LIHU‘E — Steve Case, Hawai‘i-born and raised entrepreneur and philanthropist, announced on Friday a $1 million donation to support communities affected by the wildfires on Maui.
The donation is being made by the Grove Farm Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Case’s Kaua‘i-based Grove Farm.
The money will go to Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Maui Strong Fund; World Central Kitchen, which is already providing food for front-line workers and people who have lost homes; the American Red Cross, and Salvation Army.
The Red Cross and Salvation Army have been working around the clock to provide shelter, food and emotional support.
Additionally, Maui Land &Pineapple where Case is the majority investor, has announced a series of steps to provide on-island support, as well as a long-term commitment to assist in Maui’s rebuilding efforts.
“The destruction and loss on Maui is devastating to watch, and the impact on communities such as Lahaina is tragic,” said Case said in a statement.
“This iconic, historic town represents the best of the culture, natural beauty, and warm Aloha spirit that has come to define Hawai‘i. My heart and prayers go out to all of those impacted across Maui by these horrific events.”
The Grove Farm Foundation was established by Case to support Kaua‘i following his acquisition of Grove Farm two decades ago. The foundation’s focus has been on supporting philanthropic efforts on Kaua‘i, but the crisis on Maui requires support from across the state.
It particularly made sense for a Kaua‘i-based foundation to provide funding given the tragedy Kaua‘i experienced in 1992 when Hurricane Iniki devastated much of the island.
“The people of Kaua‘i know from their own experience how tragic natural disasters can be, said Don Horner, the CEO of Grove Farm. “Grove Farm, and others across the state, must support Maui’s efforts to rebuild.”
Maui Land &Pineapple (MLP) has mobilized support across Maui to help in the recovery effort.
MLP has worked with its hotel partners and the County of Maui to turn its Kapalua Resort into a distribution center to get water, food and clothes to affected families. It has also taken steps to ensure water continues to flow in the region.
“The people of Maui have lost lives, homes, history, power, and connectivity, but they haven’t lost hope,” said Maui Land &Pineapple CEO Race Randie.
“The devastation on the ground is immense, and we are doing everything we can to help. Once we get through this phase, we will step up in new ways to support the rebuilding effort.”
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
