- May 5, 2024
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Award-winning professional Polynesian dance troupe Hiti Mahana perform at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Rudy Bautista, of Palm Coast, plays the ukulele for guests of the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
The opening ceremony honors those who died in the Lahaina wildfires. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
A Hawaiian pulé is a blessing of hope for the survivors of the Lahaina widlfires. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Iosefa and Wes Balewski, in the background, listen during the opening ceremony of Rock the Aloha for Maui. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Hula dancers perform during the opening ceremony of Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraising event. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Fundraiser organizer Otila Massaro drapes a Ti Leaf braid as a Hawaiian symbol of hope for the people of Maui. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Rock the Aloha for Maui organizers Wes Balewski and Otila Massaro. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Traditional Hawaiian hālau is prepared to entertain guests on the rooftop of the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Award-winning professional Polynesian dance troupe Hiti Mahana perform at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Award-winning professional Polynesian dance troupe Hiti Mahana perform at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Award-winning professional Polynesian dance troupe Hiti Mahana perform at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Award-winning professional Polynesian dance troupe Hiti Mahana perform at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Award-winning professional Polynesian dance troupe Hiti Mahana entertains the crown during the rooftop party for the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
A young Polynesian dancer from Hiti Mahana on the rooftop at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Young Polynesian dancers from Hiti Mahana perform on the rooftop at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
A young Polynesian dancer from Hiti Mahana performs on the rooftop at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Musician Iosefa plays during the rooftop party for Rock the Aloha for Maui. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Award-winning Polynesian dance troupe Hiti Mahana perform at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Award-winning Polynesian dance troupe Hiti Mahana perform at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Award-winning Polynesian dance troupe Hiti Mahana perform at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Award-winning Polynesian dance troupe Hiti Mahana perform at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
Local artist Phiengus hosted a pop-up display at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
When Otila Massaro saw the wildfires devastating Maui, she knew she had to do something to help the residents of Lahaina.
Massaro and her husband, Wes, created Rock the Aloha for Maui, a fundraiser held on Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens.
Local residents joined the couple in the garden for a traditional Hawaiian pulé, an opening ceremony to honor lost lives and spread hope for survivors. Hula dancers joined musicians to kick off the event. The fundraiser continued on the museum's rooftop with live music performances by Kūmu Kawehi Punahele. The award-winning professional Polynesian dance troupe Hiti Mahana entertained the attendees with traditional performances.
Raised in a Polynesian show family, Massaro felt compelled to help the people affected by the Maui wildfires. Her mother was a show dancer at the Hawaiian Inn in Daytona Beach during the '60s, so she put the word out to her contacts in the Hawaiian and Polynesian communities around Florida to create a fundraising show.
"I was displaced by hurricane Ian last year," Massaro said. "... When this happened, and knowing how remote they are out there, and knowing that response is not going to come as fast as it needs to be ... I just knew that we needed to help them."
Pulling the event together in two weeks, Massaro chose three local charities in Lahaina working to help those affected by the wildfires.
Chef Hui feeds people on the ground, enlisting local cafeterias and college culinary programs to cook food, package it, and send it where needed, with additional help from World Central Kitchen.
Hawaiian Animal Rescue Foundation shelters and cares for animals while their families are displaced.
Kākoʻo Maui and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is a grassroots Native Hawaiian organization directly helping the people of Lahaina.
Massaro is planning two more fundraisers in the coming weeks and expressed gratitude for the participants of Rock the Aloha for Maui.
"I'm really thankful they are all here, and it is also a way to honor the people that have fallen; they are not forgotten, and especially for me, it hits home with me for my parents," Massaro said. "... This is living their legacy."
