These Maui Restaurants Are Asking for Help for Their Workers

More than 40 Maui restaurants have set up GoFundMe campaigns for employees who lost homes. Three more need help to feed fire victims.

 

More than 1,000 crowdfunding campaigns have sprung up on GoFundMe since fire obliterated most of Lahaina last week. All the stories are heartbreaking—among them pleas from restaurants that were destroyed, restaurants whose employees’ homes were destroyed and West Maui restaurants that survived but are closed because of the shutdown of tourism on that part of the island. Of note are three other food businesses asking for donations to help them feed their displaced neighbors on Maui. If you can, please donate and help these Maui restaurants spread the word.

 

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SEE ALSO: Latest on the Maui Wildfires

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808 Grindz Café

According to its GoFundMe, 808 Grindz is not asking for donations to rebuild, even though the café was lost to the fire. It says it wants to use these funds to help the Lahaina community rebuild. @808grindzmaui

 

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Bakery Lahaina

The decades-old French bakery on Limahana Place is gone. Sisters of co-owner and baker Charlie Owen set up this GoFundMe to help employees who have lost their homes and livelihoods. @bakerylahaina

 

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Cheeseburger in Paradise Lahaina

This 34-year-old eatery on Front Street was destroyed. Asking for donations to a GoFundMe for staff and larger community who lost their jobs and homes. @cheeseburgerinparadisemaui

 

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Choice Health Bar

The health food restaurant’s Instagram lists 28 staffers who lost their homes, some of them multi-generational homes. It promises that funds raised in this GoFundMe campaign will be divided equally among the 28. The restaurant was destroyed. @choicehealthbar

 

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Dirty Monkey

Asking for donations to a GoFundMe to help workers who lost jobs, homes and belongings when the Front Street restaurant burned. Co-owner Matt Ryan helped organize the campaign and says he’ll make sure all funds are distributed to these employees. @dirtymonkeymaui

 

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Down the Hatch, Breakwall Shave Ice Co., Māla Ocean Tavern, Duckine, Pizza Paradiso

Down the Hatch and Breakwall Shave Ice are gone. Hana Hou Hospitality’s other restaurants are standing, but many employees lost homes and possessions. This GoFundMe was set up to help displaced employees by building tiny homes and helping with other necessities and relocation. @dthmaui

 

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Duke’s Maui, Hula Grill Ka‘anapali, Kimo’s Lahaina, Leilani’s Ka‘anapali

Parent company TS Restaurants says all 724 Maui employees are confirmed safe, though more than 100 have lost their homes and some their family members. It promises that 100% of donations to its nonprofit TS Legacy of Aloha Foundation will go toward supporting them. @hulagrillkaanapali

 

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Feast at Lele

Randall Babayan, general manager of this longtime lū‘au, says it was destroyed and while Feast may be rebuilt, employees who lost homes, jobs and more need immediate help. He set up this GoFundMe. @feastatlele

 

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Fleetwood’s on Front Street

Fleetwood’s manager Ashley Leal reports that two staffers remain missing; all others are safe, though many have lost their homes. She set up this GoFundMe to help the restaurant’s 130 employees recover and rebuild. @fleetwoodsonfrontst

 

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Havens Maui

Havens chef-owner Zach Sato is using this kitchen to source ingredients for, cook and distribute 500 meals a day for Maui fire victims staying in shelters. He’s partnering with World Central Kitchen for efficient distribution around the island and is asking for GoFundMe donations for the long haul (says it costs $1,500 a day). Also asking for bulk food donations, including vegetable, pasta, rice and proteins in quantities large enough to feed 500 people at a time. @havens_ogg

 

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Hawai‘i Gelato

Owner Roxy Brandel lost her business on Front Street, but set up this GoFundMe to help employees who lost homes and possessions. @hawaiigelato

 

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Honolulu Coffee Co.

This fundraiser on the company’s website is to help employees at its Lahaina and Wailea stores who suffered losses in the fire. Donation amounts start at $5. You can also buy 12-ounce bags of Honolulu Coffee’s Kōkua Lahaina blend for $24.95; 100% of proceeds from these sales will help impacted Maui employees. @honolulucoffee

 

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Indian Grill n Curry

The Indian restaurant on Front Street is gone, and chef Javed Shaikh says he and all employees have lost their homes and livelihoods. This GoFundMe is to help them. @indiangrillncurry

 

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Island Vintage Coffee

Five employees at the Ka‘anapali coffee shop lost their homes, vehicles and possessions in Lahaina. This GoFundMe is to help them. Organizer IVC Corp. promises to detail how the funds are distributed. @islandvintagecoffee

