Milwaukee Hawaiian restaurant hopes to help rebuilding efforts amid Maui wildfires

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Wauwatosa restaurant with deep Hawaiian ties is trying to help the islands as wildfires continue to devastate the area.

The restaurant owners say housing will be a major crisis in the coming months, and they're preparing to donate a portion of their proceeds to the Red Cross to help.

Guy Roeseler described the scenes coming out of Hawaii as horrifying: burned-out cars on historic streets and boats exploding in the harbors from the heat.

In his Wauwatosa restaurant Wednesday evening, a woman who grew up in Hawaii shared how her islands are suffering.

Ashleigh Dixon said, "I can't believe this is real. It does not look like Maui. It looks like a war zone."

Dixon called it utter devastation. She said she's heartbroken to see her home is burning. So far six people have died. An area where she used to live has been evacuated.

Dixon said, "Everywhere that I saw, my friends' businesses were gone, my restaurants, tourist companies, their homes were gone."

Dixon lived in Milwaukee for eight years while studying at the Medical College of Wisconsin and started coming back last year in her role as a traveling doctor.

She discovered a taste of home at Ono Kine Grindz in Wauwatosa, co-owned by Roeseler, who said, "I saw it just completely gone and in flames. It was horrifying."

Roeseler lived in Hawaii for 12 years and visits every year. When he and David Lau opened their restaurant, they created a community for Hawaiians wanting to maintain their culture.

Roeseler said, "I know so many more people from Hawaii now than when I lived in Hawaii."

Hawaii is a relatively small space: the power grid is down, communication is down, roads are blocked off, and there's already a housing shortage.

Roeseler said, "Right now these people have nothing. They need some cash and stuff to get clothing and toothpaste and hopefully get settled. It's a mess."

Roeseler and Lau plan to donate 10% of their sales to the Red Cross.

Dixon also wants to help by returning home to support her Ohana, the Hawaiian word for family. "You get to be Ohana by being around people, by being involved in their lives. I still have Ohana there."

Both Guy and Ashleigh said their friends are safe right now.

We reached out to the Red Cross. They told us at least one volunteer from Wisconsin is already preparing to go to Hawaii to provide resources.