Admist the August wildfires, the Maui community is coming together to rebuild.
In honor of those affected by the Maui wildfires, people came together and held hands during a cummunity paddle out at Kuhio Beach, Honolulu, on August 19, organized by Nā Kama Kai. PHOTO BY YUKI IWAMURA/GETTY IMAGES
At Modern Luxury, our hearts went out to the community of Lāhainā, Maui, when the devastating wildfires hit on August 8. The world watched in sadness as the historic town—beloved by tourists who ate at its oceanfront restaurants and marveled at a majestic 150-year-old banyan tree—burned. From hometown heroes to community concerts and fundraisers, the people of Hawai‘i united to support all those affected by the wildfires, including Kula and Olinda, Maui. Here, we share multiple ways to help, and honor those who shine hope on Lāhainā and the neighboring areas during its most trying times and now in its recovery.
Planted in 1873, the historic Banyan Tree in the heart of Lāhainā, Maui, is a beacon of hope. In September, a fresh sprout of leaves grew, indicating the first signs of possible recovery. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN DENNISON/HAWAII DEPT. OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN DENNISON/HAWAII DEPT. OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Locals and visitors can help the victims in need through the following organizations working hard to help Maui.
‘Āina Momona has three primary fundraisers: Kōkua Maui fund that goes to Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund; Emergency Aid to Maui Families fund that is directly distributed to Maui families who have been verified by its community partners to have been impacted by the Maui wildfires or choose to donate directly to the list of verified families; Maui County Firefighter Relief fund disbursed to the firefighters, lifeguards and EMTs who have been directly impacted by the Maui wildfires. kaainamomona.org/maui
Support the Hawaiʻi Red Cross as they provide expert assistance and shelter to victims. redcross.org/local/hawaii
GlobalGiving has set up a Hawaiʻi Wildfire Relief Fund, focusing donations toward supporting locally run organizations to provide food, water and supplies to survivors and help with recovery efforts. globalgiving.org/projects/hawaii-wildfire-relief-fund
The Kākoʻo Maui Fund from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement provides resources that can be deployed quickly and efficiently to support recovery efforts on Maui. hawaiiancouncil.org
The Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fundfor Maui provides immediate assistance to the hardworking restaurant, bar and hospitality workers displaced by the devastating wildfires that have impacted West Maui communities from Lāhainā to Kapalua, a cherished home of the Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival. Donations can be made to the General Kokua Fund or by choosing a specific restaurant or hospitality employer. hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com/kokua-restaurant-and-hospitality-fund-for-maui
The University of Hawai‘i Foundation is accepting donations to assist displaced Maui College students who were directly impacted by the fires. uhfoundation.org/give/giving-opportunity/help-maui
The Maui Food Bank has drop-off donations at various locations across Maui, plus online donations to help feed all those in need. mauifoodbank.org
Along with donations, The Maui Humane Society is asking people to foster pets in need and drop off pet food, litter and pop-up kennels to help aid pets affected by the disaster. mauihumanesociety.org
The Hawaiʻi Community Foundation is working to support affected communities through the Maui Strong Fund. hawaiicommunityfoundation.org
Maui United Way has set up a fire and disaster relief donation fund that will go directly to support victims. mauiunitedway.org/disasterrelief
New Life Kahuku Inc. has set up an Aid Lāhainā fund with donations directly benefiting families in need by partnering with CNHA. newlifekahuku.com
The Pacific Whale Foundation’s Maui Conservation Fund supports efforts that align with its mission to protect Maui’s ‘āina (land, air and ocean), including whales, dolphins and other animals that depend on it for their survival, through science and advocacy and inspire environmental stewardship. pacificwhale.org
People’s Fund of Maui provides direct assistance to any adult who is not able to live in their primary residence due to the wildfires in Lāhainā and Kula. Successful applicants will receive a monthly donation from the fund. eifoundation.org/peoples-fund-of-maui
Continuing its mission to provide food and resources to those in need, The Salvation Army accepts donations specifically for Maui. hawaii. salvationarmy.org
A handmade Lāhainā Strong sign stands tall on the side of the road in Olowalu, Maui. PHOTO BY JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES
After President Joe Biden’s visit to Lāhainā in August, he announced that $95 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be given to Hawai‘i to aid in Maui’s rebuilding efforts following the devastating wildfires. At the press conference, he declared his support, saying, “We’re not only building back, but we’re going to build back a stronger and more resilient future, which means we need to withstand any challenge coming our way in rebuilding the way Maui wants to rebuild.”
