Our 10 Favorite Maui Non-Profit Organizations

When visitors come to Maui, they see beautiful beaches, lush landscapes, and opulent 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 some of our favorite Maui non-profit organizations on the island. Keep in mind there are more amazing Maui non-profits than we can count, and this list just scratches the surface.

Maui Humane Society

The Maui Humane Society is one Maui non-profit that is sure to tug at your heartstrings. Founded in 1953, MHS is the only open-admission animal shelter on Maui. MHS is dedicated to saving animals’ lives through adoption, fostering, and low (or no) cost medical care. As the only shelter on Maui, MHS is consistently over capacity – so why not bring a furever friend home with you to the mainland? If you can’t adopt but you want to support the Maui Humane Society’s mission, you can donate, adopt a dog for a day through the Beach Buddies program, or help an animal get to a new home or shelter on the mainland via Wings of Aloha.

East Maui Watershed Partnership

The East Maui Watershed Partnership helps preserve over 100,000 acres of native forest on the northeastern slope of Haleakala. This area produces around 60 billion gallons of water annually for Maui’s farmers, agribusinesses, and residents. In fact, this watershed is the largest source of surface water in Hawaii – hence its vital protection. The watershed is also a habitat for the world’s highest concentration of endangered birds and many other plant and invertebrate species found nowhere else on the planet. So, next time you gaze up into the mountains while driving the Road to Hana, remember that EMWP is to thank for this area’s protection!

Imua Family Services

Imua Family Services is a community-based organization that aims to help children and their families reach their full potential. The non-profit offers a range of services for children with developmental learning challenges. Imua Family Services also provides a host of specialty programs, like newborn hearing screenings, autism services, a preschool, and Camp Imua, which is a fun-filled sleepaway camp for children ages 6-16 with special needs.

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 Puʻunene sugar mill in what used to be a thriving plantation town. The Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Museum showcases 168 years of sugar on Maui, with exhibits highlighting plantation life, the immigrants who came to Hawaii 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 US military. Kahoʻolawe was battered by the time the bombing stopped in 1990. The island’s water table had cracked, and many unexploded ordinances remained. In 1994, the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission was formed and got to work cleaning and restoring the island. By 2004, 75 percent of the island’s surface was cleared of unexploded ordinances, but there is still plenty of work to do. KIRC is tasked with managing the island until it can be returned to Native Hawaiians, and the organization continues to work to restore the island’s watersheds.

Boards 4 Buddies

Boards 4 Buddies is a truly one-of-a-kind organization. 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. You never know; your contribution could go to Maui’s next big surfing or skating talent!

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council

Founded in 2007, 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). Some of the council’s projects include water quality testing, oyster restoration in Maalaea Bay, and Reef Friendly Landscaping Certification programs for residential and commercial properties. 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, established in 1977, is a non-profit organization that aids Maui women dealing with domestic violence. They offer various services to over 600 women annually, focusing on direct intervention, advocacy, education, and prevention. In 1981, they opened Maui’s only shelter dedicated to female victims of violence and their children. Their Children’s Program offers crucial services, including therapy and support for children affected by domestic violence. Additionally, they assist teenage domestic violence victims and those impacted by teen dating violence. Women Helping Women runs ReVive Boutique, a thrift store in Kahului, where all proceeds contribute to their programs and services.

ARC of Maui

Established in 1954, ARC of Maui is the oldest non-profit of its kind in Hawaii. The organization is dedicated to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. Along with providing support programs, ARC offers professional healthcare, vocational training, and job placement programs and operates six group homes, including one on Moloka’i. Their mission is to promote and protect the human rights of people with developmental disabilities, ensuring their full inclusion and participation in the community.

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. Each spring, the foundation hosts a free keiki surf contest at Hookipa Beach Park, which accommodates hundreds of young contestants and also offers fun educational and creative activities throughout the day – like cultural demonstrations, beach clean-ups, and art booths. The IWMM Foundation also awards scholarships to a handful of college-bound Maui high school graduates.