Dozens of Austin restaurants participating in Saturday fundraiser for Maui fire relief
Austin food blogger Amanda Wong, who operates the website austinfoodadventures.com and the very popular Instagram account of the same name, had intended to visit Maui for the first time in September.
When the historic wildfires devastated the island and lead to the highest death toll of any U.S. wildfires in more than 100 years, Wong felt helpless as she watched the news and YouTube videos of what the fire had wrought. And then inspiration struck.
After canceling her trip, she started reaching out to the local restaurants she documents and celebrates on her sites, and rallied them to create Dine with Maui. The group of more than three dozen restaurants, serving everything from Hawaiian food to burgers, will donate from 5% to 10% of their proceeds on Saturday to the Maui Food Bank. The event follows the model Wong created with Dine with Ukraine in 2022, which raised $50,000 for war relief efforts.
"I am very proud of my ATX foodie community and I'm happy to see this all come together," Wong told the American-Statesman.
Wong said she also felt compelled to organize the event to help local restaurants who have suffered rising operational costs and slower traffic during Austin’s historic heatwave.
One of Wong’s favorite food trucks, the Hawaiian-inspired Shoyu Sugar, is owned by Hawaii natives Rudy and Malama Valentino. They are holding a raffle to raise money, with customers able to buy tickets for prizes like AirPods and a Yeti cooler.
The Valentinos, who opened their food truck in March 2022 after moving here in 2019, are originally from the Big Island, but they have family and friends on Maui, including cousins who lost their home in the fires. Rudy Valentino said that the residents of the islands, which sit vulnerable in the Pacific and are often beset by natural disaster, come together as one during times of crisis, exhibiting the state's famous Aloha Spirit.
“We don’t ask for permission, guidance or resources, we just get things done. So even being all the way out in Texas, there was no way we would sit back and do nothing. Seeing all the love and support pouring out of Austin just makes us cry. Austin has become our home away from home and I can say without a doubt that the Spirit of Aloha is alive in the ATX," Valentino said. "Amanda using her influence to bless people is remarkable. In a time when so many people are using their influence for selfish reasons, it’s so refreshing and incredible to see someone do the exact opposite."
More: 'Help is pouring in': How to assist victims in the Maui wildfires in Hawaii
Poke Poke owners Jason McVearry and Trish Fortuna, who have three poke shops in Austin, lived in Oahu for several years. Inspired by the islands, they opened their first shop in Venice Beach before moving back to their home state. They had planned to run their own special, but after reading about the fundraiser event on social media, chose to participate in Saturday’s event. The couple says they were heartened to hear of the Austin restaurant community coming together to help the Aloha State.
“Hawaiian culture, the Hawaiian people and the residents of Hawaii hold such a beautiful, unique place in our hearts and in the world, it makes this devastating incident somewhat irreparable,” McVearry told the American-Statesman. “We’re glad this help will go directly to the people and communities that need it most so they can heal.”
Wong has been joined in the activation with her friend, Elena Nguyen, who designed the logo and graphics. The prominent foodie is working with FKA Merch to get T-shirts printed to distribute to businesses before the event. And she hopes they will be able to sell shirts and donate the profits of the shirts to the Maui Food Bank.
Dine with Maui participants
Shoyu Sugar (North Austin, Hawaiian Food, food truck)
Merry Monarch Creamery (North Austin, ice cream, food Truck)
Kome (North Austin, sushi and Japanese comfort eats, restaurant)
JewBoy Burgers (North Austin, burgers, restaurant)
Seoulju (North Austin, Korean street eats, restaurant)
Ramen 512 (Cedar Park, ramen, restaurant)
That Burger (North Austin, burgers, food truck)
Tacos La Catrina (North Austin and South Austin, tacos (food truck)
Paprika (North Austin, tacos, food truck)
Kiindi (South Austin, Thai food, food truck)
Mum Foods (North Austin, BBQ, restaurant)
Yeni's Asian Fusion (North Austin, Asian food, food truck)
Song La (South Austin, Taiwanese food, food truck)
Eldorado Café (North Austin, Tex Mex, restaurant)
Thai Kun (North Austin, Thai food, restaurant)
Teaspoon (North Austin, boba tea, restaurant)
1618 Asian Fusion (Central/South Austin, Asian fusion, restaurant)
David Doughies (Lakeline, bagels, farmers market)
Fil n Viet (East Austin, fusion Food, food Truck)
Pedroso's Pizza (North Austin, pizza, food truck and ghost kitchen)
Fukumoto (Central/East Austin, izakaya, restaurant)
SXSECO (South Austin, Lao food, food truck)
Tan My (North Austin, pho, restaurant)
Choo Sando (North Austin, sushi and sando, restaurant)
Konfusedesi (North Austin, Indian food, food truck)
T- locs Sonora (North Austin, Sonoran-style food and hot dogs, food truck)
Whipped Bakery (Leander, Asian bakery, restaurant)
Proud Mary Coffee (South Austin, brunch, restaurant)
Poke Poke (Multiple locations, poke, restaurant)
Cuantos Tacos (East Austin, tacos, food truck)
Din Ho Chinese BBQ (North Austin, Chinese food, restaurant)
Interstellar BBQ ( North Austin, BBQ, restaurant)
Un Mundo De Sabor (South Austin, tacos, food truck)
Sip Pho (Central Austin, Pho, restaurant)
Ramen Del Barrio (North Austin, ramen, restaurant)
Saten (East Austin, Japanese, restaurant)
Uroko (East Austin, hand rolls, restaurant)
KGBBQ (East Austin, BBQ, food truck)
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin restaurants organize a Dine with Maui fire relief fundraiser
