Written by Lauren Faylor
It’s been a year since the devastating wildfires swept across Maui, Hawaii, on August 8th, 2023. Fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, these fires caused unimaginable destruction and heartbreak. Homes, businesses, and the natural beauty that defines Maui were severely damaged, leaving the island scarred both physically and emotionally.
The Impact of the Wildfires
The wildfires were like a “perfect storm,” driven by severe drought and strong winds. They spread quickly and were impossible to control, forcing many residents to evacuate with little notice, leaving behind their belongings and memories. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to ashes, and the loss of life added to the profound grief. Beyond the immediate damage, the fires left lasting challenges. Roads, power lines, and water supplies were heavily damaged, and many people lost their jobs as businesses were destroyed. The tourism industry, vital to Maui’s economy, also suffered a huge blow. On top of that, the trauma from the fires highlighted a desperate need for more mental health resources.
Training ART Therapists in Maui
In February, a team of dedicated professionals led by Dr. Wendi Waits, held the first Basic ART training on Maui. This training came at a crucial time, as the island was still recovering from the wildfires that claimed over 100 lives and ruined thousands of buildings. These fires not only destroyed the landscape but also deepened issues such as housing shortages and social divides. Many residents of Lahaina felt abandoned by the organizations that were supposed to protect them, leading to a lot of distrust and even lawsuits.
Today, many people are still without homes, facing unemployment, and dealing with long commutes. The mental health community in Maui is overwhelmed, with a recent survey showing that 55% of those displaced by the fires are struggling with mental health issues. Seeing the urgent need for support, Dr. Darin Gould secured funding to provide free Basic ART training for twelve local therapists.
Despite the challenges, eleven therapists completed the training, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. In IS-ART’s bimonthly newsletter, Wendi Watts shared testimonials from the recipients of the Maui ART training:
“As clinicians on Maui, we have all been offered/received numerous new trainings/interventions due to the wildfires. Hands down ART has been the most valuable. I can easily see how I will integrate this into what I already do. Many of the other trainings weren’t as helpful and [it] seemed like a burden to think about how I would use them. ART is going to be an extremely helpful tool that I can start using tomorrow!”
“This training has been life-changing and very positive and it is so emotionally safe, and it WORKS!”
“I’m not going to waste my time with other training opportunities or modalities. I’ve found the modality that I am extremely confident will facilitate quick relief and healing of the fire traumas.”
The Ongoing Struggle
Despite the help from ART therapists and other support systems, the road to recovery is still long and challenging. Rebuilding homes and businesses will take time, and the emotional scars are slow to heal. The community has shown incredible strength, with volunteers helping with clean-up efforts and local groups providing essential supplies. However, mental health remains a critical issue. At the moment, there aren’t enough mental health resources available to meet the treatment needs of survivors in the area.
“I don’t think anyone’s talked about how many suicides and how many things have happened post-fire, how much depression, how much PTSD. Everyone I know that was involved in it or escaping it, that is a friend of mine, is dealing with post-traumatic PTSD. Every time the wind blows harder, every time that ambulance goes by. ” https://hsrha.org/maui-together/
The Future of ART in Maui
Wendi Waits’ vision to spread Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) to more mental health providers is close to her heart. With generous financial backing from the Hawaii Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, Wendi and her assistants have trained a total of 23 Maui therapists in Basic ART to date. The results have been encouraging, with 42% of clients seeing an “amazing” response and 82% showing moderate to significant improvements at follow-up. ART has been a welcome addition to the area.
However, many of the island’s therapists cannot afford ART training. According to a recent survey, 62% of Maui residents fear another major fire, and 30% of survivors say they need mental health support. Yet, financial strain is significant, with 60% of residents cutting back on groceries and 40% of medical professionals contemplating reducing their hours or leaving the field entirely due to burnout.
In response, Wendi hopes to host an Advanced ART training in early November, but Maui therapists need financial support to attend.
If you’re moved to extend some aloha to the people of Maui to support the training of future ART practitioners, please visit the website and contribute under the “ART Therapist Training-Maui” offering.
This blog features a submission by Dr. Wendi Waits from the IS-ART newsletter.
Learn more about joining IS-ART here.
Sources:
Maui Together – The Struggles of Maui County 2024 Report
The perfect storm of weather conditions that led to the devastating wildfires in Maui – ABC News
https://adventistgiving.org/donate/ANPBB1
Lawsuit over deadly Maui wildfires in 2023 settled for $4bn | Hawaii fires | The Guardian