Maui Relief

In the first six days of activation, Chef Hui and partners produced over 50 thousand meals at the University of Hawaii Maui College Culinary Arts Programs facilities. Restaurant-quality meals have been prepared for same-day delivery to shelters and community members in need.

After 90 days of actively distributing thousands of daily meals on Maui, in early November 2023 our team began meeting with our key partners to reassess our approach and plan for our long-term feeding response. Recognizing the changing landscape, we took a step back to engage with our community partners and chefs in more meaningful discussions. Our goal was to delve deeper into understanding the future needs of our community.

While several of the partnering Hubs altered their operations or were forced to close, we remained committed to supporting priority projects where our assistance could have the most significant impact. Instead of solely focusing on daily Hub meal distribution, we redirected our efforts to align with the evolving needs of the community, collaborating closely with our local partners and culinary experts.

This strategic shift not only acknowledges the changing circumstances but also demonstrates our commitment to adapting and responding to the community's dynamic requirements. By continuing to fund and support initiatives that best serve the community's evolving needs, we aim to ensure our efforts are both targeted and impactful in supporting Maui's community.

Maui Food Hubs

  • This program utilizes a combination of donated and purchased ingredients to support local businesses who are utilizing their own staff to provide food to communities in need. Ingredients are both donated and purchased, sourcing locally as much as possible to create meals, meal kits and curated produce boxes to be distributed to community members in need.

    Chef Hui works collaboratively with our Chef Ambassadors, donors, distributors and local farmers to sustain local agriculture, accelerate our food sustainability goals and feed the souls of those in need through providing resources, recipes and more.

  • Merriaman’s Kapalua has been serving close to 1000 meals a day to communities on the Westside. They are making use of their talented chefs and cooks to prepare meals with a mix of our donated and purchased products while their front-of-the-house workers are assisting with delivering these meals to communities in need.

Maui Meals Program

  • Our Maui Meals Program supports local restaurants and provides nourishment to displaced Maui residents. We purchase meals from local eateries and distribute them free of charge to fire-affected communities. This aids struggling restaurants due to decreased visitors and offers healthy, locally sourced meals to those in need.

    This initiative counters revenue loss during the economic downturn while backing local farmers and essential feeding efforts. Meal distribution varies, reaching shelters, families, and even communities through our Chef Ambassadors cooking on-site.

  • Chef Hui has partnered with Chef Zach Sato of Havens to prepare both individual meals for distribution as well as preparing community dinners in Honokowai for displaced residents. Zack’s meals have included a Samin Bar, Smash Burgers, a Taco Bar utilizing local ingredients. Typically Chef Sato and his team prepare an average of 350 meals a night.

Hospitality Relief

  • These events will provide an opportunity for industry professionals to connect over a nutritious soulful meal, enjoy live entertainment, and network.

    Resources and experts will be available to guide attendees through available programs to aid their recovery. Each participant will receive a gift bag with local produce, restaurant gift cards, grocery store gift cards, aprons, OluKai shoes, kitchen supplies, and more, to help ease their current burden.

    Together, we stand united in support of our hospitality community's resilience and recovery.

  • Chef Hui is proud to bridge the path between Southern Smoke Foundation and compassionate donors, ensuring that the assistance never wavers for F&B workers impacted by the Maui fires.

    In this collaboration, every dollar raised carries immeasurable impact—100 percent of the funds directly benefit the Maui F+B workforce. Southern Smoke Foundation's unwavering commitment means they're waiving all fees, magnifying the impact of your contribution.

    As of today, 183 emergency relief applications have been received from Maui, with 47 workers funded so far, amounting to a remarkable $144,000 in direct aid.

Our Current Programs on Maui

  • Pop-Up Schools

    600 ct. lunches per week and snacks for students operating out of pop-up schools in Lahaina.

  • Pu'uhonua O Nene

    150 meals per day, 7 days per week for the displaced houseless community in Pu'uhonua O Nene, in partnership with Project Vision.

  • Kula & Upcountry

    150 hot meals/week to Kula residents who are still without clean water.

  • Healthy Snack Carts

    Supporting City & County mental health and wellness clinics by providing healthy snacks for practitioner snack carts and culturally relevant meals.

  • Locally-Sourced Produce Boxes

    Providing locally-sourced produce boxes for over 220 displaced families.

Maui Community Advisory Board