Wildfires in Hawaii

August 14, 2023

Dear Wolf Pack Family,

The impacts of the wildfires on Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii are still being felt by the people of Hawaii, both in the communities that were devastated by last week’s fires, as well as throughout the entire state which continues to attempt to process this unimaginable tragedy. The hearts of our entire University community go out to the people of Hawaii and to the students, faculty and staff of our institution who are from Hawaii and who have family or friends who live there.

This is a heartbreaking and challenging moment for those in The Wolf Pack Family who are from Hawaii. Let us all share the empathy and understanding that is woven so deeply into the fabric of our University community as the people of Hawaii work to recover from the tragic impacts of these fires.

The University is here to help. Counseling Services offer therapy and psychological services for students; the Downing Counseling Clinic (through the College of Education and Human Development) offers therapy services for students, faculty and staff; and the Employee Assistance Program is available for faculty and staff. The University’s LiveWell program is also available to help you prioritize your well-being and navigate campus resources that are available to help you do so.

There are also a number of resources through Student Services, including Academic Advising, the Office of the Dean of Students, Offices of Residential Life, Housing and Food Services, Student Health Services and more for students who have been directly affected by the fires in Hawaii. We highly recommend that these students seek out these resources, particularly as we draw closer to the start of instruction on Aug. 28.

I wish to encourage everyone to show understanding, support and most of all, love, for those in our Wolf Pack Family who are from Hawaii in the days and weeks to come.

Sincere regards,

Brian Sandoval
President