Industry brands and retailers are moving to support emergency personnel and residents of Maui impacted by the fires that broke out on the island this week.
Hi-Tech Surf Sports owner Kim Ball, who lost his homes and vehicles to the fires, quickly mobilized with co-workers to help those in need. The Hi-Tech Surf Sports in Kahului on Maui is serving as a drop-off point for donations to firefighters, emergency personnel, and those in shelters.
The store on Thursday saw more than 20 truckloads of food, blankets, and water that were taken to area shelters.
“It spread unbelievably fast,” Ball said by text Friday afternoon of the fire.
He recalled driving his wife to the airport and then heading into work. Later that afternoon his son called to say the smoke was getting bad at his house.
“By the time he decided to leave, his neighborhood started to burn,” Ball said. “I asked him to get our dogs and he heroically rescued both our Golden Retrievers.”
Ball’s non-profit, the Maui Sports Foundation, is also accepting monetary donations for those in need in the form of checks dropped off at the Kahului store or to @mauisportsfoundation through Venmo.
Hawaiian Island Creations created a Maui Strong T-shirt, with all sale proceeds going to those on the island impacted by the fires.
Volcom confirmed on social media some employees across the company’s three Maui stores lost their homes to the fire. The company’s Front Street store was also destroyed.
“Taking care of our staff and their families is our first priority,” the company said in its post Thursday.
Hurley is holding a donation drop-off Aug. 14 between 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1945 Placentia Ave., building H in Costa Mesa, California. More information can be found on the company’s social media.
The old Lahaina Store was built in 1916. It more recently housed the restaurant Fleetwood’s on Front Street, Billabong, and other stores. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor for the state of Hawaii.
Surf Industry Members Association Executive Director Vipe Desai is working to re-activate the SIMA Humanitarian Fund to collect donations. Desai told SES the fund could be set back up by the end of the day Friday.
SIMA is also exploring ways to create a central shipping hub to collect items that would be paired with a Maui point of distribution to intake those goods and quickly disperse items to those in need.
“The impact on thousands of lives has been significant, and the road to rebuilding their homes and livelihoods will undoubtedly be arduous and lengthy,” Desai said in an update to the SIMA Board of Directors Friday morning. “This is where the surf industry’s collective response can make a meaningful difference.”
A brushfire on the island began Tuesday, but dry conditions and winds from Hurricane Dora made it difficult for firefighters to battle the blazes. The cause is still unknown.
The fire in the historic town of Lahaina, which was once the Hawaiian capitol, was reported to be about 80% contained as of Friday morning, according to Maui County. The fire there damaged more than 270 buildings.
That includes razing most of Front Street, a popular retail and restaurant destination for visitors.
The Stoke House Maui store there is no longer standing. Billabong and Honolua lost a total of four doors across the two brands due to the fires.
Elsewhere on the island, the Pulehu fire was between 70% and 80% contained as of Friday morning. The level of containment for the fire in Upcountry Maui is still being determined.
Limited access to Lahaina for West Maui residents opened Friday, with a curfew in place between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
A total of 67 deaths have been reported by the county from the Lahaina fire, with a nine-person search-and-rescue team recently arriving on the island.
Kari Hamanaka can be reached at kari@shop-eat-surf-outdoor.com.
Editor’s Note: This story was last updated Aug. 11 at 6:08 p.m. PST.
