Grants Are Already Being Distributed to 800 Hospitality Workers in Maui
More than 20 restaurants located throughout Orange County raised more than $40,000 in October during the ‘Ohana Mai Tai fundraiser with funds now being distributed to hundreds of hospitality workers on Maui, most of whom lost friends and family members, their homes, and their livelihoods.
Conceived by three Orange County restauranteurs, Brett Barnes, partner and former General Manager of Duke’s Restaurant in Huntington Beach, and Pete Truxaw and Robert Corrigan of Mama’s Comfort Food + Craft Cocktails and Dos Amigos restaurants, the fundraiser was immediately embraced by likeminded and generous restaurant owners and operators across the county, who donated 100% of all sales of their Mai Tais to the Legacy of Aloha Foundation during October.
The Legacy of Aloha Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded by TS Restaurants. The foundation is raising funds that will go directly to more than 800 team members of T S Restaurants and Maui Brewing Company Restaurants and their families that lost so much in the fires. Over 300 of those individuals lost their homes or were displaced in the fires. In addition to the funds raised during the ‘Ohana Mai Tai fundraiser, the foundation continues to accept tax-deductible donations. Rebuilding efforts of the affected areas are expected to take about five years leaving many of the employees with limited resources.
According to Susie Saxten at Legacy of Aloha Foundation, everyone who lost a home or was displaced from the fire was eligible for an immediate emergency grant of $1000 or $500, depending on their situation with the remaining funds being distributed according to greatest need.
“Our Mama’s Comfort Food restaurants and Dos Amigos Cantina have always been about supporting our local neighborhoods and families — our ‘Ohana,” said Truxaw. “As soon as my business partner Robert and I received the news of the unfathomable tragedy in Lahaina, we reached out to our long-time local friend Brett Barnes, partner at Duke’s Huntington Beach, asking how we can help their Maui restaurant and bar workers that have literally lost everything. We knew that if the tables were turned, our community would be there to find a way to support us. Thankfully, a host of other Orange County restaurants and bars graciously joined in raising critical funds in our ‘Ohana Mai Tai’s for Maui campaign.”
- The participating restaurants in Huntington Beach included:
- Brant Kitchen & Bar, 21058 Pacific Coast Highway
- Dos Amigos Cantina, 21022 Brookhurst Street
- Duke’s, 317 Pacific Coast Highway
- Johnny’s Saloon, 17428 Beach Boulevard
- Longboard Restaurant & Pub, 217 Main Street
- Mama’s Comfort Food + Craft Cocktails, 21022 Beach Boulevard
- Matter of Craft, 21022 Beach Boulevard
- Offshore 9 Rooftop Lounge at the Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, 21100 Pacific Coast Highway
- Ola Mexican Kitchen, 21040 Pacific Coast Highway
- Pacific Hideaway at the Kimpton Shorebreak Resort, 500 Pacific Coast Highway
- Surf City Ale House Kitchen + Bar, 301 Main Street
- Triple Crown Tavern, 714 East Adams
- Treehouse Lounge, Pasea Hotel & Spa
- 2nd Floor, 126 Main Street
- The participating restaurants in Newport Beach included:
- A Restaurant, 3334 West Coast Highway
- Louie’s By The Bay, 2800 West Coast Highway
- Fly ‘n Fish, 2304 West Oceanfront
- The Cannery, 3010 Lafayette Avenue
- Louie’s by the Bay, 2801 West Coast Highway
- The participating restaurants in Seal Beach included:
- Mahé, 1400 Pacific Coast Highway
- The participating restaurants in Costa Mesa & Beyond included:
- Three-13 Bar, 820 West 19th Street
- Mama’s Comfort Food & Cocktails 11122 Los Alamitos Blvd.
- Mama’s Comfort Food & Cocktails, 25606 Crown Valley Pkwy.
For more information about the Legacy of Aloha Foundation, please visit www.legacyofaloha.org.
