 Association, and Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for LNL, Hawaiian Barbecue. Mahalo for joining me today on Restaurants of Hawaii on the ThinkTech platform. I'll be your host today as Sheryl is traveling. The Hawaii Restaurant Association and its extensive community have been actively involved in the recovery effort in Maui due to the devastating wildfire in August 2023. The HRA has been partnering with various organizations on the ground in Maui as well as other parts of the state and afar to support the rebuilding process of the affected Lahaina residents and business. Today, we're honored to have two guests on the show who are both Maui residents and active community members. They have been spending their days and nights providing extensive help to support the relief and rebuild the beloved town that was taken from the fire. Pam and Tamara come to the show today and for the first-hand experience of the devastation in Maui, sharing what they have been able to do so far for the community in terms of relief and what they think the Maui community needs the most moving forward. First we have Pam, and could you please introduce yourself? Yes, my pleasure. My name is Pamela Tumpa, and I am the president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce. And we also have Tamara, please introduce yourself. Aloha, my name is Tamara Garrick. I'm the chief marketing officer for Maui Gold Pineapple. I also do serve on the board of directors for the Hawaii Restaurant Association and also the Maui Chamber of Commerce. Great. So we have a first question for you, Pam. Please share with our members and viewers how has the Maui Chamber been able to support the local community since the wildfire devastation? You know, this has been a devastation unlike any we've seen before. The first thing we did was go back to what we started with in COVID, start bringing all the resource information together to be a hub. We then started checking on people to see, you know, where our members were, and it was a challenge. We started connecting with Tamara because they didn't have cell phone service and I know my first call sheet was hiked up a mountain to get some cell phone service and we were so grateful to find her. So we started looking to find out where our members were at. We then immediately proceeded with trying to do what was requested of us, which is drive everybody to FEMA first and then drive them to the SBA to start getting registered for help and then working out and sorting with them how these different programs and educating the business community on how those programs could benefit them. What we learned in this environment was that people, you know, those businesses who survived in Lahaina, most of them already had SBA loans because, again, we're so dependent on the visitor industry and we learned very quickly another loan is not the kind of help that they need to survive. So a lot of messaging with government, working with the mayor, the governor, congressional leaders and directly with the SBA and others. We've been also working on housing opportunities because we see and we saw during COVID an exodus of our families and our workers when they just were on unemployment for long periods of time or they didn't know how they were going to survive. So of course, that's a critical issue right now. We are trying to fundraise for businesses impacted by the fires directly and we are doing that at MauiChamber.com and all money without any admin fee being taken out will go to help affected businesses and we're working on solutions with government leaders and those on the ground and helping with donations and other kinds of assistance and trying to figure out ways to get it to them just in time. We've had a little bit of a challenge with some of our supply issues and understanding what's where at different points in time. So looking at helping with holistic systems so we can better get things at the right place and Tamber can tell you more about that because she's been on the front lines dealing with all the donations and sorting and distributing and so she has a lot more knowledge in that area. Yeah. Thank you so much for sharing that. Yeah. And who knows, like, you know, we never experienced this before. So we didn't know like the power is going to go out and the cell phone service is going out. Like, you know, it's very important for somebody who can have the knowledge and have the resources to gather together and help the people who it needs. That's really amazing. And thank you so much. And Tamber, you know, you've been on the front line since day one of the wildfire devastation, you know, experienced the first hand changing needs of everyone affected, including yourself and your businesses, right? Now, are you seeing positive impact in the community with the growing number of support donations of the islands to receiving? Thanks for the question, Andy. And I think first of all, I just want to make sure that we acknowledge that there are a lot of residents and businesses also impacted in the Kula area, not just in Lahaina. So this really, you know, and then the economic impacts are island wide and perhaps even statewide, some could say. And I think, you know, what I saw was really similar to what we saw in 2018 after Hurricane Lane, the immediate response is community for community. So it was local business owners, neighbors, residents immediately stepping into action, and that's exactly what it was a part of in 2018. In 2018, I was the chief marketing