Founded in 1947, Imua Family Services is providing critical supplies for Maui families and healing playtime for traumatized keiki.
When Imua Family Services was founded in 1947, the first crisis it faced was the polio epidemic that was crippling keiki in Maui County. The latest crisis has been this summer’s wildfires and their consequences.
“Seventy-seven years later, whether it’s been autism, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome or other things that have happened like Covid and now fires, we’re still doing exactly what we’ve always been doing. We’ve been advocating for resources and reaching out to find the professional means to support children,” says Dean Wong, executive director of Imua Family Services for the past 12 years.
Imua serves children across Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i. Wong says it is the largest early childhood development organization in the state.
“Ninety percent of a child’s brain development happens before they’re 5 years old, so working with children in those years is the most critical time to make an impact,” he says. “The thing children grow and develop the most from is play. Being connected to each other, building healthy relationships, learning to make friends, negotiating those friendships and using imagination is all related to play.”
Wong says he and his staff work hard all year, but the pace picked up tremendously after the fires.
“In the immediate crisis, when there was still smoke coming out of the ground and fires burning, our response was to find our families and take an inventory, ensuring everyone in those families was accounted for and their needs in terms of food, shelter and water,” Wong says.
To get supplies like diapers, breast pumps, formula and more, Imua used social media to reach people in Hawai‘i and on the mainland, who sent those items through online retailers like Amazon. That way, supplies on Maui would not be depleted.
“Just like we did during Covid, we provided child care and respite for families in West Maui alongside one of the immediate distribution sites in Nāpili Park.”
For six weeks, Imua shuttled over early childhood professionals with supplies for children so their families could sort out business with FEMA, Red Cross, SNAP and food hubs.
Laura Aki, parent of two daughters, says, “As we tried to navigate the situation it became clear that our keiki needed normalcy, they needed space and time to play, to escape the tears and ‘fire talk.’ ”
“When we heard about what Imua was doing, we suddenly realized how much we all needed it – it was such a thoughtful, critical resource, giving us time to tackle insurance claims and find shelter, while offering a haven for our children.”
Imua also partnered with a toy maker, Jakks Pacific, which sent a 40-foot container full of toys to Maui. The nonprofit opened a store in Ma‘alaea for families to pick out free merchandise.
“It’s hard to admit how difficult it is to afford to buy anything new these days, let alone toys,” Aki says. “We have visited the store twice and the freedom to choose a new toy and a costume for Halloween brought so much joy to our girls.”
Imua also provided pancake breakfasts and break camps for families, helped a local pharmacy get medicine and supplies to people in need, and started plans for a new preschool. Wong says Imua is always looking for financial donations, volunteers and business partnerships.
“My staff already had caseloads that were too high, but I have not heard any staff complain since Aug. 8,” he says. “Everyone has just buckled down to be here for this community and we’ll continue to do that.”
Now that months have passed since the fires, Wong says the worst is over, but the work doesn’t stop.
“To be able to get a child who has experienced trauma or negative health impacts to play, laugh and smile again, to know that they’re on a better road for their life, development and recovery, that’s our why. That’s why everybody here works as hard as they do.”
Leave A Comment