Ryan Kirkham, principal of the small private school, Maui Preparatory Academy, was facing a novel crisis. Then, about three weeks into the new school year, a terrible wildfire decimated the area. The fire affected the lives of everyone in the community, requiring families to leave their homes and find shelter elsewhere. Its school opened on August 21, with 150 students enrolled. It soon turned into an oasis for people affected by the catastrophe.
On the day of the fire, around 3:30 PM, Kirkham received an urgent call from a concerned parent inquiring about her daughters. Little did they know that this moment would be the start of a difficult and emotional journey for Kirkham and the whole Maui Prep community. Yet the charter school is capped at just 300 students. That night, it quickly became a shelter and opened its doors to nearly 800 evacuees!
After the disaster began to develop around them, Kirkham established a field triage area within one of the school’s classrooms. He meticulously maintained a binder containing the names of those who checked in during the chaos, ensuring that everyone received the support they needed. People from all over Maui volunteered their time, resources and skills to assist. They trucked in supplies by the truckload, turning the school into a massive command center of community support.
“This seems to be typical of disasters. The destruction to the local neighborhood is tragically documented. On the other side of that same coin, we saw opportunity. Kirkham explained how impressed he was by the positive nature of humanity shining through. He focused on the ways that we rallied around one another at this hour of mutual aid.
The school’s role as an evacuation center was solidified when a police officer urged Kirkham to open the facility for those seeking refuge. We have had the privilege to help you open your school. In order to do that, we have to set up an evacuation center. Buses headed to school this morning. You have to unlock all this,” the officer replied. This joint effort further proved how local leaders’ foresight saw Maui Prep’s capacity as a safe harbor in the storm.
Much needed help Kirkham knew that though physical food and shelter were first needs to address, emotional nourishment was just as essential. We don’t want to contribute to making their blood pressure go up, either. We’re here to provide them a little bit of anchor in the storm. We’re here to support them emotionally,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of fostering a sense of safety and stability for families during such trying times.
As those families pulled up to Maui Prep in need of refuge, they were carrying trauma, grief, and tragedy that they had experienced. One gentleman said that he despaired profoundly. “I lost all my things,” he continued. “As a mother, I lost my son in the fire. You don’t have any water by any chance, do you?” This tragic personal story highlighted the deep individual loss that was felt amid the national flooding disaster.
Even with these insurmountable odds stacked against them, Kirkham knew that they had to fight to provide a sense of normalcy for the kids. In addition, he created silly memories with them. He still clearly recalls high-fiving elementary students in front of the school to raise their spirits on days of uncertainty. Students made their displeasure known in no uncertain terms. They were asking questions like, “Are we going to be safe? Is there going to be another fire? Their anxiety was an example of how deeply the trauma would affect the immigrant community.
In the weeks after the fire, Maui Prep received a wave of inquiries from families who wanted to enroll their children. But within four days, it had already received over 1,000 applicants. This historic increase is a testament to the community’s confidence in Kirkham’s leadership and underscores the urgent demand for calm and order amid this crisis.
Reflecting on those days filled with sorrow and resilience, Kirkham humorously remarked during a moment of respite: “Boy, this is the best-tasting and smelling piece of bacon I’ve had in my life.” These were beautiful moments, offering a temporary escape from the daily crises that staff and students were forced to navigate.
The financial and emotional scars of the wildfire created an imprint that would forever change Kirkham and his tight-knit community. One older woman continued to wear her Maui Prep uniform for half a year after the catastrophe. Her commitment went to reveal how intertwined personal lives and community work were during that era.