Skip to main content

Hawaiian Airlines Foundation makes big donation to Maui wildfire recovery efforts

Hawaiian Airlines awards grants for Maui wildfire recovery

By Mark Reif Published February 18, 2025

Maui palm trees — Maui Neora Aylon via Unsplash

The Hawaiian Airlines Foundation made grants to three Maui organizations that are coordinating wildfire recovery efforts. The grants totaled $150,000, offering significant assistance from the August 2023 disaster. The Foundation’s mission is to support programs in Hawaii for environmental sustainability, educational advancement, and cultural preservation. The Foundation is now a part of the Alaska Air Group after the two airline’s recent merger. The grants were awarded during a reception ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.

Three organizations received $50,000 each

Volunteers from Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines plant trees — Volunteers from Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines plant trees Hawaiian Airlines

Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air Group, said: “Even though Alaska has served Hawai‘i for more than 17 years, we know that our responsibility to these islands will be much greater in the years ahead as we join with Hawaiian Airlines, which has been Hawai‘i’s airline for the past 95 years and counting. We feel this deeply and appreciate input from the community, and from all of you, to help us serve the people of Hawai‘i well for generations to come.”

Grant recipients included:

Recommended Videos

• Pūnana Leo o Lahaina: A preschool focused on Hawaiian language immersion, founded in 2016. The organization seeks to preserve and revitalize the native Hawaiian language. The school was lost in the wildfires, and the grant will assist in rebuilding.

• Lahaina Public Library: Long a focal point of the community since opening on March 4, 1956, the library burned down during the wildfires. The grant will help open a temporary location by Summer 2025 and provide technology, furniture, and materials.

• Treecovery Hawai‘i: An environmental organization central to recovery efforts after wildfires took over 20,000 trees in Kula and Lahaina. Treecovery plants trees at no cost to affected businesses and families.

Mark Reif is a storyteller focused on the intersection of outdoor culture, travel, and design. From the peaks of Banff to the…

Travel

The Obelisks of Rome: A pointed walking tour

Take a walk into history with these fascinating Roman landmarks

City, Architecture, Building

When you walk around Rome, no matter which way you turn, you are likely to see the sky pierced by an obelisk. It is a defining part of the Roman skyline. But they don’t really belong here. Rome is a city that has never been shy about borrowing greatness. Few monuments illustrate that better than its obelisks. While these towering stone needles feel quintessentially Roman today, they began life in ancient Egypt, most carved along the Nile. While there, they were associated with the sun god and served as symbols of divine favor and royal power. Today, Rome boasts thirteen ancient obelisks, more than anywhere else in the world, including Egypt itself.

Their journey to Rome began after Augustus conquered Egypt following the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra in 30 BCE. Bringing obelisks to the capital was more than an exercise in decorating the city; it was a statement of conquest. Egypt's sacred monuments had become Roman trophies, proclaiming that a new empire now enjoyed the favor of the gods. Later emperors continued importing obelisks, scattering them across circuses, temples, and public spaces.

Travel

Oregon’s Tualatin Valley is a wine festival hub with idyllic views just outside Portland

This city escape is perfect for lively gatherings and self-guided tasting trails

Plant, Tree, Fir, Mt Hood Forest Grove

The Pacific Northwest's wine scene gained international acclaim with hotspots like the Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Gorge, praised for their well-crafted bottles. But fewer have heard of the Tualatin Valley, a destination brimming with over 40 estate wineries. Nestled along the northwestern edge of the Willamette Valley, it offers the quickest access to wine country from downtown Portland.

Tualatin Valley’s wine-laden hills and tasting rooms start a mere 20 to 30 minute drive from the city, yet they feel hours away. In record time, you’ll find yourself luxuriating on a breezy hillside with a glass of Pinot Noir in hand. You can stretch your legs, admire Mt. Hood’s majestic peak, and chat with other lucky escape artists who also discovered this special place.

Travel

The new luxury in Europe is access—And travelers are booking a year ahead

How luxury summer travelers are changing their plans this year

Ermoupoli, Greece

We're well into another busy summer for European travel. But this summer, travelers have discovered the hardest part of planning a trip isn't so much choosing where to go -- it’s securing access to sought-after accommodations and experiences once in destination. According to a recent summer travel trends report by Classic Vacations, the leading luxury travel advisor resource, Europe continues to lead summer bookings with strong demand across Italy, Greece, France, Spain, and Portugal.

Within these destinations, premium room categories and suites are increasingly booking 9–12 months in advance. Sought-after experiences such as hard-to-secure restaurant reservations, private transfers and guides, yacht charters, beach clubs, and iconic attractions are also filling months ahead of travel dates, creating a new reality where advance planning and local expertise are becoming increasingly essential.