Kip Moore is working on assembling a benefit concert to help those devastated by the recent wildfires in Hawaii, which has developed into a particularly catastrophic situation on the island of Maui.
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“Just rolled into St. Louis for the show tonight, but I’ve been in a complete fog for the last 24 hours, seeing all the videos and photos of the devastation that’s happening in Maui,” said Moore in an Instagram video post. “Anyone who’s followed this page for any length of time knows that it’s not just a place that I go. It’s like home, and I’ve developed some of the closest friendships that I have in my life there, the kind of people who would truly do anything for you if you asked them.”
Moore continued, “I guess I’m making this to say, to anyone that’s watching from Maui, there’s a lot of people talking about you. There’s a lot of people that want to help … that are gonna help. I know it’s going to be a long road back to rebuilding, but there’s people that want to jump on board and help that process.”
The country artist added that he’s been on the phone with friends, artists and managers trying to figure out how quickly they can pull together a concert to help raise funds for those impacted in the area.
At least 36 people have been reported dead and nearly 11,000 have been without power since the wildfires in Maui and the Big Islands. The fires were exacerbated by strong winds from category 4 Hurricane Dora, which passed through the southern parts of the island chain and through Lahaina and parts of Maui on Tuesday (August 8).
When he was 21, Moore lived in a small hut on the beach in Maui after graduating college. There, he started surfing, backpacking, and songwriting. His connection to Hawaii deepened throughout the years as the country artist spends most of his time off from touring in Hawaii.
“One of the first things I really noticed with the Hawaiian locals, especially the natives, is how locked into family they are,” said Moore in a 2020 interview. “It’s a special group of people. There’s so much time spent on family and relationships and taking pride in that and pride in their land.”
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In 2022, Moore founded the One Heartbeat Hawaii Fund, a charitable organization that works to help support underserved natives of Maui.
“Over the course of his many visits, Kip Moore has come to recognize certain housing and other economic challenges faced by some families in the wake of rising costs and decreasing affordability,” reads a description of the organization on its website. “Through that lens and a passionate heart for humanity, the fund aims to empower low-income locals with financial and other assistance in an effort to alleviate hardship and instability.”
A percentage of the proceeds from tickets sold on Moore’s Fire On Wheels Tour in 2022 also benefited the charity.
Moore is currently on tour supporting his fifth album Damn Love, released earlier in 2023, and will continue the North American leg of the tour, which runs through Nov. 11.
Photo: Jason Koerner/Getty Images