officer for a restaurant group statewide. And so obviously, my focus then was really, really focused on feeding people. We had very similar to this disaster, restaurants donating and, you know, making sure that people got meals every single day and getting that organized. This disaster was obviously a much larger scale. We did see that immediate response happening to make sure that people got fed. But without that infrastructure of the internet and cell service, I didn't and, you know, we didn't have power for a week. I didn't have internet at my house for two and a half weeks. Cell service extremely spotty. You know, we were all up at the Kapalua Airport standing on one leg to try to get information out to folks. And so I just want to acknowledge the incredible efforts that I saw day in and day out and literally the morning after the fire and the fish market that's right here in Honokwai, the manager is my neighbor and she said, Tambra, there's no power. Everything's closed. People are hungry. And we had a lot of folks that had evacuated from Lahaina in their car or literally on foot and hanging in it in hanging at the Honokwai Beach Park, just really not knowing what to do. But we knew that getting them something warm to eat would be that sort of initial first step. And so we she went, she opened the freezer, she was able to speak to the owner and we just started bargeing hamburgers and walking around and handing them out. And so that was like literally, literally within hours. And now we are seeing additional support come in. But the support that is going to be needed, I don't even think we know how much support that we need. And it is going to be, I mean, to me, astronomical, the amount of help and support that we're going to be able to need to support families and businesses that were impacted by this. And this is going to be a long recovery. And so we hope that people remember to continue to support, to continue to advocate for people that lost their homes, people that lost their businesses in light of the fact that we were barely getting out of covid on this island. Yeah, thank you so much. Yeah, so since you're talking about, you know, all the support and the supplies that, you know, people are donating, what do you think is the number one needed items for the general community? Money. Yeah, money, money, money, money, money, money. We need money. Oh man. Yeah. That's it. That's I mean, honestly, please do not mail us any more clothes. World, we have nowhere to put them. We live on an island. We need very little clothing here. So. Oh, yeah, food and clothing. It's well, that was the immediate need, of course. And I never wanted to discourage folks from giving from their heart and and wanting to help a thousand percent. But we have met those immediate needs. People have a fresh pair of slippers on their feet. For the most part, they have clothing. We are continuing to see restaurants, organizations and get people prepared meals if they don't have a kitchen and or fresh fresh produce is still being brought in from Oahu, Kauai to help supplement. My company is is partnering with Common Ground Collective and the Maui Food Bank to put together fresh produce boxes that we're delivering every single week. So, you know, we have that. But now, really, to get to that next level is as Pam touched on housing. Well, we can't get housing if we don't have money and people have lost everything, their job, their house, their car. And we've got them some clothes and some food. And now we really need to figure out a plan for housing so they can get back to work and they're going to need money to do that. Thank you so much for sharing that, you know. So, you know, Pam, like, you know, which organization do you think are providing the most efficient, recarving effort to Maui and how can we support them? Well, the good news is that Maui has a plethora of outstanding social service organizations. And I used to run Maui United Way. And of course, Maui United Way is one of them. Many people hear about Hawaii Strong from Hawaii Community Foundation, the Maui Food Bank, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross. All of those organizations have been receiving a lot of money, which is awesome, and it's all going to be needed. And we don't, you know, we, like Timber said, and we're so thankful for the outpouring of donations. But at this point, as we move forward, what we really need to have is sort of just in time, things donated. And the best way to do that actually is through cash, where the community can say, this is what we need and plan for it and have the money to be able to get it in just in time so they're not having to store things in areas where they don't have any more room or store things that are not needed or not going to be needed for six months or maybe a year at this point. So it's all a moving target. This is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. And we're really working with people to understand that and also understand that with our messaging, you know, the International Monetary Fund and the World Health Organization back in COVID said when you have a health and humanitarian crisis and an economic crisis, you have to deal with them both in tandem. You have to get people back to work, keep the economy going, keep the system moving while also addressing the health and humanitarian side. It needs to be done in conjunction. And and so we really, the thing that we need to do is help do that. And so that's why the Chamber, for those