Mountains to Maui: Nibley Elementary's Heartfelt Effort to Support Hawaii’s Recovery
Team from Nibley Elementary at the Lihikai School in Hawaii: Becky Bankhead,
Melissa Houser, Tracy Ostermiller (VP) and Sandy Curtis
Under the direction of teacher Sandy Curtis, Nibley Elementary students, families, and staff recently gathered and prepared supplies to support schools and families in Hawaii still recovering from the devastation of the Lahaina Fires. The project culminated in a weeklong service trip where Curtis, 5th-grade teacher Melissa Houser, and Nibley PTA President Becky Bankhead visited five Title I schools, each serving 600 to 800 students, and a non-profit organization called Ohana Exchange, which helps families struggling to meet basic needs. Over the course of their visit, they delivered essential supplies, distributed hygiene kits, and supported local efforts through the Light the World Giving Machine in Maui.
The trip highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by families on the island. Many are still living with relatives due to their inability to rebuild their homes, while others have left in search of more affordable living conditions. Despite these hardships, the team from Nibley Elementary was inspired by the community's resilience. Curtis noted that even though the teachers are overwhelmed, they continue to work tirelessly for their students, offering after-school programs to provide a safe space for learning and socializing.
Schools across Maui are making do with limited resources, often relying on outdoor spaces for play and learning, such as gardening classrooms that teach students about local plants and agriculture. These outdoor spaces were added to extend classroom learning beyond traditional walls and to teach students the Hawaiian way of caring for the land. Students are not merely learning how to grow things but also how to make products (necklaces, bowls, foods) from what is grown there.
Curtis and her team coordinated monetary and material donations from Nibley students, families, and staff, raising over $2,500 in cash and thousands more in supplies. To show appreciation for the hard-working educators, they brought four suitcases loaded with donated goods, including hygiene kits and teacher supplies.
Curtis reflected on the project's impact and emphasized the power of kindness and community, noting that her students discovered that “we are all different and yet so much the same.” She continued, “My students learned how bringing in donations and making things for others is a great way to put true caring and kindness into action. They found that we get more out of giving than perhaps the receivers.”
Curtis concluded, “As educators, we all share that common desire and compassionate drive to help our kids recognize their potential. When we reach out and assist others... we experience how small things can make a difference!”
In addition to acknowledging the countless hours dedicated to this project by Sandy Curtis, Melissa Houser, and Becky Bankhead, special thanks go out to Kristen Bowen and Freckle Farm Garden Center for their generous donation of time, resources, and talent, as well as to all who participated in making "Mountains to Maui" such a wonderful success.