Written by Wendy Tsai
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
In August 2023, a series of wildfires broke out in Hawaii, predominantly on the island of Maui. For the fire in Lahaina alone, it was estimated that over 2,200 buildings, overwhelmingly residential and historic landmarks, had been destroyed. The fires impacted over 100 households, leaving around 300 survivors without homes.
On March 1st, 2025, Tzu Chi USA hosted the Wellness and Resilience event at the Binhi At Ani Filipino Community Center, providing support for families we previously served in their recovery from the Lahaina wildfire. This care, part of the Heart Lotus Ohana Project, focused on mid-term recovery by offering essential wellness services such as haircuts, massages, acupuncture, counseling, blood pressure checks, spiritual support, as well as children’s activities for families attending the event.
Of the care recipients to return, Miguel Ceballos was among the many who had an emotional journey. After the devastating 2023 wildfires in Maui, Ceballos lost his home and job. He had four children to care for, and the family ended up moving 14 times from hotel to hotel, which took a toll on them physically, mentally, and emotionally. But then, Ceballos expressed, “Tzu Chi actually came in. We got invited and were able to go to the location where they were in Kahului. They actually gave us a card for food. That was the first time we actually had any kind of funds, and I can’t tell you the joy of relief, saying, ‘Wow, there is someone out there to help.’”
In 2023, Ceballos and his four children also received a DA.AI eco-blanket from Jerome Fan, Executive Director of Tzu Chi USA’s Pacific Islands Region. This blanket symbolized warmth and hope as they moved from hotel to hotel. For Ceballos, the first night his family slept under the blanket marked the first night they felt at home again. It was the beginning of their real recovery.
The Wellness and Resilience event also united Miguel Ceballos with Lily Ting, a Tzu Chi volunteer from Canada who had been checking in on him and his family from afar. Their first in-person meeting was an unforgettable moment of connection and support, echoing how the healing and hope in Lahaina remain strong as impacted residents rebuild.
In March 2024, Ceballos and his family finally found a house. Others donated furniture and housewares, from sofas and beds to pots and pans, with love. This generosity finally allowed this father and his children to feel like they have a home again and are safe, after all this time.
As with all of our disaster relief missions, we focus not just on the acute period of relief but also on mid- to long-term action. We understand that the road ahead for survivors of disasters like the 2023 Maui wildfires is still a long one, and we will be with them every step of the way.
