During the 2023 Maui wildfires, technology became the lifeline for restoring communication and helping communities survive.
In this episode, Dana Yaari talks with Dr. Jarone Lee and Mary Showstark from Health Tech Without Borders about their time supporting relief efforts in Lahaina, Maui. They discuss the critical hours passed during the fires, when communication lines were down and survivors were cut off from aid.
Mary shares what she saw on the ground, from blocked roads to the first moments Starlink brought communities back online. And Jarone discusses how their team managed to deliver tech tools amidst chaos and why connectivity has become a critical part of humanitarian aid. You’ll hear what worked, what stalled, and the lessons they’re carrying into future disaster zones.
You’ll learn:
Things to listen for:
(00:00) Welcome to Digital Humanitarian, Jarone Lee & Mary Showstark
(01:36) Returning to Lahaina and urgent access needs
(03:34) Locals stepping in when help was scarce
(07:47) Barriers to aid in a declared disaster zone
(08:35) Starlink’s arrival and restoring communication lines
(10:07) Missed alerts and the role of warning tech
(12:41) Inside Health Tech Without Borders’ global work
(16:45) Setting up safe, trusted spaces for telehealth
(18:50) Peer-to-peer mental health for first responders
(21:45) Scaling telemedicine in conflict zones and disasters
(27:02) Training lifesaving skills through chatbots in crises
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