Posted on: August 15, 2023, 02:10h. 

Last updated on: August 15, 2023, 02:10h.

Las Vegas restaurants and other organizations continue their efforts to gather donations and supplies for the victims of the recent Maui wildfire tragedy.

At least 99 fatalities have been reported from the Hawaiian tragedy, and the number is expected to increase as more remains are discovered. There are still hundreds of people missing.

The survivors are in need of temporary shelter and relief supplies, as many residences in Lahaina were completely destroyed.

Items such as bottled water, non-perishable food, clothing, diapers, and basic first-aid equipment have been collected in Las Vegas to aid the devastated island.

Contributions from 2 Scoops of Aloha Las Vegas Drive Inn

Visitors and residents of Las Vegas are dropping off emergency supplies at 2 Scoops of Aloha Las Vegas Drive Inn.

According to the Las Vegas Sun, approximately 1,000 individuals have donated items at this location, which is situated near the South Point Casino.

The restaurant is owned by Shai Walter, who previously lived on Oahu, another Hawaiian island, and has witnessed the significant number of Hawaiians residing in Las Vegas.

Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, is home to approximately 40,000 Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.

“It’s a big community,” noted Walter. “We want to help out everyone, and I know everyone is here to help out those in need.”

Last week, Jeff Medina and his children, who grew up on Maui, dropped off items at 2 Scoops.

“I’m just happy my family is safe, but it’s still sad that there was a lot of people that got injured. And when I heard that there was some deaths, that hit me hard,”

Las Vegas businesses such as Honors Brand and Generations Kitchen are also collecting items. Additionally, Ninth Island Kava Lounge on Rainbow Boulevard has received numerous donations.

“I’m born and raised in Lahaina town, I’m from the west side, I’m super far away, so anything I can do to help my community I want to be able to do,”

Another local resident, Nua Agatonu, who grew up on Oahu and is a football coach at Liberty High School, organized a collection of emergency supplies at the school’s parking lot. Approximately 400 families contributed items.

Downtown Fundraising Event

A fundraising event for Maui, named “9th Island Love For Lahaina,” will be held at Las Vegas’s Downtown Container Park on Sunday. The event will feature Hawaiian musicians, artists, and food truck trucks from 3 to 9 p.m.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Maui Fire Relief Fund, Salvation Army, and Maui Food Bank.

“Las Vegas is home to a large Hawaiian population and we take our designation as the ‘9th Island’ seriously,” said Container Park General Manager James Gonzales.

Many of the relief supplies collected in Las Vegas will be transported to Harry Reid International Airport, from where Delta Airlines will fly them to Hawaii.

Delta Airlines has also pledged a $250,000 donation to the American Red Cross for Maui relief efforts.

Sports Betting Contributions

Boyd Gaming, the California Hotel and Casino (The Cal), and Vacations Hawaii are making a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross effort on Maui. Firefighters from Las Vegas and other departments, along with specially-trained search dogs, have also been deployed to assist in the relief efforts.

The wildfire in Maui resulted in the destruction of several buildings, including two hotels in Lahaina.