Musicians on Maui and beyond rally for fire relief | News, Sports, Jobs

July 11, 2024

Maui’s Kalani Pe‘a will be among the artists performing during the “Wiwo‘ole Maui Benefit Concert starting at 12:30 p.m. Saturday to help residents impacted by the recent Maui fires. Photo courtesy Kalani Pe‘a

Musicians are rallying across Hawaii and beyond to help raise funds for Maui fire relief.

From hula performances to jazz and blues to a concert benefitting keiki, here are some of the events putting their proceeds toward helping the Maui community.

FRIDAY, AUG. 18

• Amy Hanaiali’i will sing in Hana at the Concert with a Cause, presented from 3 to 5 p.m. today at Hana Farmers Market, with Shai and Jodi Tolentino also performing.

SATURDAY, AUG. 19

The Lahaina Keiki Relief Fund Concert will be held Saturday in Kihei to raise funds to help children impacted by the recent fires. Tickets are $50 and include all-day music and a Hawaiian plate. Photo courtesy

• Lahaina Keiki Relief Fund Concert, hosted by the Azeka Shopping Center and Nalu’s South Shore Grill, will be held from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday with Maui musicians Anthony Pfluke, Ron Kuala’au, Kawika Ortiz, Rama Camarillo & ‘Ohana, Gilbert & Friends, Tarvin Makia, Jay & Andrew Molina, Leilani’s 5 and Kala’e Camarillo, joining Sista Robi Kahakalau and Brother Noland. Tickets are $50 and include food and all-day music.

• Wiwo’ole Maui Benefit Concert, which will be livestreamed worldwide from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday from the Grand Wailea. Musicians and halau participating include Amy Hanaiali’i, Cody Pueo Pata, Ekolu, Hoaka, Kalani Pe’a, Kanekoa, Kamaka Kukona, Kuikawa, Pi’ilani Arias, Waiolohia, Halau o Ka Hanu Lehua (led by Kukona), Halau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi with Kumu Hula ‘Iliahi and Haunani Paredes and Halau Na Lei Kaumaka o Uka with Kumu Hula Napua Silva. Malika Dudley will emcee.

“May our music be healing to your hearts,” Grammy winner Pe’a posted on Facebook. The concert will be streamed on www.kaainamomona.org and across participating artists’ social media platforms. Wiwo’ole in Hawaiian means “fearless, brave, bold, and courageous.”

• The Duo Diorama concert featuring Winston Choi on piano and Minghuan Xu on violin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Keawala’i Congregational Church will accept donations for the Maui Food Bank.

SUNDAY, AUG. 20

• Maui’s Anuhea and Molokai’s Raiatea Helm will be among the artists performing on Oahu at the “Maui Ola: A Benefit Concert for Maui” at the Bishop Museum beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday and be available at mele.com, local TV stations and a variety of radio stations. Other musicians include the Hawaiian Style Band, Pure Heart, Jerry Santos, Paula Fuga and Kimie Miner.

MONDAY, AUG. 21

• John Cruz and Kala’e Camarillo will join Johnny Helm for a “Fundraiser Concert for Maui” on Oahu at 7 p.m. Monday, with a livestream at YouTube.com/JohnCruzMusic.

SUNDAY, AUG. 27

• Keola and Moana Beamer with slack key guitarist Jeff Peterson will perform at 3 p.m. on Aug. 27 at a benefit fundraiser at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. “The funding will all go to support the West Maui community,” said Keola Beamer. Peterson also helped raise funds with a livestreamed concert on Crowdcast on Wednesday.

• The Maui Jazz & Blues Festival event at the Ocean Vodka Farm from 3 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 27 will benefit those impacted by the fire. The event is free with donations accepted at the gate. Musicians performing include the Maui Jazz & Blues Festival Band, Tempa & Naor, Dr. Nat & Joie Yasha, and the Zenshin Daiko Drummers.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPT. 8-9

• Jake Shimabukuro will present the inaugural Hana Hou Music Festival, which will be livestreamed from the Hawaii Theatre on Sept. 8 and 9, with Kula resident Mick Fleetwood, Raiatea Helm, Jeff Peterson, Girl Named Tom, The Jets, Keiko Matsui, Brother Noland and Mark Yamanaka. “My heart breaks for the lives lost to the fires on Maui,” Shimabukuro said in a news release. “We are grateful for all the courageous souls that are doing all they can to help families in need at this time.” For more information on performance times, visit www.hanahou fest.com.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, SEPT. 9-10

• Maui reggae band Maoli and Anuhea will be part of the “Maui Aid on The Way” concerts outside Airport Tavern in Tacoma, Wash., at 3 p.m. on Sept. 9 and 10.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 16

• Some Maui ukulele players will participate in the livestreamed benefit Music & Meals for Maui at 9 a.m. on Sept. 16. They include Jeff Peterson, Kala’e Camarillo, Andrew and Jay Molina, Neil Chin and Anthony Pfluke.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 23

• The Henry Kapono and Friends concert at the MACC at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 will benefit fire relief efforts and will include many of Hawaii’s leading musicians. Kapono’s We Are Friends Maui foundation is currently offering help to entertainers’ families on Maui. A potion of proceeds from his concert on Aug. 26 at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell will benefit Maui. The Oahu show will feature the return of The Rough Riders with John Cruz and Brother Noland.

Classical guitarist Ben Verdery, who has given concerts and taught an annual Guitar Master Class on Maui for the past 24 years, will curate two benefit video guitar concerts, to be posted soon, to help the rebuilding of the Lahaina Jodo Mission. Performers will include Verdery, Jeff Peterson, Oahu’s Ian O’Sullivan, and Bryce Dessner of the rock band The National.

“As in all disasters, this is a marathon,” Maya Hart of the mission said in an email. “Most people in Lahaina have not only lost their homes and almost everything they own, they’ve also lost their jobs. Rebuilding our temple and town will take years and much funds, so any amount is appreciated.”

Entertainers across the industry have already brought in thousands of donations to help with fire relief.

Maui musicians Tempa & Naor helped raise $4,000 playing at Mulligans on the Blue on Saturday. Uncle George Kahumoku’s “Slack Key Show Ohana — Fire Relief Fund” has so far raised more than $150,000.

Pearl Jam’s lead singer Eddie Vedder has a home on Molokai and he’s raising funds with the band for Maui with the chance to win a signed copy of Pearl Jam’s 1988 Hawaii concerts poster.

And, rock band Metallica has donated $200,000 to the Maui Strong Fund. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich owns a home on Maui. “We are heartbroken by the destructive wildfires devastating the historic town of Lahaina in Maui,” the band posted.

Rock star Mick Fleetwood told “CBS Mornings” that a benefit concert would be part of preserving and rebuilding Maui. “I think music is a largely powerful medium,” he said. Fleetwood told UK’s Sky News that he was in L.A. visiting family when the fires broke out. He chartered a plane and flew back, bringing supplies with him. Fleetwood’s on Front St., which was destroyed in the fire, would have celebrated its 11th anniversary this week.

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