Maui Ola benefit concert raises nearly $1 million for Maui wildfire recovery

Within one day of the “Maui Ola: A Benefit Concert for Maui,” broadcast, donation portals, including Maui United Way, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Hawaiʻi People’s Fund and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, received nearly $1 million in donations toward helping survivors of the deadly wildfires in Maui that erupted on the island Aug. 8.

Members and organizations of the media, entertainment and cultural communities contributed their in-kind contributions to direct all funds to aid the Valley Isle in its recovery.

“It was overwhelming to see so many come together to support Maui,” said Maui kumu hula, Hōkūlani Holt-Padilla. “We in the hula community have a particular kuleana to ground our expressions in our sense of place and community. Maui Ola became an opportunity to amplify what we hold dear as a means of supporting our families in need.”

The Maui Ola event and broadcast was the result of a collaboration between Hawaiʻi’s local media outlets, including mele.com, local TV stations––KGMB, KHNL KFVE, KITV, KIKU, KHON, KHII, PBS Hawaiʻi, Nā Leo TV, Akakū, ʻŌlelo Community Media––a variety of radio stations including 92.3 KSSK, Island 98.5, Hawaiian 105 KINE, KCCN FM100, KQMQ, HI93 FM, KAPA Hawaiian FM, KPUA 670 AM, KWXX 94.7 FM, KAOY 101.5 FM, KNWB 97.1 FM, KMWB 93.1, CBS 1500 and other partners’ websites, including hawaiinewsnow.com, ESPN Honolulu, and Honolulu Magazine, Hawaiʻi Magazine and Hawaiʻi Business Magazine.

Together, these media partners amplified the songs, stories and calls for support of various artists, including Kolohe Kai, Hawaiian Style Band, Pure Heart, Jerry Santos, Raiatea Helm, Paula Fuga, Kimie Miner, Anuhea, Del Beazley, the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, Napua Silva, Kamaka Kukona, Poʻokela Wood, Dane Fujiwara, Puamana, Paʻahana, the Farden ʻohana, over 20 kumu hula from Oʻahu and Maui and more than 100 hula practitioners.

“Maui Ola is proof that significant goals can be achieved when we work together,” said Ted Jung, co-producer and co-owner of Ponoʻī Productions. “We saw overwhelming support from the media, entertainment and cultural communities, providing lighting, staging, visual media, cameras, venue, advertisements, graphic design, broadcast, communications support and everything in between. In total, Maui Ola’s in-kind contributions exceeded one million dollars-all to benefit our Maui ʻohana.”

Maui Ola will remain available on mele.com and social media platforms, where it will continue to encourage donations toward Maui relief. Learn more about the event and ongoing efforts by visiting www.mauiola.org. 

To donate now, visit www.mauiunitedway.org, www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong, www.hawaiipeoplesfund.org or www.hawaiiancouncil.org.