Stand with Aker and Royr: Fight Against Cancer

Hi friends, my name is Maria Burke, and this fundraiser is to benefit our dear friends Alejandro “Aker” Briceño and his wife, Royr.

Aker is originally from Venezuela and arrived in Hawai‘i in 2007 to work for Nobu. He also spent time in California and Las Vegas working with his Nobu family before arriving in the islands. Since then, he’s become family to so many of us — building community through friendship, small businesses, and sharing his love for food, sarcasm, and (mostly) pizza.

In February 2024, Aker was diagnosed with high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. After months of chemo, radiation, and surgery, he was blessed with a year cancer-free. Sadly, in August 2025, the cancer returned as pulmonary metastatic disease. He starts chemo again next week while waiting to join a clinical trial.

Aker’s last days of work at ’ili ’ili Cash & Carry are approaching — as is his birthday. He and Royr are still trying to catch up financially from last year’s round of treatment, and with new medical expenses ahead, they need help now more than ever.

Our goal is to raise $100,000 to help with living costs, uncovered medical bills, and possible travel for clinical trials. Any amount helps — and if you can’t give, sharing this page and keeping them in your thoughts means just as much.

Mahalo for standing with Aker and Royr. I know how deeply they are loved by this community.

With gratitude,

Maria