Multiple wildfires on the islands of Hawaiʻi burned thousands of acres of land. Stoked by strong winds, the wildfires moved incredibly fast. Flames engulfed the historic town of Lahaina and destroyed more than 2,000 homes and businesses in this centuries-old community. With little time to evacuate and only one road open, the evacuations from West Maui were frantic, and nearly 100 people lost their lives.
During the fire, there was an almost total communication blackout in the area—electricity, cell service, and landline phones were all down, which hampered evacuation and rescue efforts. These conditions continued in the days after the fire, making it difficult for families to reunite and for communities to reach out for aid.
WCK’s response in Hawaiʻi continued to evolve for over a month. Working with chefs, residents, and local community leaders, we kept adjusting our efforts to meet changing needs. From centralized distribution centers to door-to-door delivery, cooking hot meals in our Field Kitchen and partnering with local farmers to provide produce boxes, WCK was committed to supporting however possible.
By the numbers:
* 145,000 Meals Served
* 119,034 Pounds of Produce and dry goods provided in food boxes