FOXBOROUGH, Mass - In August, wildfires erupted across the Hawaiian island of Maui, killing many residents, leaving many missing, and destroying land across the island forcing residents to be homeless.
New England Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai has person ties to the state, having gone to the University of Hawaii from 2014 to 2018.
When this disaster first happened, Tavai spoke with reporters asking fans for support for Hawaii. And now a few months later, the linebacker once again spoke about the wildfires, providing an update and asking for continued help.
"I would say that it's still pretty bad out there," Tavai said. "Just trying to figure out ways to raise money to send out there."
Specifically he has been working to help Lahainaluna High School, which was burned down, and because of that, many of the athletic programs don't have equipment. He specifically has been hoping that New Balance will help him out "since they’re a home team out here for us, based out of Boston. So hopefully they hear this."
"Right now, I've just been hitting companies to see if they will be willing to do something with me," Tavai said. "And I really don't want to say I'm desperate - but I'm really desperate to help. And I'm willing to do whatever with those companies. And so far it's out of pocket."
Frankie Luvu, who played for the New York Jets and currently is on the Carolina Panthers, along with Kamu Grugier-Hill, who is currently on the Panther too, but has played on numerous teams including the Patriots in 2016, started a foundation.
"It's called RebuildingMaui.Org. That money that they're going to be raising is going directly to the families that were affected," Tavai explained. "And I love the fact that the Red Cross is doing what they're doing. But, the Red Cross has too much on their plate. There's so much going on. And people who are trying to help Hawaii and sending money into the Red Cross, that money isn't going directly there. It's going to everywhere that they can help."
"With this foundation that Frankie and Kamu are starting, and I believe (Ka'imi Fairbairn) from Houston, it's gonna help directly with those families," he added. "So I encourage people to go directly there."
While the focus has shifted to other events happening in the world, Hawaii has still not healed from the wildfires.
"I don't think things have changed as much as you would think. And that sucks because there's so much other things going on in the world that are over shining it and they should be of course because I can't even get into that topic right now" Tavai said. "But a lot of things are over shining it and I just want people to know that things aren't getting betters. So whatever they can do, it would be spectacular."
Anyone looking to donate to this organization can visit the website here. Tavai also has a spreadsheet linked in his Instagram bio, where people can donate directly to the victims and their families, with descriptions about what they have lost.
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