Kyle Ellison
Executive Director & Treasurer
About Mālama Kula
A community organization working to safeguard Kula’s land and people.
Mālama Kula is a nonprofit rooted in Upcountry Maui, focused on wildfire prevention, green waste management, and land stewardship through hands-on community action.
Our story
How Mālama Kula Began
Mālama Kula was formed in response to the devastating 2023 fires on Maui, and the need for coordinated, local action in Kula.
What started as neighbors helping neighbors grew into a structured organization — bringing together volunteers, contractors, and partnerships to do the work that protects this place.
Mission & Values
Our Mission
Our mission is to foster community, provide service and support, safeguard our neighbors against natural disaster, and empower, educate, and inform the town and residents of Kula.
Our Values
How we work
1 / 4
Quick, community-driven action
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Practical, on-the-ground solutions
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Transparency and follow-through
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Respect for ʻāina and kūpuna
The work behind the name
What “Mālama Kula” means in practice
“Care for Kula” is not symbolic. It means trucks, crews, chippers, green waste diversion, and people showing up week after week to reduce risk and protect homes.
Our approach
From mitigation to regeneration
At Mālama Kula, rapid risk mitigation is just the first step. We don't view clearing as a standalone fix—we guide that material into a productive, closed-loop cycle. Removed fire fuels are processed into wood chips to stabilize local soils, suppress invasive regrowth, and support local agriculture. Where site conditions align, we transition from hazard reduction to ecological healing by reestablishing native plant communities. We meet the urgent safety needs of today while cultivating a landscape that resists fire for tomorrow.
the people behind Mālama Kula
Our team
Board of directors
Deborah Ford
President
Scott Martin
Vice President
Paula Ambre
Secretary
Staff
Niko Sena
Operations Director
Alexis Huggins
Events Director
Shannon Malone
Communications Director
Need help?
Frequently asked questions
Mālama Kula is a grassroots, community-led nonprofit based in Upcountry Maui. We focus on disaster relief and caring for the land through fire prevention, land stewardship, and supporting local Kula residents—especially in areas most vulnerable to environmental risk.
Mālama Kula formed in response to the Maui wildfires. What began as neighbors helping neighbors has grown into an organized effort to reduce fire risk, restore landscapes, provide needed resources, address known hazards, and build long-term resilience in our community.
Mālama Kula runs several community-based programs focused on wildfire prevention, land management, and direct support. Here are some of the services provided as part of those programs:
- Green Waste Bins
Provides accessible locations for residents to properly dispose of green waste, reducing fuel buildup on properties. - Fire Fuel Reduction and Conversion
Organized efforts to remove hazardous vegetation, fallen trees, and excess biomass in high-risk areas, and replace them with lower-risk fire fuels, such as native plant species that rebuild our watershed, or crops that help to to feed our community. - Wood Chip Delivery
Distribution of processed fire fuels to the community, for erosion mitigation, invasive weed suppression, and agricultural purposes. - Kūpuna Curbside Green Waste Pickup
Assists elderly residents by collecting and removing green waste directly from their properties. - Disaster and Fire Relief Support
Provides post-event cleanup, debris removal, and support for residents impacted by wildfires, storms, or flooding. - Community Work Days
Weekly or regular volunteer days focused on clearing land, reducing fire risk, and supporting specific properties in need.
We have a few recurring event series:
- Mana’o on the Mountain Community Potluck
- Wine and Wattle
- Kula Kūpuna Talk Story
- Community Work Days
- Mālama Kula Annual Gala
View our upcoming events calendar here.
Our work is hands-on and community-focused. It includes removing invasive plant species, clearing fire-prone vegetation, creating defensible space around homes, and assisting residents with land management challenges.
Anyone willing to help is welcome. No prior experience is needed—just a readiness to work outdoors and be part of a team. Whether you are local or are visiting Maui, reach out and let us know.
Volunteers should bring closed-toe shoes, long pants, long sleeve shirts, water, sun protection, and gloves if they have them. Tools and guidance are provided.
We prioritize residents in high fire-risk areas, kūpuna, and individuals or families who may not have the resources to manage their land independently, but we are here to provide resources for all Kula community members.
You can support us by volunteering, spreading the word, donating, or offering tools, equipment, or expertise.
Proactive land management is one of the most effective ways to reduce wildfire risk. By working together, we help protect homes, ecosystems, and the broader community.
Follow us on social media, join our newsletter, or reach out directly for information on upcoming workdays, programs, and ways to get involved.
You’re welcome here
Whether you have time, resources, or skills to share, there’s a place for you in this work. Help us keep Kula safe, healthy, and resilient.