 

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Joey’s Kitchen and Macadangdang Restaurant

Asking for donations to Venmo @joeyskitchen (QR code above) or a GoFundMe to support displaced restaurant employees. Restaurants are cooking meals for displaced survivors, and owner Joey Macadangdang’s family has taken in employees who lost homes. @joeyskitchenhi

 

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Lahaina Grill

More than 40 of the combined staffs of Lahaina Grill, Hotel Lahaina and Lahaina Ice Cream Parlour have lost their homes. This GoFundMe is to help them with basic necessities and relocation. @lahainagrill

 

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Lahaina Sports Bar

This GoFundMe was set up by a longtime employee who says coworkers lost homes and family members in the tragedy. The sports bar on Waine‘e Street is also gone. Donations are pledged to go to the impacted employees.

 

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Lima Cocina y Cantina

This Peruvian restaurant in Pā‘ia has set up a GoFundMe asking for donations to help it continue cooking hot meals for Maui fire victims. @limacocinacantina

 

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Longhi’s Ka‘anapali

The longtime fixture of Maui’s dining scene has at least 10 employees who have lost their homes; when she set up this GoFundMe for them two days ago, Tait Longhi said others were unaccounted for. @longhiskaanapali

 

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Maui Matcha

Three employees of the Ka‘anapali café lost their homes in the fire. Maui Matcha set up this GoFundMe to help them. @mauimatcha

 

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Merienda Maui

The duo that own this modern Filipino food truck both lost their family homes. This GoFundMe is to help them get back on their feet as they rebuild homes and their business. @merienda.maui

 

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Merriman’s Maui

Asking for donations to a GoFundMe to support displaced hourly employees. More than 10 lost their homes, and others are missing. The restaurant is also cooking meals for survivors. @merrimansmaui

 

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Monkeypod Kitchen Ka‘anapali

Handcrafted Restaurants group says more than 50 employees of Monkeypod Ka‘anapali have lost homes. Use the QR code above to donate to help the employees displaced by the fires. @monkeypodkitchen

 

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Pacific’o

This 30-year-old fixture was destroyed and its account says most employees are now staying in shelters. Its owners set up this GoFundMe to raise funds to distribute evenly among the 46 employees. @pacificomaui

 

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Papa‘aina Maui

Asking for donations to a GoFundMe for employees who have lost jobs and homes. @papaainamaui

 

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Pauwela Beverage Co.

Local kombucha company has been cooking meals for first responders and displaced residents in shelters and will continue three times a week. Asking for donations to a GoFundMe and promises 100% will go toward buying groceries. @pauwelabeverage

 

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Plantation House

The restaurant’s owners set up this GoFundMe for employees who suffered losses and will match donations up to $100,000. @plantationhousemaui

 

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Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina

The 9-year-old Italian eatery on Front Street was destroyed in the fire. Co-owner Qiana DiBari is asking for donations to a GoFundMe to help the restaurant and its ‘ohana recover. @salepepemaui

 

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Sansei Seafood Restaurant

Sansei founder and owner D.K. Kodama helped organize this GoFundMe to help employees of Sansei Kapalua and Kihei who lost their homes in Lahaina deal with immediate emergencies. @sansei.hawaii

 

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Slappy Cakes

The chain says more than 20 staff at the Ka‘anapali location have lost their homes. This GoFundMe is to help them with essential supplies and shelter. @slappycakes

 

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Star Noodle, Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop and Old Lahaina Lū‘au

The group that owns these businesses says many of its 298 employees have been displaced. 100% of proceeds to this GoFundMe will go to the neediest to help them rebuild. @star.noodle

 

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TaquerEATa

The brother of Gina Kalar, owner of this taco truck on Waine‘e Street, started this GoFundMe to help the business recover and restart. @taquereata

 

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Taverna Maui

This Italian restaurant in Kapalua says 12 employees lost their homes in the Lahaina fire; others are helping to cook meals for displaced people in shelters. The GoFundMe is for employees who will need to rebuild. @tavernamaui

 

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Thai Chef

Front Street’s longtime Thai restaurant is gone. The owners set up this GoFundMe to help employees who suffered losses and rebuild the restaurant. @thaichefmaui

 

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Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

Asking for donations to support workers and community who have lost jobs, homes and more. Ululani’s founder David Yamashiro set up this GoFundMe and promises 75% of proceeds will go to employees of the two Ululani’s shops destroyed in the fire; 25% will be earmarked for the Lahaina community. @ululanishawaiianshaveice

 

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Westside Bagel and Bakery

The bagel shop is gone. This GoFundMe is to raise money to help it rebuild. @westsidebagel