financial support for their staff members' re- covery. They raised over $130,000. All funds were distributed to those impacted. This effort extended not only to those directly affected but also encompassed employees whose immediate family members faced the impact of this unfortunate event. On August 12 Kimo Haynes, company President, confirmed that Minit Stop/Ohana Fuels in Lahaina was unharmed. With fuel being crucial for the community, Kimo mo- bilized leadership to reopen the fuel station. Estefano Ferrari, Facilities Director, secured a generator while Garrett Glassen, IT Direc- tor, arranged for a Starlink system to provide Satellite Internet. Minit Stop Lahaina resumed fuel opera- tions on August 12, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the resilient Minit Stop/Ohana Fuels team, including employees affected by the fires, and the invaluable support of MEMA (Maui Emergency Management Agency) volunteers. Over four days, Minit Stop provided 1,450 fills, offering $20 free fuel to those in need. Residents with means chose to purchase fuel, leaving the free supply for their neighbors, showing re- markable generosity. In the following month, Minit Stop ex- tended complimentary drinks and snacks to first responders, including fire, police, sheriff, and national guard personnel sta- tioned in the area. To meet the community needs, their Lahaina team prepared food in Kahului and delivered food to Lahaina daily. This continues today as they await water restrictions to be lifted.
In Lahaina on August 8 power went out in the morning, and many businesses made the decision to close for the day. Despite be- ing unable to pump fuel or prepare hot food, Sheila Bueno, district manager, and Emily De Gracia, store manager, chose to keep the local Minit Stop open. They were motivat- ed by the continuous stream of community members expressing gratitude for providing access to food and drinks. They eventually had to close at 3:30 PM, and just an hour lat- er, an evacuation order was issued. Thankful- ly, all the employees are safe. On August 9, 2023, with the Upcountry Maui and Lahaina fires still uncontained, an- other wildfire was threatening Kihei. Kahaiu Freitas and Michelle Mercer from HQ were dispatched to aid the store and allow em- ployees to evacuate their homes, which were in the fire's path. As the fire escalated and smoke encroached, it was decided to close the store. Thankfully, the fire didn't progress further, sparing homes from harm. Later, the store reopened to prepare food donations for first responders. Since the fires the Minit Stop/ Ohana Fuels leadership team has focused on their team members' welfare. Samuel Howarth, Human Resource Director, guided affected employees through the process of secur- ing temporary shelter and registering with FEMA and other essential agencies. Mean- while, Antoinette Palisbo, Minit Stop Safety
quantities of food off Molokai and over to Maui, it’s basically reverse logistics.” Of course that did not stop the Friendly Market Center team and the Molokai community from finding a way to help. Soon a system was in place that involved private boats tak- ing donated food and supplies from Molokai and delivering directly to the beaches just outside of Lahaina. There were some difficult decisions to make. Private boats and jetskis dropping supplies on the beach is not an official means of distributing aid, but it was clear that was the most effective method available to trans- port the goods provided by the Molokai com- munity and businesses. The Friendly Market Center team also had to make a tough call about whether or not to let the last of the bottled water go over to Maui. Kit recalls how his staff made the decision, “They said, ʻOur faucets work, theirs don’t.’ So, we sent over the last few pallets of water.” Okimoto Corp. kept working to get aid from their Waianae Store warehouse to Maui through more official channels as well, including the Hawaii Foodbank. The first barge with donations eventually made it to Kihei, but took several days longer than the community created donation fleet.
BEING THERE THROUGH IT ALL MINIT STOP/ OHANA FUELS
Minit Stop/ Ohan Fuels has locations on Maui and the Big Island in several of the areas that were hit hardest by the fires. From the very beginning Their dedicated employees found ways to serve first responders and their community as they dealt with the crisis. When the first fire start-
"Kakoʻo Maui" and "Rise Up for Maui" T-shirts sold and designed by Foodland
Greg Cabantin, Minit Stop Gen- eral Manager, spoke about their role in the recovery in their communities, “We recognize this is going to be a long and complicated recovery.
ed in Upcountry Maui on August 7 the Makawao and Pukalani locations thankfully did not have to be evacuated. Foodservice Manag- er Tanya Doyle, took the opportunity to orga- nize and provide 30 meals from the Makawao Store to the firefighters and other first responders who were battling the fire. On August 8, 2023, multiple wildfires erupted on the Big Island, leading to a mandatory evacuation order. Road access to Minit Stop Kawaihae was cut
Maui is our home and we continue to support the community. In addition to a generous donation to the Hawaii Communi-
ty Foundation, Hawaii Petro- leum, Ohana Fuels, and Minit Stop continues to support grass roots organizations, like Ikaika Ohana, Honokawai Re- lief, and others, with donations of food and fuel.”
TOGETHER WE GIVE FOODLAND
off. In response, shift manager Eric Federizo transported food to the first responders bat- tling the blaze. According to Racye Kaaua from the highways division helping with the fire, the provided food managed to feed ev- eryone who was helping fight the fire.
Foodland customers statewide responded immediately to requests for help after the Maui wildfires. Prior to August, Foodland had set up a program called “Together We Give” in honor of Foodland’s 75th anniver- sary to support a few non-profit organiza-
Manager, orchestrated the provision of sup- ply kits to ensure their employees' immedi- ate needs were met. Minit Stop’s parent company, Saltchuk, in collaboration with the wider Saltchuk family of businesses, rallied together to mobilize
20 | HAWAII FOOD INDUSTRY MAGAZINE | WINTER 2023–2024
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