The devastating wildfires in Maui have spurred a West Hollywood bar and restaurant with close ties to the island into action. The establishment plans to hold a fundraiser to help employees from its sister location in Lahaina who were hit hardest by the disaster, losing everything, including their jobs.
Matt Robb, co-owner of the Dirty Monkey in Lahaina and the Naughty Pig in West Hollywood, who resides on Maui, shared that although his home survived the fires, many of his employees were not so lucky.
The death toll from the wildfires stood at 93 as of Sunday afternoon, with an estimated 4,500 people in need of shelter. In West Maui, nearly 2,200 structures were destroyed, including the entire town of Lahaina.
Robb described the situation as a war zone and shared that over half of his 27 team members at the Dirty Monkey lost everything in the fire, some escaping with only the clothes on their back.
In response to this colossal devastation, the Naughty Pig in West Hollywood is accepting donations of everyday supplies to ship to Maui and has set up a GoFundMe campaign for the staff of the Dirty Monkey. The bar and restaurant also plan to host a fundraiser on August 17 starting at 5 p.m.
This initiative is a testament to the spirit of unity and support in times of adversity. It highlights how communities, even those separate by vast distances, can come together to provide aid and support in the face of disaster.