For More Information, Contact:
Jered Weber
Communications Director
Lines for Life
[email protected]
Dwight Holton
CEO
Lines for Life
[email protected]
YouthLine Hawai‘i Awarded Recovery Funding to Expand Youth Mental Health Support in Maui
Grants totaling $100,000 reflect philanthropic investment through the Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative
Kahului, Hawai‘i — The Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative (MRFC) has awarded YouthLine Hawai’i $100,000 for youth mental health services. The award includes $50,000 from the Maui United Way and $50,000 from Kaiser Permanente and is part of the ongoing efforts to increase access to mental health resources for individuals and families directly affected by the 2023 Maui Wildfires. This funding follows an initial $100,000 grant from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation that was pivotal in helping Lines for Life launch YouthLine Hawai‘i last year.
The additional investments will strengthen YouthLine Hawai‘i’s locally staffed and culturally responsive peer-to-peer crisis support services for young people as the community works to strengthen support for keiki affected by wildfire trauma, loss, and ongoing recovery challenges in Maui County.
“Partners across Maui are determined to build stronger mental health and wellness for young people across the county, and YouthLine is honored to be a part of this vitally important work,” said Dwight Holton, CEO of Lines for Life, which is home to the YouthLine. “This investment helps YouthLine Hawai’i reach more young people across Maui, Molokai, and Lānaʻi and enables YouthLine Hawai‘i to expand meaningful connection, support, and resilience-building resources for youth and young adults during critical stages of emotional recovery.”
The Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative brings together local and national funders to align support for priority community needs, including behavioral health, youth well-being, and culturally grounded services. While the collaborative does not provide direct services, it coordinates grantmaking efforts to ensure strategic investments reach organizations deeply embedded in the community.
With this support, YouthLine Hawai‘i will:
- Expand peer-to-peer crisis support services for Maui youth impacted by the wildfires.
- Strengthen local staffing and volunteer engagement.
- Provide ongoing outreach, education, and community partnership opportunities.
- Support schools and youth-serving organizations with mental health awareness and resilience programming.
“YouthLine Hawai‘i’s participation in the Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative reflects the shared belief youth mental health is central to community healing,” said Emily Moser, YouthLine program director. “By working together with funders and community partners, we can help young people feel seen, heard, and supported as Maui continues to rebuild.”
About YouthLine Hawai’i
YouthLine Hawai‘i is a youth-to-youth crisis line. It trains, supports, and supervises young people ages 15-21 to answer crisis calls, texts, and chats from other youth. YouthLine, based in Oregon and now operating on Maui, launched 25 years ago and serves more than 25,000 young people each year. YouthLine Hawai‘i is based in Kahului, at the offices of Imua Family Services and currently includes 12 youth volunteers, from four different high schools across Maui. Learn more at www.theyouthline.org/youthline-hawaii/ .
About Lines for Life
Based in Portland, Oregon, Lines for Life is a nonprofit dedicated to preventing substance abuse and suicide and promoting mental wellness. Its work addresses a spectrum of needs that include intervention, prevention, and advocacy. Learn more at linesforlife.org.
About the Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative
The Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative, established in response to the 2023 Maui wildfires, is a philanthropic network designed to leverage and coordinate funding. It reduces the burden on organizations seeking grant funding by providing a single-entry point process, enabling applicants to reach a variety of funders through a streamlined approach. For more information, visit mauirecoveryfunders.org.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente exists to provide high-quality, affordable health care services, and to improve the health of its members and the communities it serves. Learn more at kpinhawaii.org.
About Maui United Way
Maui United Way advance sand nurtures the well-being of its Maui, Molokai, and Lāna’i community through impactful, equitable, and sustainable initiatives. Learn more at mauiunitedway.org.
Hawai‘i Community Foundation
The Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) inspires generosity, advocates for equity, forges connections, and invests in community to create a better Hawai‘i. For more than a century, HCF has partnered with donors, nonprofit and community leaders, and philanthropic partners to strengthen Hawai‘i’s nonprofit sector, support meaningful grantmaking, and share knowledge that enhances community impact across the islands. Learn more at hawaiicommunityfoundation.org.
