Max Holloway and the UFC teamed up to make a large charitable commitment that will change the lives of hundreds impacted by the 2023 Maui wildfires.
Holloway, UFC CEO Dana White, and UFC COO Lawrence Epstein were among those touring housing developments funded and fundraised for following the devastation on the Hawaiian island two years ago.
According to a recent Facebook post by Hawaii governor Josh Green, the contribution was $1.2 million.
“Today is the celebration of the opening of Homemade Hawaii’s land home village, of homes they’ve built following the Maui wildfires in 2023,” Brian Smith, UFC senior director of philanthropy and community impact said in a video posted to Holloway’s YouTube channel Friday. “Thanks to Max and everything he did to raise awareness when the fires initially happened. The UFC collaborated with him to make a formal commitment. Then, he’s raised money over the past two years that went toward building the homes that helped house 800 people across two sites. It’s amazing. Today is the opening celebration and we’re thrilled to be here as part of UFC but also a representative in partnership with Max.”
The Maui wildfires ravaged the island in August 2023 and killed more than 100 people. Damages estimated $5.5 billion, as over 2,000 structures were destroyed. An estimated 6,000 people were left homeless with an estimated 1,000 leaving the island all together.
In addition to the housing communities built, the UFC and Holloway will also team up to assist two local Boys & Girls clubs, as well as youth jiu-jitsu tournaments. An annual charity golf tournament is also being planned.
“Us Hawaiian people, we’re one,” Holloway said. “We’re unity. You guys saw me. You see all the Hawaiian fighters and what we bring. We bring that warrior spirit, that ‘mana.’ When I go in there, all of Hawaii is with me. They saw that with the ‘Korean Zombie’ fight. You can roll the tape. You see me crying. You see me tearing. It’s crazy, one of the biggest fires ever to happen anywhere. So many people lost not only their houses, they lost loved ones. They lost family members. It’s just crazy.
“After the fight, UFC reached out to me and said, ‘We need to do something with you guys. Let’s do it. We’ll figure it out.’ Shout out to Brian Smith. He gets zero praise. He don’t want no praise. But Brian Smith is the man. Without the UFC, without Brian Smith, none of this would be possible.”
