PO‘IPU — The mood was somber on Friday at the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort, as representatives of Table 53 award recipient organizations shared their thoughts and connections with the Maui wildfires that started on Tuesday.
“We’re partnering with the Kaua‘i High School Culinary Arts program for Maui relief that’s going to take place, next week,” said Crystal Ozaki of the Kaua‘i High School Academy of Tourism and Hospitality, who received an $8,894.80 award representing the proceeds of Table 53 for May.
“I don’t know what we’re going to be doing, but they wanted us to create a commercial so the kids are doing that now.”
Other groups receiving Table 53 awards included Kaua‘i Search and Rescue, which received $8,830.07 representing proceeds from February; Life’s Bridges Hawai‘i received $10,108.92 as proceeds from Table 53 for March; and the YWCA of Kaua‘i received $8,984.80 as proceeds from the month of June.
Since starting in 2022, the Table 53 — located inside the RumFire Restaurant at Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort — “You Dine, We Donate” program has distributed more than $500,000 over the past 10 years, including the latest round of distributions.
Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort general manager Chip Bahouth grounded the Maui talk and concerns by announcing that Table 53 proceeds from September through the end of the year will benefit the Maui efforts at rebuilding.
Additionally, cabana sales poolside will help the Maui relief effort starting immediately and continuing through the end of the year.
“Everyone is worrying about everything right now,” Bahouth said. “But what about tomorrow when all the excitement is gone? We’re delaying our response so there’s something for tomorrow when all the monies and relief dries up. Our goal between the two programs is $150,000 that we’ll turn over to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation.”
Bahouth and his associates remember the recovery from Hurricane Iniki, where the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort was closed for seven years before reopening.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
