Lahaina Fire Relief for Captain Ryan, Wake Maui

Team fundraiser

Julia Forbes and Nancy Mccluskey are organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Captain Ryan Hickey (owner/operator of Lahaina’s Wake Maui ) and his adorable dog Boomer narrowly escaped the flames of the Maui wildfires this week evacuating their home and leaving everything behind.

The apocalyptic wildfires completely scorched his house, his business, his Wake Maui boat, and all of his belongings. Seeing images of everything he knew and loved, the historic Lahaina town included, all burnt to ashes, is absolutely devastating.

If you have ever been on a charter with Captain Ryan or had the opportunity to be around him - you know he is always shining bright with optimism and generosity, exuding love and respect for Maui to all residents and tourists - offering that aloha and ohana feeling to everyone he meets. He has put his heart and soul into his Wake Maui business, chartering private ocean excursions. The struggle ahead for him and his community seems insurmountable…. So many residents are still unaccounted for, and the death toll continues to rise.

(photo) What's left of the Wake Maui Boat ....completely scorched

(photo) What's left of Ryan's home

I am sure each & every one of you reading this has your own amazing stories with Ryan. When we (Nancy and Julia) moved to Lahaina for the summer on a BFF adventure a few years ago, Captain Ryan took us under his wing, gave us jobs at Wake Maui and quickly became our big brother protector for those next several months - introducing us to his amazing local friends and businesses, offering a place to crash when our condo lease was eventually up, and never left us stranded - even when our truck broke down weekly.

We are leading donations from Canada and afar to directly support Wake Maui and the Lahaina community in their time of need.

50% of funds will be allocated to Ryan, supporting his immediate needs and the future of his business. The other 50% will be allocated to “”, a grassroots monetary fund being distributed quickly to vulnerable residents in need - we personally know some of the first responders running this fund and they are doing incredible work. Every bit counts.

-Nancy McCluskey and Julia Forbes