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SALT LAKE CITY — A grassroots coalition of Pacific Islander organizations are coming together this weekend to raise funds for families who were impacted by the devastating wildfires on Maui.
The "Utah for Maui" fundraiser, which will feature live music, entertainment and speakers, will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the West Plaza of Trolley Square (near the Old Spaghetti Factory) in Salt Lake City this Saturday. The coalition hopes to sell 2,000 food plates at $15 a piece, which would equal $30,000. Other local vendors will be present and plan to donate all or a portion of their proceeds.
The wildfires in Maui are the deadliest in the country in over a century, with the official death toll climbing to 115 and authorities saying over 1,000 people still remain unaccounted for, according to the Associated Press.
"I think what a lot of people don't realize is that Utah is home to a lot of Asian American Pacific Islanders that have created a home here in Utah and many of their families have been directly impacted by what's happening in Maui," said Sui Lang Panoke, a Native Hawaiian and Utah Pacific Islander Chamber board member. "There's a unique connection between what's happening in Hawaii and the impact it's having in the state of Utah. So our ultimate goal with this is really to bring the community together, and not just the Asian American Pacific Islander community, but Utah's community."
The coalition behind the fundraiser — which includes organizations like the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber, PIK2AR and Hui Hawaiʻi O Utah Hawaiian Civic Club — is asking that the community not bring physical items to donate, since the group doesn't have the capacity to deliver them to Maui. Instead, monetary donations will be used to buy items on the ground in Hawaii, such as diapers and gift cards to grocery stores.
I think what a lot of people don't realize is that Utah is home to a lot of Asian American Pacific Islanders that have created a home here in Utah and many of their families have been directly impacted by what's happening in Maui.
– Sui Lang Panoke
Panoke herself had already planned a trip to Maui for a family reunion prior to the wildfires. She plans to hand-deliver notes of encouragement and funds to people on the ground when she flies into Maui next week.
"We have this idea of Aloha notes, so one thing that we have learned that can be very helpful for families who are in distress is just a hopeful little note," she said. "So we'll have a table where kids or anyone really can draft a little generic Aloha note, you know, 'Hey, we love you. We're praying for you. We support you. You're not alone in this.'"
The coalition has picked the Hawai'i Community Foundation to donate the proceeds to based on the organization's alignment with Native Hawaiian history, culture, tradition and protocol, Panoke said.
"It's essentially the most integral local organization that is directly serving the families. In Hawaii, we call them Kanaka, which is the Hawaiian Native people that live there on the island. Our ultimate goal is to make sure they are being served and that they stay on the island," Panoke said. "We will be committed to all stages of recovery. We recognize this isn't just a moment that we forget about it. This is a long-term, sustainable strategy. That's the hope — to support our people through this entire recovery process."
