Maui Pho hit record-breaking profits Wednesday with their Hawaii donation efforts rounding up thousands of dollars. 23ABC’s Ruby Rivera spoke with owners again about what comes next.
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00:00 Here at home, the owners of Maui Far still recovering from yesterday's donation event.
00:06 They raised more than $28,000 to help the victims of the Maui wildfires.
00:11 The next step, figuring out how and to whom to distribute that money.
00:15 Here's 23 ABC's Ruby Rivera.
00:17 Maui Humane Society and Maui United Way are two of the non-profits that most of the donations
00:22 will go towards.
00:24 But after hearing stories from the community, General Manager Sharina Tavendale said she
00:28 decided to expand her reach to ensure those who need help are directly impacted.
00:33 I think truly Bakersfield wants to see the money go directly to the families as well
00:37 and that's when we realized that we need to do more than just donate to two non-profit
00:41 charities.
00:42 So we're reaching out and we're going to vet to make sure that this money goes in the right
00:47 hands.
00:48 Throughout Wednesday's efforts, Tavendale says she heard from many people whose family
00:51 currently live in Maui.
00:53 Like Alyssa Butike, who's lived in Bakersfield for a little more than a year, but was born
00:57 and raised in Maui.
00:58 Butike says she became extremely emotional when she saw pictures of the fire and while
01:02 she's confirmed her family's safety, her heart goes out to families who weren't so lucky.
01:06 They're all safe now, thank goodness, because I don't know what I would do being so far
01:11 away and having lost people like how other families were lost and you know, so it's just
01:19 really heartbreaking.
01:21 Despite the fundraiser ending Wednesday night, Maui FA still saw a flow of support Thursday
01:25 afternoon.
01:26 While some were still there trying to support the cause, others weren't aware but mentioned
01:30 how they would like to see more of these efforts throughout the community.
01:33 That's a pretty good cause.
01:34 I mean, it's really sad what happened out there.
01:37 So I mean, whatever we can do to help.
01:40 I know I always call it a little big town.
01:43 You know, I think we're a very tight-knit community and to be able to help out our fellow
01:46 brothers and sisters wherever they be in the world is important and as a community, I think
01:50 that's where we show our strength.
01:51 I think I mean anything to help.
01:52 I mean, we're just people, you know, we all just pay taxes to go to work.
01:55 So whatever we can do to help each other, I think that's cool.
01:57 Tavondale says at the beginning of Wednesday's event, their biggest concern was running out
02:01 of food.
02:02 Partner for Maui FA, Brandon Crisp says as they realized their fear was becoming a reality,
02:06 workers were left to improvise in order to satisfy customers.
02:09 It was pretty overwhelming at first, but it was actually great seeing everyone in the
02:13 kitchen working together for a cause and they were willing to work hard knowing it was really
02:18 important to the people in Hawaii.
02:20 So like they were, they were busting their butts off.
02:22 Maui FA normally closes at 9 p.m., but Tavondale says the community was so determined to show
02:27 their support, the last orders were taken at around 9-10.
02:31 And she says it's one of her most memorable accomplishments so far.
02:34 By the time we tallied everything up, I think we actually raised about $28,025.85.
02:42 Every single penny will go to those victims that were affected by the fires.
02:48 There are still shirts left for anyone still interested in supporting, and a tip box will
02:52 still be left out for anyone who wants to make a monetary donation.
02:56 On top of these donations, Maui FA is encouraging other restaurants to do the same.
03:01 In Bakersfield, Rubi Rivera, 23 ABC News, connecting you.