MAUI — Hawaii’s convention center and trade show industry rallied during and after the Maui wildfires to support evacuees, provide relief supplies and donate to recovery efforts.
The Hawaii Convention Center was established to provide shelter for people fleeing the wildfires. An assistance center was set up in the convention center, which has since been relocated to the Keehi Lagoon Memorial. The assistance center, which worked in conjunction with the American Red Cross, helped nearly 300 evacuees and provided free food, water, showers, clothing and more.
“No other event facilities have been impacted by the fires in Lahaina and Kula on the island of Maui,” said Teri Orton, general manager of the Hawaii Convention Center. “However, group events and leisure travel at hotels on the west side of the island have been impacted. Visitors and vacationers have been discouraged from traveling to West Maui. Unfortunately, most of the hotels are located in Kāʻanapali, just beyond Lahaina. The hotels in Kāʻanapali are now being used to house displaced residents and other organizations assisting in recovery efforts. I want to emphasize that on the other side of Maui, in Wailea, there are hotels still open. However, travel to the west side of the island is only open to residents, employees and organizations assisting in recovery efforts.”
In addition to the convention center, trade show organizers hosting events in Hawaii are providing support to the affected community. The Hawaii chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) donated $5,000 to the Maui Food Bank in the wake of the fires.
“The logistics and delivery of aid to the islands are complicated by our geographic location, so the local community is doing everything they can to help. In Hawaii, no matter what island you live on, everyone is ‘neighbor’ and part of the same community,” said Cynthia Pacheco, AFCEA Hawaii Chapter Representative. “TechNet Indo-Pacific, held Nov. 7-9 in Honolulu, will continue as planned. The annual event provides funding for all of the chapter’s programs, including its STEM scholarships and grants. It is more important than ever to hold the event so we can continue our mission of helping our students and communities.”
Additionally, AFCEA International Headquarters is providing $2,500 to the AFCEA Hawaii Chapter to support this effort, said AFCEA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Susan S. Lawrence, U.S. Army (ret.). “We will also be launching a campaign inviting our other chapters and global members to donate to the AFCEA Natural Disaster Relief Fund – Educational Foundation. These funds will be donated to the AFCEA Hawaii Chapter to then be used to support Maui’s efforts to rebuild schools, provide school supplies and other needed services,” Lawrence said.
ASM Global, the HCC site management company, is also supporting relief and recovery efforts.
“ASM Global is donating to Counsel for Native Hawaiian Advancement, a contractor for the Hawaii Tourism Authority that manages destination management. Funds raised will be used to support recovery efforts for Maui residents,” Orton said.
On August 8, wildfires broke out in Hawaii, primarily on Maui. The fires on Hawaii Island are now contained, while the fires on Maui are 85% contained in Lahaina and 60% in the Upcountry/Kula, according to Maui County as of August 15.
Contact Teri Orton at (808) 943-3500 or info@hccasm.com; Cynthia Pacheco at cynthia.l.pacheco@gmail.com