Headquartered in Hawaii, iconic plate lunch chain L&L Hawaiian Barbecue extends its “Purchase A Meal” community initiative through the holidays. Originally launched in response to the devastating Maui wildfires, the relief program was hosted on the L&L mobile app and website from September 1-15. Over 2,000 meals were donated to families on Maui who were affected by the fires.
“While we were celebrating our third annual National SPAM Musubi Day on August 8 across the country, we received the news of the fires,” says Elisia Flores, CEO of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. “Our first action was to ensure our operators and employees on Maui were safe. We then began planning to do more to help our ‘ohana on Maui.”
From September 1-15, L&L provided the global community with the opportunity to purchase an L&L plate lunch for $10 for a Maui resident in need. Through online platforms such as the L&L mobile app and website, L&L created mass awareness and received funds to support over 2,000 meals and additional donations for overall relief support. By purchasing a meal, the participant’s donation supported the local economy, benefiting employees, as well as providing hot plate lunches every week, prepared and delivered by the L&L Honokowai location in Lahaina. L&L partnered with the American Red Cross – Hawaii region, The Salvation Army, and local churches and hotels to feed displaced residents, school children, employees, and visitors, as well as first responders and the Maui Police Department.
“I am incredibly grateful that we were able to donate over 2,000 meals to our Maui community who were impacted by the wildfires,” says Cindy Liu, owner of Honokowai L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. “I’m proud of our team for their hard work providing our delicious plate lunches to support our beloved neighbors and this month, we’re ready to do more.”
L&L confirms that one Lahaina location was destroyed in the fires, and the owner and her employees lost their homes, but are all now safe and came to help the Honokowai location once water and electricity were in operation to prepare and deliver meals. In addition, L&L locations in California, Washington, and Texas raised Maui relief funds and held candlelight vigils as a tribute to the ‘ohana.