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also met with the press in August, unveiling Japan’s plan to extend $2 million in humanitarian aid to Hawai‘i to help mitigate the damage caused by the wildfires.
In August, Hawai‘i federal firefighters joined hands with residents of Wahinoho St. outside the home of Archie Kalepa where food and supplies were gathered and distributed to neighbors in need. BY ROBERT GAUTHIER/GETTY IMAGES
At the beginning, Maui waterman and surf legend Archie Kalepa turned his home in Lāhainā into a distribution center for residents who lost their homes. He teamed up with politician Melissah Shishido and an army of volunteers to help gather supplies for Lāhainā residents victimized by the wildfires.
Chef Peter Merriman and his Merriman’s Kapalua team have fed thousands impacted by the fires, delivering free meals to over 1,000 locals and responders daily and serving even more in person. The efforts at Merriman’s Kapalua are led by Valerye Zimmerman, director of special operations for Merriman’s Restaurants, who lost her house in the wildfires. Additionally, chef Merriman did an IG live with actress Helen Hunt (@helenhunt), focusing on how to help.
To help boost donations, former president Barack Obama, who was born in Hawai‘i, shared a link to the Maui Strong Fund on his social media account; Jason Momoa, a native of Honolulu, posted his support on his social media accounts with links to multiple organizations that are helping; and Vanessa Lachey, who stars in NCIS Hawai’i, and her husband, Nick Lachey, posted links to resources to help on their Instagram accounts.
Oprah Winfrey, a part-time resident of Maui, visited several shelters to ask what they needed, shopped at Walmart and Costco, and brought the items to the shelters. A few weeks later, Winfrey and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson launched the People’s Fund of Maui to directly support qualifying adults who cannot live in their primary residence due to the wildfires in Lāhainā and Kula. She and Johnson, who was born and raised in Hawai‘i, partnered together to create this fund, along with other members of the community, including Hōkūlani Holt-Padilla, Keali’i Reichel, Archie Kalepa, Ekolu Lindsey, Kimo Falconer, Tiare Lawrence, Kaimana Brummel, Kaleikoa Ka’eo, Brian Keaulana, Kaimi Kaneholani, Henohea Kāne, Paele Kiakona, Ed Suwanjindar, Shep Gordon, and Jason Momoa.
Hawaiian Airlines Maui relief efforts included transportation of dry food for Hawai‘i Foodbank. PHOTO: COURTESY OF HAWAIIAN AIRLINES
Airlines came through during the emergency and now during recovery.
In the first 72 hours after the disaster, Hawaiian Airlines (hawaiianairlines.com) prioritized evacuating displaced residents and visitors and transporting first responders, operating hundreds of flights and carrying more than 17,000 people out of Kahului Airport. Over six days, the carrier’s interisland and transpacific flights to Maui also brought in more than 54,000 pounds of essential cargo ranging from lifesaving blood and medical supplies to communications equipment and animal kennels. Hawaiian Airlines continues to lend its support with significant donations to Hawaiʻi Foodbank, Maui Food Bank and the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation.
Emergency medical supplies and other essential cargo were transported by ROAM Maui (roam-maui.com), a semi-private jet membership for Maui homeowners. The jet service also helped shuttle Maui residents and beloved family pets from the island and out of harm’s way. ROAM Maui works directly with Direct Relief (donate. directrelief.org) and Maui Community Relief (@communityreliefmaui) fund to ensure supplies are delivered quickly and to help those most in need.
PHOTO: BY JENN ELLENBURG
Local businesses, from boutiques to hotels to restaurants, that are still open on Maui and from neighboring islands are helping Lāhainā and West Maui residents by donating portions or all of their proceeds from sales to fundraisers aimed at helping those in need get back on their feet. Look for these opportunities to spread Aloha while you shop locally. Here are a few to note:
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort (hyatt.com/andaz) united as a distribution center gathering personal hygiene products, baby products, nonperishable food items and pet supplies, working with World Central Kitchen (wck.org/relief/hawaiiwildfires-2023), American Red Cross, and Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund.
