Background

Kahakukai Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Lahaina 

Our web site is www.kahakukahifoundation.com, 

Our executive director is world champion waterman Zane Schweitzer; and Shawneen Schweitzer and I are Board members.

As you know there were 2,400 homes lost in the August 2023 fires and only a few have been rebuilt as yet.  These Lahaina children are basically refugees and the Kahakukahi Center at DT Flemings beach now offers a safe place for the children of Lahaina to learn and play and mentally recover.

Our Mission Statement is to inspire a healthy active lifestyle that uplifts our community and environment through community programs and mentorship.  After the fires we formed a mobile operation to run events for the children.  Even as an itinerant group, we could see the need to help these childrenʻs PTSD and their need for camaraderie and support.   Thanks to Parley for the Ocean and Maui Land and Pineapple, we opened our Kahakukahi Center at DT Flemings beach last month offering FREE programs to the children. 

Hereʻs our staff:

Zane Schweitzer – Executive Director

Sule Gordon – Program Director (former Boys and Girls Club)

Michiko and Ocelli  – Marine Biologists

Inaldo – Ocean Safety and Junior Lifeguard Program

Alyssa – Mental health

Shelby – Arts and Creative

Uilani – Volunteer Educator

Since opening the center on February 8th, 1500 children have participated with our staff, 350 students have joined us on field trips from local schools, the US Coast Guard held a team Building session, we did a beach clean with Jean Michel Cousteau, a surf contest at Honolua Bay for the 125 First Responders and, since 4 of 7 preschools burned down, we held our first event for toddlers where 53 children turned up!

The Benefit Concert for the Children of the Lahaina Fires

The Kahakukahi Foundation team has been invited by Ocean Vodka to hold a  “Benefit Concert for the Children of the Lahaina Fires “at their facility on Sunday May 18th from 4pm – 7pm.   The musicians we are inviting include Mark Johnstone and the House Shakers, Gretchen Rhodes, Lukas Nelson, Marty Dread, Lily Meola, Steve Grimes and John Cruz, Mick Fleetwood and the Lahaina childrenʻs orchestra.

Promotional “Symbol” for the Benefit Concert representing the Children of the Fires

Attached is the sad teddy bear covered in ash which we feel evokes the appropriate emotion and empathy for these children.

Our Local Harley Davidson DIstributor is:

Cycle City Maui

www.cyclecitymaui.com