Free Disability Peer Support Group — Kahului, Maui | Aloha Independent Living Hawaii
Aloha Independent Living Hawaii (AILH) has been running grassroots independent living programs for people with disabilities across the islands since 2009, and its Maui Peer Support Group is one of the clearest expressions of that mission: a monthly gathering where members set the agenda, because they’re the ones who know what they need to talk about.
What to Expect
The group meets in person in Kahului on the fourth Monday of each month. Topics come from the members themselves — recent conversations have ranged from coping with loneliness to something as grounding as potting vegetables together. The focus stays consistent even as topics shift: building relationships and supporting one another. It’s a relaxed, community-driven format rather than a structured curriculum, led by longtime AILH peer coordinator Lani Cabanilla.
Who This Group Is For
This group welcomes adults with disabilities living on Maui who want a consistent, low-pressure place to connect with others who understand disability firsthand. AILH’s core services — peer counseling, advocacy, independent living skills, and transition support — are built around the idea that people with disabilities are best positioned to support each other, and this group is where that plays out month to month.
Why Peer Support Works
AILH’s approach reflects a core tenet of the independent living movement: that lived experience is its own form of expertise. A peer who has actually navigated the same accessibility barriers, medical appointments, or isolation can offer something a well-meaning outsider often can’t — recognition without explanation. Regular, informal contact like this monthly group has been shown to reduce isolation and build the kind of steady social support that makes day-to-day life with a disability more manageable.
How to Join
The group is free and open to new members — there’s no referral or intake process required to attend. For meeting location details and to let the group know you’re coming, contact Lani Cabanilla at (808) 866-3783. For general questions about AILH’s Maui services, call the organization’s main line at (808) 339-7297 or toll-free at (800) 385-2454.