Maui Gold Pineapple and Merriman’s Kapalua volunteers continue to bring food to West Maui. COURTESY OF MAUI GOLD PINEAPPLE
Big Island Coffee Roasters (bigislandcoffeeroasters.com) Maui coffee producers have lost their mill, warehouse and inventory. They have blended a portion of the remaining crop with two lovely specialty coffees from Central and South America to create Lāhainā Strong Coffee Blend. 100% of proceeds from online and cafe sales of this Lāhainā Strong Blend will go directly to Maui Strong Fund.
Eat at Genki Sushi Ltd. (genkisushiusa.com), which has donated a significant amount to Maui Strong Fund and will be donating monthly for the rest of the year.
Stay at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (fourseasons.com/maui) with its Maui Strong package, and up to $200 per night will be donated to Maui Strong Fund. Plus, drink its Maui Strong cocktail at its new pop-up restaurant, Dos Hombres Cocina, and 100% of the proceeds also goes to Maui Strong Fund.
COURTESY OF MERRIMAN’S HAWAII
At the Hawai‘i Legacy Restoration Initiative (legacyforest.org), 50% of online tree sales in August were donated to Maui Strong Fund. All trees are being planted in the new Maui Strong section of its Big Island and O‘ahu forests. A special memorial tree will also be planted for each person lost in the wildfires.
Hotel Wailea (hotelwailea.com), Hawai‘i’s only Relais & Châteaux property, has partnered with luxury publisher Assouline (assouline.com) to capture the iconic destination of Maui in a new designer coffee table book. Since the book launch in September, 100% of net proceeds from book sales through December 31 will support Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund, Hawai‘i Red Cross, and Hawai‘i Community Foundation. In addition, Hotel Wailea has donated $100 per hotel booking through September toward rebuilding efforts for Lāhainā.
Honolulu’s Blue Note Hawai‘i (bluenotejazz.com/hawaii), through the generosity of multiple artists’ benefit shows and direct donations from ticket buyers, raised funds for Maui Strong Fund. The club will continue to donate a portion of ticket sales and collect donations online and inside the venue during shows.
The Red Cross (redcross.org) supports the Family Assistance Center at the Hyatt Regency (hyatt.com) in Kaʻanapali where people can receive emotional and spiritual care, access health services and casework assistance. The Red Cross also partnered with Maui Therapy Dogs, to help provide comfort to survivors with certified animal-assisted therapy at the Disaster Recovery Center at the Lāhainā Civic Center.
Kauai’s Koloa Rum Company (koloarum.com) hosted an online and instore event in August, with 100% of those proceeds benefiting Maui Strong Fund. “We are overwhelmed by the outcome of the event and for the support of our loyal fans who participated in our goal of giving back to our fellow island neighbors,” said Bob Gunter, president and CEO of Koloa Rum Company.
Marriott VacationsWorldwide started a Company Relief Fund (donorbox.org/mvwrelieffund) for its Aqua-Aston Hospitality and Marriot Vacation Club associates that were impacted. In addition, Marriott Bonvoy is allowing donations of points to the Marriott TakeCare Relief Fund (marriott.com).
Maui Gold Pineapple’s (mauigold.com) relief initiative, Pineapple Pledge, is focused on safety, food, and job preservation. “We are devastated at the loss of our Front Street store and offices in Lāhainā, as well as the destruction at multiple farms,” said Todd Domeck, owner of Hawai‘i Farm Project, the management company for Maui Gold Pineapple. Instead of hosting visitors, Maui Pineapple Tour employees cut, packaged and hand-delivered pineapple by boat to feed displaced victims of the fires. “We know so many people around the world have a deep connection to Maui and are looking for a way to help,” he added “Pineapple sales will feed families, protect local jobs, and ensure the safety of our workers and their ohana.”
To assist West Maui recovery efforts, Assouline will donate 100% of net proceeds on all purchases in 2023 of the Hotel Wailea tome. Shown here is the beautiful nearby beaches at Mākena. PHOTO BY MARCUS CHAMBERS.
