Help Melissa & Dave: Lahaina Fires

On August 9th, our dear friends Melissa, Dave, their roommates Nic and Thorpe, and their dogs Pua, Chilly and kitty Tako became victims of the devastating fires on Maui, Hawaii. They live in the heart of Lahaina where Dave, Nic, and Thorpe worked at Waikiki Brewing on Front Street. Dave was the executive head chef there, putting his heart and soul into creating the menu from the ground up, and embracing the island foods while adding his own Colorado flare. It was a labor of love that was caught in this horrific event on Wednesday. Melissa has lived on the islands for over ten years and currently works with the Maui, Molokai, and Lanai schools in special education with an emphasis in working with deaf and hard of hearing children often traveling between all three islands. If you know these two, you are aware of how they embody aloha. Friends for almost 20 years, I’ve worked with Melissa, lived with her, and she has become an auntie to my children and pets. They are the kindest and most deserving individuals we know and she would give the shirt off her back for a friend or stranger. Now that they need our help, it’s time to give all that we can to help them get back on their feet and get back to work. Our hearts are broken but we know that this community can come together and rebuild. All funds raised will be given directly to Melissa, Dave, Nic and Thorpe to rebuild their lives and get their animals to safety. Mahalo.