who understand the economic engine and want to contribute directly to those who businesses that were most impacted. Some of our businesses are looking at ground zero again, like the day they first opened their business. But some of them can pivot and some of the funding that we've told is coming out has been slow and they needed it yesterday because in the meantime, they're having to furlough their employees. And of course, it's been a bit of a landslide across the island businesses are being impacted. But we're starting with those at ground zero and looking at how we can help them. So donating donating to all of those other humanitarian efforts is awesome. But that will get money to people and families. We're seeing a lot of money go there. And that that will still need to be going forward. But we encourage people to look at where they're giving and look at like Maui Strong, Hawaii Community Foundation, has a donation tracker. Look at how they're getting that money out and where it's going. And that will help give you a sense of the pulse, but giving the cash gives our community that opportunity to stagger things when we need it. Our businesses have been extraordinarily generous. Our neighbor islands have been extraordinarily generous, wanting to support us, even when the big island also had a fire at the same time. They, too, were very generous in giving to the Chamber and in our efforts right now, knowing that the social service side is covered, very well covered. We're focusing on getting businesses back to business and getting their employees back to work. And then the housing issue, of course, which is desperately needed. Yeah, we can only imagine that these people like how, you know, they have to be covered from the fire, the house got burned down, the business got burned down. I'm sure that, you know, they've impacted their mental health, too. Right. So Tambra, like, you know, the residents of Maui, as we can only imagine, have been traumatized. How are there reliable resources available for the community and that you can suggest to help manage victims emotional and mental health? Yeah, absolutely. You know, September was Suicide Prevention Month, and I think that this is something that we need to be looking at and talking about moving forward. And I had mentioned in 2018, a lot of my volunteer work was around feeding people and interesting during this disaster. A lot of my initial volunteer work was partnered with some doctors and health professionals at each of these community hubs that popped up. And so I was transporting patients from where they might be staying at a hotel to get medical treatment. In fact, I just got a call this morning to transport a woman to a medical appointment tomorrow at a resort in Canapally. So this is still happening. It's still ongoing. One of the coolest partnerships that our company did, Maui Gold Pineapple, we got a call from the Department of Health from Mr. John Oliver, and he was he is very aware that mental health is something we need to be looking into. And he was seeing that immediately. So he had the idea to get carts that he was able to get donated from Hawaiian Airlines and they're calling them Kokua carts. And him and his team from the Department of Health are literally going up and down the hallways at resorts where families are still living and and going door to door. And they have information about health services, mental health services. And we are providing them with fresh cut Maui Gold Pineapple, which is sort of this like bridge to open up the conversation. And interestingly enough, he's been reporting back. We've still been doing it every week. He calls to place a new order that it's been pretty successful to get that conversation started. And what we need to remember is that people aren't necessarily going to be always reaching out. We need to be reaching out to them. And I am so confident in our Department of Health, mental health, Kokua, the services that Pam mentioned that we do have available on Island. But we all need to be talking about it and helping to make those connections, asking people, having the information that you can immediately text to someone or email to someone and really just, you know, being there with a hug and an ear to listen and making sure that people have the information that they need that support that it's there and it's available. I totally agree with you that, you know, a lot of times it's hard for them to reach out to for help, right? And it's always good that you have friends around you and if you recognize somebody who needs help, you can always help them out, reach out to them. That's going to be way more effective than waiting for them to reach out. You know, thank you for sharing that, Tamrod. So, you know, Pam, we know our number one industry is tourism, right? You know, since that has slowed down the past months and expected to continue over the holiday season, how can the community support Maui business until tourism picks up again? Well, I think the greatest thing that you can do is recognize that a lot of the island has been open and now we're seeing the far west part of West Maui also reopening. But come to Maui, come and there's there's ways that you can get involved. You can come and stay with us and enjoy the beautiful island. We're finding that the people who are coming back, the visitors are we're already seeing a little bit of an uptick. It's not the rebound that everybody saw back during covid, which scared some of the community because some of