In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, local event to raise money for Maui wildfire relief

Area Pacific Islanders are hosting an event Sunday at xBK Live in Des Moines to continue their efforts in helping the thousands of individuals displaced by the deadly Maui wildfires last summer.

Last August, a series of wildfires broke in Maui, mostly tearing through the historic Lahaina district. At least 101 people died and more than 2,200 structures were destroyed, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Iowa Island Jam — which comes during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month — seeks to donate proceeds from ticket sales to Help Maui Rise, which provides direct aid to families impacted by the wildfires.

Here's what to know about Iowa Island Jam:

Iowa Island Jam asks attendees to lend a hand

Event organizer and local musician Teri Underhill said Iowa Island Jam follows a similar benefit show she launched last October for Maui wildfire survivors. With the help of Des Moines dance troupe Aloha Wind and other local performers, Underhill said she was able to raise $3,000 for ʻĀina Momona, a nonprofit that set up a list of relief efforts for wildfire survivors.

While the national spotlight has long moved on from Maui, Underhill said people on the island still are struggling to piece their lives together, and there's more work to be done. In her eyes, Sunday's Iowa Island Jam is an extension of that work. The event — which runs from 3 to 7 p.m. — doubles as a stage for song and dance for a cause.

Guests may learn something new while lending a helping hand, said Kamakani Clark, a Grundy County musician who is billed for Sunday alongside Underhill and several other performers. These guests might not know it, he said, but their attendance could "really change" the life of someone in Maui.

On a trip last month to Maui, Underhill said she learned more from family about the wildfires' lasting impact.

"My auntie told me that you can't really get into Lahaina yet," said Underhill, who grew up in Norwalk. The blaze left some homeless while others "lost everything, from their jobs, their pets to family members. Some people lost their lives."

What to expect on Sunday

Underhill said Sunday's event is open to anyone who wants a taste of islands or have already visited the islands and looking for a quick trip back to "paradise."

Clark told the Des Moines Register he didn't want to giveaway the details of his performance but shared his plans to play slack-key guitar, a genre of music he described as "kind of classical, folk, lullaby" — the "soul of the Hawaii people."

Clark said he learned how to play slack-key guitar — or kī hōʻalu in Hawaiian — from his uncle, opening the door to understanding his cultural heritage. On Sunday, Clark said he looks forward to sharing historical tidbits about Hawaii while onstage.

Where to buy tickets

Tickets purchased online ahead of the event are $10, and they're $15 at the door. Guests also have the option of reserving tables on the floor or mezzanine and can do so online on xBK's website.

XBk Live is located at 1159 24th St. in Des Moines. For more information visit, xBK Live at xbklive.com.

F. Amanda Tugade covers social justice issues for the Des Moines Register. Email her at ftugade@dmreg.com or follow her on Twitter @writefelissa.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines AAPI event to raise money for Maui wildfire relief