In HNN’s ongoing series “Immigration in Hawaii,” the recent Lahaina wildfire has illuminated the struggles faced by a rapidly expanding but often overlooked immigrant community.
Dania L., who moved to Lahaina from Mexico with her family 20 years ago when she was just 5 years old, reflects on their journey: “We left Mexico because we were facing severe hardships. We came here seeking a better life,” she explained. “Hawaii has been welcoming to us. The local community understands our challenges, supports us, and provides job opportunities.”
Dania is a participant in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children to legally work in the country for two-year periods. Despite paying taxes, DACA recipients like Dania do not receive federal benefits.
When her family lost their home and jobs in the devastating August wildfire, Dania recounted the difficulties they faced accessing housing, food, and healthcare, exacerbated by their immigration status.
They were not alone in their struggles. Roots Reborn, a nonprofit established in the aftermath of the fire, focused on aiding displaced residents, particularly immigrants. Veronica Jachowski, co-founder and executive director, emphasized their efforts with approximately 700 immigrant households affected by the disaster. New data underscores the critical yet often invisible role played by this population in Maui’s economy, with significant contributions in sectors such as restaurants, hotels, agriculture, and construction.
“A lot of what we know comes from firsthand experiences, but having real data allows us to provide valuable insights for decision-makers involved in the recovery efforts,” said Jachowski.
The data reveals that many affected households consist of young individuals and families with young children, primarily Spanish-speaking, and often with educational levels below high school.
“This data confirms and informs us about the immigrant experience, highlighting their major barriers. This allows us to tailor our services to be intentional, human-centered, and dignified,” added Jachowski.
The impact of immigration extends beyond recent arrivals. Ruben Juarez, an economics professor at UH Manoa and a Mexican immigrant, contextualizes this within Hawaii’s historical narrative, tracing back to the arrival of the first paniolos during the era of King Kamehameha.
According to UHERO (University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization), Hispanics now constitute over 11% of Hawaii’s population and are projected to increase to 15% by 2040, representing the state’s fastest-growing ethnic group. They contribute as professionals and service workers, with approximately one in five active-duty military members in Hawaii being Hispanic. About one-third of Hawaii’s Hispanic population originates from Mexico, another third from Puerto Rico, and the remainder from other Latin American countries.
This demographic growth underscores the need for enhanced resources such as legal services and healthcare, particularly following events like the Maui wildfires.
Juarez is leading the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, which examines the social and medical impacts on individuals affected by the recent fires.
“In terms of health insurance, prior to the wildfires, 5% of the population lacked coverage. Post-wildfires, this has risen to 10% across the affected population. Among Hispanics, however, the uninsured rate is at 38%, indicating significant barriers to accessing healthcare,” Juarez explained. “This lack of access may lead to long-term health complications if not addressed promptly.”
Juarez advocates for integrating these communities into existing systems, making them more accessible through culturally appropriate means, such as providing services in Spanish.
The Mexican government has noted that the Maui fires revealed a larger population of Mexican nationals—approximately 60,000—living in Hawaii than previously estimated. With no Mexican consulate in the state, efforts are underway to enhance diplomatic representation.
“We recognize the necessity of having representation here. Recent events have underscored this need,” emphasized Deputy Consul General Vicente Sanchez Ventura from the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco.
Advocates acknowledge the challenges of outreach within a fragmented community that often harbors distrust toward government entities, exacerbated by fears surrounding immigration status.
Despite these challenges, frontline workers remain committed to humanizing the issue and fostering understanding.
“Our intent was never to violate the law,” remarked Dania, expressing empathy for others in similar circumstances.
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