A devastating and highly destructive fire last year traumatized people in Lahaina on the island of Maui. Some residents were fearful of coming out of their places of refuge, even when essentials were left on the lawn. Locals who wanted to help wondered what it would take to get them out. Then one had an idea: free ice cream. Now known as the Ice Cream Aunties, they began to signal ice cream delivery with a truck playing a jingle, and children and adults could not resist. But the ice cream also quickly helped generate a kind of healing to help in their process of recovery. One Auntie described it as palpable, infectious, and contagious. People began to want hugs, high fives, handshakes, and fist bumps along with their ice cream. As Auntie related, both children and adults would say, “‘I really could use a hug today.' And I'm like, ‘You know what? Me too.’” She added, “Because even with all of this stuff that normally will take people down, we have these opportunities where we can lift each other up.”
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