The Japanese Cultural Society of Maui’s Ganbare Maui Recovery Fund today received a ¥1M donation from the Japan-Hawaii Legislators Friendship Association, represented by State Minister Iwao Horii.

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JCSM President Kit Furukawa received the donation during an intimate gathering attended by Mayor Richard Bissen, Council Chair Alice Lee, Council Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura, and Councilmembers Tasha Kama, Tom Cook and Gabe Johnson.

Japanese community leaders were also present, including Rev. Gensho Hara of Lahaina Jodo Mission, Rev. Takanori Meguro of Lahaina Shingon Mission, and Rev. Ai Hironaka of Lahaina Hongwanji. Structures for all three churches, including the homes of the ministers, were burned down from the Aug. 8 Maui wildfires.

The event was hosted and led by Consul General Yoshinori Kodama of the Japanese Consulate of Honolulu and Board Chair Kyoko Kimura and Executive Director Deidre Tegarden of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center.

The Ganbare Maui program was created to support recovery efforts, restoration programs and special initiatives in line with the preservation and perpetuation of Maui’s thriving Japanese culture and community.

Fundraising is on-going and donations are accepted online at jcsmaui.org.

“The Ganbare Maui Fund, as its name implies, embodies the spirit of grit and unwavering determination never to give up,” Furukawa said. “We are embarking on a long road to recovery, one that may be marked by numerous obstacles, but we will face each one with courage and resilience. The strength of our community and friendship is a testament to the aloha spirit that will define our journey forward.”

As a symbol of solidarity and commitment, the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui will match the donation received, and future donations up to $35,000.

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