provided a level of mental health that none of us expected.”

— Nicole Huguenin, Executive Director, Maui Rapid Response

“Largely, what you're going to see are reductions in food insecurity, and that people are shoring up their finances. They're making sure that they have a little bit to fall back on.”

— Stacia West, Co-founder and Director, University of Pennsylvania Center for Guaranteed Income Research

What’s next

Maui Rapid Response hopes the Kahua Card program can serve as a blueprint for larger organizations to implement similar cash assistance initiatives for disaster survivors. The Maui County Council has also approved a $12 million cash assistance program for working households living above the poverty line but still struggling to make ends meet.

The takeaway

The Kahua Card program demonstrates the potential for monthly cash payments to help stabilize disaster survivors and give them more agency over their recovery, addressing unmet needs that traditional disaster relief efforts often miss. As extreme weather events become more frequent, this model could provide a valuable tool to support long-term community resilience.