Maui's Tourist Hotspot Is Still Recovering From Fires. Here's How Voluntourism Can Help.

Surrounded by volcanic peaks, Maui's Lahaina, Hawaii, has for decades been known for its incredible resorts overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the beautiful beaches near its downtown. That downtown area on Front Street was a popular tourist stop for visitors looking for good food, unique shops, and local culture. But in 2023, all that changed when a massive wildfire wiped out most of the community and its entertainment district.

Traditional tourism is on pause here, with officials and locals asking curious visitors to stay away. There is, however, a way tourists can help the devastated community. While you consider the best things to do on your Maui vacation, consider placing voluntourism on your itinerary as a way to see the island and pitch in on the rebuilding effort — those kinds of tourists are exactly the kind the locals here are hoping to see.

Lahaina is accessible by both overseas and inter-island flights into Kahului Airport, the largest airport on the island of Maui. Local cruises also ferry passengers between Hawaii's main island and Maui, and advance tickets are suggested. However you choose to arrive on Maui, the locals in Lahaina will appreciate a few hours of your volunteerism.

One of the best ways to help Lahaina and other Hawaiian communities devastated by the fires of 2023 is to visit and infuse money into the local economy. But in areas where businesses are still closed, voluntourism is an option. Several grassroots organizations encourage tourists to take an hour or two out of their day to pitch in.

One such group, Hungry Heroes Hawaii, welcomes tourists into its kitchens to prepare meals for residents still displaced from the wildfires. For a more hands-on experience, Hua Momona Farms invites volunteers onto the farm, where harvesting helps bring local food directly to the communities that need it most. For animal lovers, the Maui Humane Society encourages drop-in volunteers to help reunite lost pets with their owners.

Regardless of your voluntourism choice, remember to follow a few simple rules to remain respectful while the community rebuilds. As tempting as it may be, organizations ask that volunteers not take photos of their work or of the remaining devastation. The people working alongside you may have lost everything and are personally trying to rebuild as they assist their community, so remain respectful as you volunteer. Organizations also ask that volunteers come with an open mind and a curiosity to learn more about the island's culture and heritage both before and during their experience with volunteer teams.

Between volunteer shifts in Lahaina or the surrounding areas on Maui, there are still opportunities for tourists to enjoy the unique offerings of this former capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. At Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, which complements a visit to the island's upcountry coffee town, visitors can take tours of the cocoa farm and learn about the process of growing the bean that makes chocolate possible on the island. An on-site retail store and café provide a chance to sample the chocolate in all its forms, and 100% of the chocolate factory's net profits are given back to the Maui community.

If you are a visitor to Lahaina between the months of November and April, your chances of seeing migrating humpback whales increase. One of the best-known whale-spotting companies is Ultimate Whale Watch, which offers boating and snorkeling adventures to whale enthusiasts. The company is locally owned and operated, so your ticket purchase helps the local community and the preservation and study of these impressive marine animals.

Lahaina, Hawaii, still has a long way to go in its recovery from the 2023 wildfires, but local and visiting volunteers are helping its progress. In September 2025, the first few businesses along its iconic Front Street reopened, welcoming guests back into the restaurants and storefronts. While your voluntourism is appreciated at Lahaina, remember to also take time to explore Maui's Papalaua State Wayside Park, offering calm-water snorkeling with turtles and camping.