our members thought they were going to be displaced. So the families were concerned, but that's not going to happen. And come and visit with us. The other thing that you can do is you can shop online and look for locally made products, which is a huge help. We are also doing this year was our 10th annual Made in Maui County Festival on November 3rd and 4th. We were already planning a bigger outreach to find wholesale buyers and distributors and retailers across the US mainland and in Japan. And now that's taken on even more importance because so many of our small manufacturers, if they some of them lost everything in the fire and called and said, please do this event. Others lost everything, but are able to still participate in the event and said, we're rebuilding and many people sold in the town. And it was a huge retail area. So we're helping those companies and we're definitely going to do the festival so you can participate near and far. Tune in and watch what we're doing for the Made in my County Festival. Go and shop online with those vendors. But the other big thing is recognizing that every little bit helps. And we are going to we're working on an idea of how we can how you can adopt a business and how you can help support people who are trying to get back on their feet as well. And our economy is going to take a long time to recover. And we're going to be recovering in new and different ways. But that magic of Maui is still here. The spirit of Aloha that brings everybody back and has them cherish the island is here. It's in full force while we take care of Lahaina as they're recovering. But so many beautiful places to see. I think people are going to be shocked because sometimes people have their favorite place to stay. But as they come and explore new areas, they're going to see so many other amazing treasures. And that's the way that you can really be a part of the experience and help us out. And I do want to point out again, Thanksgiving is coming up, Christmas is coming up, maybe gift cards for those people that have been displaced, help them get some food and things that they can shop and enjoy a wonderful holiday season with their families when they've lost everything. There's so many things that they need. And maybe some different gift cards for restaurants, for retail, just open visa cards would be a huge help this holiday season for many of those families. Wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing that. And you know, like, and Tambra, I know she's also a business owner, right? As a business owner, you know, what do you think are the most needed item right now? You know, anything to add on to what Pam just mentioned? Sure. And just to be clear, I don't own Maui Gold. The owner of Maui Gold is Mr. Todd Domek, who I work for. So, but I'm happy to support lots of Maui small businesses through my service on boards and then also through the company that I work for in the ag space, ag tourism and retail. And so I think for businesses, Pam alluded to it earlier. We had convened a meeting of small business owners. I don't remember when it was after the fire, but you know, maybe a couple of weeks or so after the fire. And everyone said, you know, like to Pam's point, they already had SBA loans. They had idle loans. They weren't prepared to take on any additional loans. And so businesses need grant money. There was a grant discussed and I know that they, you know, there are some Maui agencies that are trying to work through what that application process is going to be. But in the meantime, that money that could have been used to maybe put on it as a down payment or a deposit for a new location might come too late for some businesses. There was a recent article online talking about cheeseburger paradise, which was located on French street. They are potentially looking to pivot to move to Wailea. But, and then there was also, you know, talk of an art gallery that they're just, they don't know how they're going to make it. So businesses need grant money and that needs to come, you know, from county, state and federal level. And it needs to be a large dollar amount for it to make an impact. Now, thank you for sharing. We're, you know, there's a lot more to discuss. I know that the recovery efforts continue. We have to continue the recovery effort. It's a long-term process. It's like Pam said, it's a marathon. It's not a sprint. You know, as we come close to the end of the show, anything else you want to add for a minute or anything? I think just thank you. Thank you to the restaurant association. Thank you to every farm, every restaurant, every individual that is supporting Maui, you know, in any way, shape or form. We need your support and we're so grateful for your support. Great, thank you. And I know number one needed item, it's money. So it's donation, everybody, yes. Sorry to say, but it's the truth. Yeah. It really is. And I think that that's the thing that people want most is they want to make sure that what they give is effective and that'll help because that's the one thing that allows us to spread it over to changing needs and the needs are still changing daily. And so that helps the most. Yes. Thank you Pam and Tamara for coming onto the show. This is the end. The Hawaii Restaurant Association is the organization under unifying, representing and supporting the Hawaii restaurant and food service industry. Thank you very much for our guests today and thank you for watching and see you again on the next show. Thank you. Thank you.