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About 1,200 restaurant, bar and hotel workers received one-time $1,000 payments from the Kōkua Restaurant and Hotel Fund, according to an announcement from the Hawaii Agriculture and Culinary Alliance.
Overall, the coalition said it has raised more than $1.22 million to help workers who have lost their jobs or income due to the economic downturn caused by August’s Maui wildfires. Donations came from more than 950 donors in nearly all 50 states and eight countries. The fund was originally established to provide emergency relief to workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to its statement, the coalition is “unwaveringly committed to ensuring that every dollar of donations received goes directly to those affected by the fires – without any administrative costs…” . A one-time payment of $1,000 to each individual to provide them with tangible assistance on their journey to rebuild during this period of uncertainty and difficulty. “
“Without the international community – our Hawaii Food & Wine Festival chefs, partners and the entire hospitality industry,” said Denise Yamaguchi, CEO of the Hawaii Agriculture and Culinary Alliance. “This broad solidarity highlights the strength of our culinary family. Strength and unity.”
Hospitality industry leaders such as the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and Private Label Collection’s Jonathan McManus also played an important role in the program’s success, the announcement said. Recently, Relais & Châteaux partnered with Hotel Wailea and The French Laundry’s acclaimed three-Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller to host a fundraising event that brought the Kōkua Restaurant and Hotel Fund’s total to Over $1,220,000.
“The Wailea Hotel culinary team is excited to partner with Napa’s iconic three-Michelin-starred restaurant The French Laundry for the first time for a series of events that will benefit our Maui ‘ohana,” Wailea Hotels and Private Label Collection said founder McManus. “We are honored to work with Chef Thomas Keller to help the Kōkua Restaurant and Hotel Fund achieve its fundraising goal to aid West Maui.”
Donations will continue through April 30 as the Kōkua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund’s Maui relief efforts come to an end next month. The additional funding will help workers on the waiting list.
For more information about the Maui Kōkua Restaurant and Restaurant Fund or to donate, please visit www.HFWF.me/kokua. The Hawaii Ag & Culinary Alliance, doing business as the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, is a non-profit organization (EIN 46-0618609). Donations are tax deductible.
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