My mom, Lily Nguyen, owns two small businesses in Lahaina, Hawaii: Noodle Bar and Lahaina Nail & Spa. Both stores were completely burned down. Lily has lost everything, including her house and car, due to the recent wildfire that occurred on August 8, 2023.

Everything happened so fast and suddenly that my mom left her restaurant with only her purse. She says, “In the blink of an eye, my world was destroyed in just hours that took decades to build. Everyone was forced to evacuate last night and jump into the ocean to avoid the fire and smoke. I am grateful to be alive, but now we have to start over from scratch.”

This profound loss has affected not only Lily but the entire town. Lily has always been a part of and served the community in Lahaina. Anything you can give to help her and the community get back on their feet would be appreciated. Zelle or Venmo is preferred.

Update 08/20/24: Thank you so much to everyone who donated and supported during this difficult time. My mom used the full 15k raised through here, Zelle, and Venmo to provide meals for those affected by the fire, sharing her love of Vietnamese food with the community. Together, we helped more than 1,000 residents. Please find Pho Noodle Bar on Facebook to see how she continues to serve the people of Maui. Mahalo <3

Update 09/22/26: It has been three years since the fire. We are incredibly grateful to share that my mom reopened two restaurants and a food truck this year, located in Lahaina and Kihei. We are so excited to be back. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the love you have shown throughout the years. Your kindness gave us the strength to get back on our feet, rebuild, and move forward. We've noticed people are still sending donations, and although we truly appreciate your continued generosity, please note that we are no longer accepting donations. We hope to serve you at one of our restaurants or food truck!