Hawaii Wildfire Relief – 2023

The fire that occurred on August 8, 2023, in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, resulted in the destruction of more than 2200 structures and claimed over 115 lives, with 388 individuals reported missing. This incident marked the most extensive fire in Maui’s documented history, causing a significant impact on the local economy. The tourism sector, which accounts for 40% of the economy, abruptly ceased, leading to widespread job losses. Local Harvest LLC has taken a leading role in efforts to revive and reconstruct the Maui community.

Local Harvest LLC is a prominent produce distribution company for Hawaii-grown crops, serving the island community for over 12 years. Its mission revolves around supporting local farmers by offering them a reliable market for their crops. With a team of 10 dedicated employees, it has consistently purchased approximately 30% of the total locally grown produce from more than 100 farmers. Its approach involves sourcing fresh food directly from these farmers and supplying it to local retailers, restaurants, and hotels. In the aftermath of the fire, many island retailers, restaurants, and hotels were faced with substantial sales declines and permanent closures. Local Harvest LLC experienced an immediate revenue loss exceeding 50%. The disruption in the supply and demand chain also plunged farmers into crisis, resulting in significant halt in the local crops economy. Concurrently, fire victims found themselves without access to immediate resources or sustenance.

Under the leadership of Steve Philips, Local Harvest quickly stepped up to support the community. Initially, Local Harvest donated a significant amount of food to fire victims. With funding from Hawaii Food Hub Hui, Steve purchased as much of the farmers’ crops as possible, safeguarding them from devastating losses that could have severely impacted the local agricultural economy. These items were then distributed to local kitchens, where over 10,000 meals are prepared daily for disaster victims. This initiative effectively redirected community resources to support victims while simultaneously aiding the local economy.

Local Harvest remains committed to assisting those on the fringes of recovery. Generous donors, including World Central Kitchen and a local food security group, Hungry Homeless Heroes Hawaii, continue to lovingly prepare and distribute thousands of meals daily to fire victims. World Central Kitchen has also provided financial reimbursement to Local Harvest for their critical relief efforts.

The goal of Voice of a Child is to sustain this community support to Local Harvest over the coming two to three months. Local Harvest’s swift and strategic actions have bolstered businesses, public services, and supply chains. However, Local Harvest seeks your support to empower individuals to regain self-sufficiency. Despite the tourism-based economy’s devastation, Steve maintains an optimistic outlook on recovery. Local Harvest is dedicated to doing its part in rebuilding the entire community, reopening businesses, and reinstating essential services to facilitate the return of jobs. Through meticulous resource management and a regenerative approach, Local Harvest fosters self-reliance and support across various sectors of Maui’s economy. Your assistance is invaluable in the ongoing effort to rebuild the Maui community.