The recent natural disaster in Maui was apocalyptic.
No one who lives on the island was untouched by the fires and their ramifications. The confirmed dead are 118, and hundreds more may be missing, even two weeks after the tragedy.
Business is near a standstill. But the little bit of business coming through my store has been from people wanting ukuleles. Almost everybody plays, and Maui people take great comfort from making music together.
The thousands of displaced people are having basic needs met by the island Ohana (family) and businesses, FEMA and all the government relief agencies.
It’s a very good idea to give these people new ukuleles to replace the ones they have lost. I contacted one of the instrument suppliers I use, and they will ship and deliver in 10 days 400 soprano ukuleles with gig bags and tuner, boxed. They are charging $20,000.
Many of my pawnbroker community reached out to me and asked how they can help. Here’s how you can help.
Follow this link and donate money through the NPA’s charitable organization. I will handle the logistics and donate 300 ukuleles to the schools of the students from Lahaina. The other 100 I will take to the hotels where some of the displaced people are staying. If we get more than $20,000 donated, the excess money will go to help the disaster victims.
Think of Hawaii’s beloved musician, Braddah Iz, strumming his ukulele and singing, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”…please help bring that rainbow back to Maui.
