When visitors come to Maui, they see beaches, mountain landscapes, and resorts. But what they usually don’t see is the island’s strong sense of community, and the people and organizations working to make Maui a better place.
Interested in giving back to the Maui community? We’ve compiled a list of Maui nonprofits and community organizations worth knowing. Keep in mind there are more Maui nonprofits than we can count, and this list just scratches the surface.
Maui Humane Society
The Maui Humane Society helps animals through adoption, fostering, veterinary services, and community support. If you can’t adopt, you can still donate or volunteer. Its Beach Buddies program lets visitors and residents take a shelter dog on an outing, subject to availability and handling requirements.
Participants who handle the dogs must be at least 18. Check the program’s current fee and booking process before planning your day. You can also help pets reach new homes through Wings of Aloha. The current Alaska Angels program matches eligible Alaska Airlines passengers with animal transfers, so contact the team before assuming your flight qualifies.
Leilani Farm Sanctuary
Leilani Farm Sanctuary cares for rescued animals and shares their stories through humane education. This nonprofit in Haʻikū welcomes visitors on scheduled tours. Tour donations and animal sponsorships help provide food, shelter, and veterinary care.
Want to lend a hand? Its volunteer program includes animal care, gardening, and other farm projects. Check current sessions, minimum ages, and registration before arriving. Choose a commitment that fits your visit and the sanctuary’s needs.
Leilani Farm Sanctuary. Photos: Natalie Brown Photography.
East Maui Watershed Partnership
The East Maui Watershed Partnership helps protect about 100,000 acres (40,500 hectares) of watershed forest on Haleakalā’s northeastern slopes. Protecting native forests also protects water supplies and habitat for rare plants and native birds.
Next time you gaze up into the mountains while driving the Road to Hāna, remember the work behind this landscape’s protection. The partnership’s website offers educational resources, community programs, and ways to get involved. Check for scheduled activities rather than heading into a protected area on your own.
Imua Family Services
Imua Family Services is a community-based organization that helps children and their families reach their full potential. Its current website, Discover Imua, lists early intervention, early childhood, mental health, and family services.
Programs include newborn hearing screenings, a preschool, and Camp Imua. The current camp program serves Maui County children ages 7 to 14 with cognitive or developmental disabilities. For questions about autism services or a child’s eligibility, contact Imua directly. Some older program pages have moved, so start with the current website if a link doesn’t take you to the right service.
Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Museum
Did you know there is an entire museum on Maui dedicated to the history of sugar cultivation? It’s located right next to the defunct Puʻunēnē sugar mill in what used to be a thriving plantation town. The Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Museum explores Maui’s sugar industry, with exhibits highlighting plantation life, the immigrants who came to Hawaiʻi to work in the sugar fields, and even old-school sugar machinery. The museum is a non-profit supported by ticket sales, gift shop purchases, and donations.
Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission
For several decades, Kahoʻolawe was used for target practice by the U.S. military. Bombing stopped in 1990, but unexploded ordnance and environmental damage remained. By 2004, about 75 percent of the island had been surface-cleared of unexploded ordnance. That doesn’t make it safe for independent exploration.
KIRC manages restoration and sustainable use until the reserve can be transferred to a Native Hawaiian entity. It’s a State of Hawaiʻi commission rather than a nonprofit, but its conservation work belongs in this community guide. Check its official volunteer information for current opportunities and access requirements. Don’t arrange an independent landing.
Boards 4 Buddies
Boards 4 Buddies connects young people with surf and skate equipment. The non-profit gives pre-loved surfboards and skateboards (and all the necessary equipment) to deserving Maui youth. School teachers and counselors around the island work with Boards 4 Buddies to identify potentially underserved children who could benefit from a board, and a healthy, physical outlet. Boards 4 Buddies was founded by a young Maui school teacher with a passion for skating, and now the organization has the support of some of Maui’s top-level professional surfers and skaters. If you have a surfboard or skateboard in good condition that you no longer use, consider donating it to Boards 4 Buddies. Send photos and details of equipment before dropping it off so the team can confirm what it can use.
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council works to protect Maui’s coral reefs and nearshore environments. MNMRC’s vision focuses heavily on community involvement and education. Many problems plaguing Maui’s coral reefs start on land, like pesticide and sediment runoff, so MNMRC projects focus on both mauka (upland) and makai (sea). Current programs include water quality monitoring, reef surveys, community restoration, and reef-friendly landscaping. The Maui Nui Marine Resource Council relies heavily on volunteers, so if you’re interested in making a difference, shoot them an email and see where you can help out.
Women Helping Women Maui
Women Helping Women supports women and children affected by domestic violence through advocacy, education, prevention, and direct services. Its Children’s Program serves children in shelter and community settings, and also works with young people affected by teen dating violence.
You can support its work through ReVive Boutique, a resale shop whose proceeds support the organization’s programs. The boutique is now at Queen Kaʻahumanu Center in Kahului, across from LensCrafters. Call ahead about donation needs and current hours rather than arriving with items the team can’t accept.
ARC of Maui
Arc of Maui County has supported people with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1954. Along with support programs, Arc offers residential, waiver, and vocational services.
Its mission is to promote and protect human rights and support participation in the community. Check its current programs and contact the organization about donations or other ways to help. Specific service availability can change, so avoid relying on old counts of group homes or program locations.
Ian Walsh’s Menehune Mayhem Foundation
Founded by professional big wave surfer and Maui native Ian Walsh, the Menehune Mayhem Foundation promotes healthy lifestyles, environmental stewardship, and academic success in Maui’s youth. The foundation’s free two-day Menehune Mayhem surf contest serves Maui youth ages 15 and younger. The event also offers art, music, cultural activities, and environmental education. Check the current event schedule for dates and volunteer opportunities. The IWMM Foundation also awards scholarships to a handful of college-bound Maui high school graduates.
We’re a small group of full-time Maui residents that LOVE exploring and writing about what we think is the best place on Earth: The Island of Maui, Hawaii! Expect many more articles, reviews, photos and videos of Maui and all of the Hawaiian Islands. ALOHA!
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