NCA and Hawaiian Host offer Maui support after devastating wildfires
Hawaiian Host Group, along with the NCA, is offering support for Maui in the wake of major wildfires. Pic: Hawaiian Host
The National Confectioners Association has offered its thoughts and support for industry colleagues and communities in the Hawaiian island of Maui, which has seen devastating wildfires reportedly claim the lives of 99 people, writes Neill Barston.
John Downs, president and CEO of the NCA said that the organisation had ‘watched in horror’ at the natural disaster, which is reportedly the worst incident of its kind to have occurred within the region in the past century.
He confirmed that he had been in communication with the Hawaiian Host confectionery group, which has manufacturing facilities on Maui, which have not in fact been damaged. Furthermore, he added that thankfully nobody from the business has been injured, though the firm remains deeply concerned by the fires, which raged through the historic district of Lahaina last week.
The NCA’s president confirmed that the organisation would be pledging $10,000 towards communities in Maui in the wake of the hugely damaging wildfires – with the total of those who have died being potentially more with additional areas remaining to be searched.
John Downs said: “We have all watched with horror the destruction and devastation on account of wildfires on the island of Maui. Our colleague and friend Ed Schultz at Hawaiian Host Group reports they are all safe and didn’t have any facilities directly impacted but that its Maui operations will be severely hampered for the next several years while the town and highway are rebuilt to the entire west side of Maui. Our hearts are with the people of Maui and our prayers with the first responders and all those impacted.
“Hawaiian Host Group set up an industry-specific GoFundMe page where 100% of the proceeds will go to the Hawaii Community Foundations’ Maui Strong Fund. The foundation prioritises nonprofit organisations that are supporting evolving needs, including shelter, food, financial assistance, and other services as identified by HCF’s partners doing critical work on Maui.”
The NCA presently has several businesses linked to the organisation with operations across Hawaii, which serves a strong tourism industry in particular.
This includes MacFarms LLC, Mauna Loa, The Hershey Company and Hawaiian Host, which itself has donated $10,000 towards the specific recovery fund for the island.
Describing the situation on Maui to the National Confectioners Association, Ed Schultz, president and CEO of the Hawaiian Host Group, noted: “ The scale of destruction and the impact on the local communities and environment are horrific. The town of Lahaina is completely destroyed, 13,000 people are homeless and lost everything, while the loss of life will likely continue to rise over the coming days and weeks.
“It is clear that all businesses with operations in Maui will be severely hampered for the next several years while the entire town, as well as the highway to the west side of the island are rebuilt.
Our island home and economy can use all the outside resources that it can get to help start the process of finding shelter for residents, clearing debris and eventually trying to get the west side of Maui heading toward recovery.” For anyone wishing to contribute towards supporting the fund, they can do so at the following link – https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-maui-rise-wildfire-recovery-fundraiser