Our story
Born from ash, built on love
On August 8, 2023, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century swept through Lahaina, Maui. Steps for Lahaina was born in the weeks that followed — a grassroots movement turning every mile walked into real, lasting help for the people who lost everything.
How it started
One man. One pledge. One community.
Jeff Onderko has never run a nonprofit. He has never organized a fundraiser. What he has is a deep connection to Lahaina, Maui Hawaii — a place he's called home for 25 years, whose streets he knows, whose people he loves.
3 years later, after the Lahaina Wildfires, Jeff is still living in the heart of Lahaina, directly in the middle of the affected burn zone.
That promise became Steps for Lahaina. What started as one man's grief-driven commitment grew into a community of walkers, sponsors, and supporters from across the country — all moving together toward the same goal.
Founding walker
Jeff Onderko
A letter from Jeff
I'm home.
July 15, 2025
After nearly two years of displacement, soul-searching, and navigating life from one temporary stay to the next—between Kihei, Kapalua, Kaanapali, even as far as Whitefish, Montana—I'm writing today with deep emotion and genuine joy to share some personal news:
I'm home. Back in Lahaina Town. Full-time.
It's hard to describe the feeling of finally returning to this beach village I've called home for 23 years. The heart knows where it belongs, and mine has always beat strongest here on the shores of Lahaina.
While so much has changed, much of the soul of this town still remains. Yes, the landscape is scarred. The future is uncertain. The majority of Lahaina still rests in a state of destruction, debate, and recovery. But in the midst of it all—there is still life. There is still connection. There is still aloha.
There's something about this place that helps my mind rest and my spirit breathe again.
I've returned not just to live here—but to rebuild, re-engage, and rise alongside this community that shaped so much of who I am.
I'm looking forward to the challenge of what lies ahead: not only as a real estate broker helping others find home, but also as a proud Lahaina resident contributing to the future of this town.
Jeff Onderko
Founder, Steps for Lahaina
Our mission
Why we walk
Steps for Lahaina exists for one reason: to channel the energy of people who care into resources that rebuild lives. We believe recovery isn't just about buildings — it's about community, dignity, and the knowledge that you are not forgotten. Every mile walked is a message: we see you, Lahaina. We're still here.
Radical transparency
Every dollar raised is publicly tracked. We publish exactly where the money goes and who receives it.
Community-first
Decisions about how funds are used are guided by Lahaina residents and local organizations — not outsiders.
Long-term commitment
Lahaina's recovery will take years. We're not going anywhere. We walk until the work is done.
Zero bureaucracy
We keep overhead as low as possible so the maximum share of every donation reaches the people who need it.
About Lahaina
A town worth fighting for
Lahaina is more than a tourist destination. It is the cultural and historical heart of Maui — home to Native Hawaiian families who have lived there for generations, to artists and fishermen and teachers and small business owners who built their lives on its streets.
The fires took the buildings. They did not take the people, the culture, or the will to rebuild. Lahaina's residents have shown extraordinary resilience. Our job is to make sure they have the resources to match it.
2,200+
structures destroyed
12,000+
residents displaced
102
lives lost
August 8, 2023 — Lahaina, Maui, Hawaiʻi
Join the movement
Walk with us. Sponsor a walker. Spread the word. Every action moves Lahaina forward.