Earlier this month, raging wildfires enveloped the Hawaiian island of Maui, killing hundreds and destroying precious, ancient land. Since then, several governments, global nonprofit organizations, and first responders around the world have launched efforts to aid the community, and in an example of true camaraderie, small Hawaiian brands have also stepped in with passionate force.
Per a designer I spoke to, the new unofficial motto of women in Maui is: “All I need is a pareu, a bikini, and a trucker hat.” In other words, island girls stay cool and carry on.
“While we are all heartbroken and collectively grieving our beautiful island, our resilience as a community will always remain intact. We’ll be hand in hand as we start to rebuild what’s been lost by this devastating tragedy,” Gossip Girl actor Evan Mock, who founded Honolulu-based skater-beachwear brand Wahine, tells Bazaar. “It’s been incredible seeing the islands—and nation—come together, but I’m not surprised; this is Hawaii in all its essence and true form.” (Mock donated part of his brand's proceeds to the relief efforts earlier this month, until his products sold out.)
Below, we list some of the Hawaii companies that have been raising funds for Maui, as well as sharing comments from local designers as the island works to recover.
HIE
The heritage jewelry brand founded by Noel Shaw and Meleana Estes made a significant donation via its HIE Heirlooms of Hawaiʻi Charitable Fund to the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund.
HIE also partnered with Goop for a sale event on August 25 and 26 to raise money for the fund; 20 percent of all store sales were donated.
Sig Zane
The iconic Hawaii designer created various items and activations whose sales are going toward helping relief efforts in Maui.
Earlier this month, the brand had a one-day sale of aloha shirts, of which 100 percent of the proceeds in-store and online went to support recovery efforts. (Proceeds from the sale of items featuring Mālama Maui branding and Maluʻulu Art are still going to Maui.) The brand also launched a beach towel in collaboration with Slowtide, of which 100 percent of the net proceeds will be donated to Chef Hui’s Feed the People Maui Fund.
Additionally, Sig Zane pulled together some local painters, photographers, and illustrators to create works for a benefit print sale at Kaiaospace.com, Zane’s art gallery in Honolulu’s Chinatown.
Acacia
The Maui-based bikini designer donated 50 percent of all online proceeds to the Maui Strong Fund for most of the month of August. The company is also continuing to support the efforts of Community Relief Maui and Changing Tides Foundation by providing clothing and products to those displaced, and is collecting donations at its flagship store in Paia to distribute them to shelters in need.
Vintage For Peoples
The brand, which upcycles and curates vintage clothing, is selling their third drop at Acacia Flagship in Paia. VFP will be donating 30 percent of every sale back to Maui fire relief. “It’s not much in the grand scheme of what’s happening, but we’re doing our best, and we thank our clients for seeing our heart in this,” they wrote on Instagram.
ALOHA Collection
People shopping the Waikiki-based brand online can add a Mālama Maui donation amount to their cart to directly support those affected by the Maui wildfires. ALOHA Collection is also matching all donations made via their site up to $50,000 in the hopes of being able to donate at least $100,000 to the relief efforts.
In addition, the team has sent thousands of bags to local organizations in Maui to use as care kits for families and individuals in need.
Michelle Wie West x Wove
Hawaii-born pro golfer Michelle Wie West has partnered with online custom jeweler Wove to design a 14k yellow gold and diamond bracelet, of which 100 percent of profits go to the Maui Strong Fund.
“The Ho‘omau Bracelet (which is Hawaiian for resilience) features a plumeria flower with a .03-carat lab-grown diamond centerpiece and is a symbol of the unity, resilience, and spirit that defines the beautiful island of Maui, bringing further awareness to the recovery cause,” the brand said in a statement to Bazaar.
Other non-local brands donating:
The brand’s Hawaii locations are collecting clothes, products, and donations to give to people in need.
The glassware company held its first-ever online sale to raise money for Maui (everything sold out in four hours). For every sale, $100 went to wildfire relief for the island. “We sold approximately 1,700 sets, and we wired $85,100 to Maui Human Society and $85,100 to Maui Food Bank that very same night of the sale for total giving of $170,200,” the brand told Bazaar.com.
Rosa Sanchez is the senior news editor at Harper's Bazaar, working on news as it relates to entertainment, fashion, and culture. Previously, she was a news editor at ABC News and, prior to that, a managing editor of celebrity news at American Media. She has also written features for Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, Forbes, and The Hollywood Reporter, among other outlets.
