Dwayne Johnson and Jason Momoa ‘Heartbroken’ by Maui Wildfires, Suggest Where to Donate for Relief
UPDATE: Dwayne Johnson has shared his reaction to the Maui wildfires, along with ways to donate and support those impacted by the devastation.
“I know that, by now, all of you around the world have seen the complete destruction and devastation that has hit our Hawaiian islands — our island of Maui — and I’m completely heartbroken over this and I know all of you are too,” Johnson said in a video posted on Instagram on Sunday. “Everything that I’ve seen transpire over these past couple of days, everything that continues to transpire hour by hour, minute by minute, it’s all heartbreaking.”
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Johnson also informed his social media followers about aid opportunities, including donating to the nonprofit organization Hawaii Community Foundation.
“I have been speaking with organizations on the ground, who have boots on the ground, and I will continue to get as much information as possible,” he said.
Johnson is of Samoan descent, but his mother was born in Hawaii and the star was raised there for a period. On Friday, native Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa warned tourists to stay away from the island, writing on Instagram, “Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now. Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering deeply.”
PREVIOUSLY: Jason Momoa has shared a message on social media suggesting prospective vacationers stay away from Maui.
“Maui is not the place to have your vacation right now,” Momoa wrote on Instagram on Friday. “Do not convince yourself that your presence is needed on an island that is suffering this deeply.”
The native Hawaiian actor also warned that cheap flights are helping wildfire victims evacuate off-island and local hotels are prioritizing those who have been displaced.
“Our community needs time to heal, grieve and restore,” Momoa wrote. “That means the less visitors on island taking up critical resources that have become extremely limited the better.”
The actor continues to direct others to organizations for donations to support those impacted by the fires. The original article regarding that follows below.
Actor Jason Momoa, a native of Hawaii, has taken to social media to express his reaction to the ongoing wildfires on Maui and tell his followers how they can help.
“We are devastated and heartbroken for our friends and ‘ohana on Maui. Link in our bio for organizations that are helping,” Momoa wrote on Instagram.
Momoa reposted photos from the organization ‘Āina Momona, which explains the devastation currently happening on the island. “On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, a terrible combination of drought conditions and hurricane weather led to widespread wildfires across the island of Maui,” they wrote.
“Lahaina town is gone,” the post continued. “Families were forced to evacuate on short notice, many escaping with only the clothes on their backs.”
According to the latest update from Maui County, at least 53 people have died because of the wildfires. More than 1,300 people have been displaced and almost 11,000 people have no power.
“The fires drove people to jump into the ocean to escape flames and smoke and forced people to evacuate,” another slide from Momoa’s repost read.
The accompanying photographs show the raging fires and how they’ve torn through the island. The post also highlights several organizations that people can donate to, including ActBlue Emergency Fundraiser for Maui Fire and the Hawai’i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund. The post also suggests following @kakoo_haleakala, the account for the organization Kāko’o Haleakalā, which describes itself as “on a mission to protect and preserve the Land and native species of the Hawaiian Kingdom.”
Momoa was born in Honolulu and is of native Hawaiian ancestry. Though he moved to Iowa, he later returned to his native state and studied at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. Momoa also reposted on his story a Maui Mutual Aid Resource Guide posted by @hiprogressiveaction, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action.
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