Merriman’s Kapalua (merrimanshawaii.com) and Monkeypod Kitchen (monkeypodkitchen.com) teamed up to feed the people of West Maui, supplying over 5,000 meals from West Maui to displaced families, first responders, teammates, and neighbors in the first few days of the effort, and are ready to keep going. Those who would like to support this effort can donate on its website.
PacWhale Eco-Adventures (pacificwhale.org) lost its Lāhainā Ocean Store and vessel Ocean Legacy. Without a Lāhainā harbor from which to operate, they moved its ecotours to the Maʻalaea Harbor in September. Per its website, continued cruises and business ensure the crew’s and staff’s livelihood in Maui.
The Surfjack (surfjack.com) and Mahina & Sun’s (mahinaandsuns.com) organized a donation drive on O‘ahu to donate essential items, including gently used clothing and towels, toiletries, case canned goods and more. The hotel plans to make this an ongoing effort as long as their support is needed, especially since many team members have roots in Lāhainā.
Dozens of local companies, including Hawai‘i Off Grid, Shed Pro Hawai‘i and Maui Plumbing, have joined Family Life Center’s effort to construct Ohana Hope Village (ohanahopevillage.com), which will provide midterm housing and support to victims as they transition from hotels and shelters. Using solar power and on-site wells for energy and water needs, Ohana Hope Village will be environmentally sustainable. Non-combustible materials and fire retardants will also make the development more disaster-resilient. “The month [of August was] difficult for all of us. For us, the only way to get through it was to get to work,” says Hawai‘i Off Grid’s principal architect, David Sellers, leading the engineering and design of this innovative community. “Our team at Hawai‘i Off Grid and Family Life Center has rallied together, sacrificing weekends and working long nights to show support and do whatever we can to help our community rebuild.”
Creatives in Hawai‘i also came together to uplift communities. Here’s are some highlights of their compassionate support.
The Wiwoʻole Maui Benefit Concert took place on August 19 at the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort (grandwailea.com), with Maui’s most celebrated recording artists and hālau, including Kimié Miner, Hoaka, Piʻilani Arias, Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi and more. Proceeds were stewarded through Native Hawaiian ‘Āina Momona and Maui Strong Fund.
On August 20, Maui Ola: A Benefit Concert for Maui (mauiola.org) brought together Hawaiʻi’s musicians, production professionals and dozens of others for a live concert fundraiser that was broadcast at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum. They are continuing the effort with an ongoing concert series that included The Green on September 3 at the Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort brought the community together for Aloha For Maui on September 2, with the uplifting harmonies of Na Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning artists Sean Cleland, Sean Na‘auao and Natural Vibrations. The resort committed 100% of the ticket sales to Maui Strong Fund.
Jake Shimabukuro and Friends’ inaugural Hana Hou Music Festival at the Hawaiʻi Theatre (hawaiitheatre.com/events/hanahou) on September 8 and 9 was dedicated to raising funds for Maui Strong Fund. Viewers enjoyed songs from Shimabukuro’s latest album, Grateful, and more artists including Mick Fleetwood—who lost his restaurant Fleetwood’s on Front St. in Lāhainā.
The Shops at Wailea, Maui, hosted its first annual Slack Key Festival on September 9 and began its Ke Kani Hone O Wailea concert series on September 29 with proceeds going to Maui Strong Fund. The Shops (theshopsatwailea.com) was also a donation drop-off center in August with its Heart of Aloha efforts going to Maui Red Cross.
We Are Friends, A Maui Wildfire Benefit Concert, hosted by Henry Kapono—whose Henry Kapono Foundation is supporting music industry professionals with emergency relief (henrykaponofoundation.org)— featured an all-star lineup of performers on September 23 at the Yokouchi Pavilion and A&B Amphitheater. The concert is part of Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Benefit Concert Series— new and modified existing MACC (mauiarts.org) shows now focused on raising funds for Maui Strong Fund.
Proceeds from local artist Kamea Hadar’s online store (kameahadar.com/store) went directly to two Lāhainā families close to his heart to help rebuild their family’s lost homes and healthcare. Viewpoints Gallery (viewpointsgallerymaui.com) gave 100% of gallery profit to an emergency fund for the artists on Maui who lost their home or art studio and artworks.
Kamea Hadar “Malamalama”. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAMEA HADAR
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