Hawaiian Born Chef Kiki Aranita Is Cooking For A Cause To Support Maui Relief
In wake of recent disaster caused by wildfires on Maui, chef, artist, and sauce purveyor Kiki Aranita is raising funds for those most gravely impacted by the devastation. Aranita, who grew up on the island of O’ahu, will donate proceeds from her sauce sales and host two benefit dinners.
The native Hawaiian has a direct connection to local restaurant and hospitality workers who were effected. For that reason, she chose World Central Kitchen’s Maui Relief Fund to be the beneficiary of a portion of her fundraisers. The other proceeds will be donated to Maui Food Bank.
Aranita is the owner and founder of Hawaiian-inspired, restaurant-turned-condiment brand Poi Dog Sauces. She is using the brand along with planned pop up events to collect donation. Below are the three different ways she is cooking for a cause to support Hawai’i.
Poi Dog:
From now through the end of August, Poi Dog will be donating 10% of all sauce proceeds to World Central Kitchen’s Maui Relief Fund. Available for nationwide shipping online, or on-premise at select retailers. Follow Poi Dog on Instagram.
Poi Dog x Citrine:
On Friday, September 22, Kiki Aranita, the renowned chef known for her beloved Hawaiian restaurant-turned-sauce brand Poi Dog, joined by chef (and husband) Ari Miller, will serve a 5-course, Hawaiian-inspired ‘Maui Dinner’ at Citrine, the artisanal tablescape, flatware, and event curation company directed by Alex Cahanap. $50 from each ticket sold will directly benefit Chef Hui, an O’ahu-based non-profit that connects chefs, food industry workers, and farmers with resources needed to fuel Hawaii’s agricultural and culinary scene. Admission to The Maui Dinner, which takes place at Citrine‘s intimate dinner-party-style gathering space. is $150/person, with $50 from each ticket donated to support those in distress on the island. Location will be announced soon. The Maui Dinner is one-night-only but offers two seatings with a capacity of 20 people each, held at 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm; with the five courses highlighting some of Aranita’s most beloved dishes inspired by her childhood and adolescence spent in Hawai’i, as well as a signature welcome cocktail, and live music. Ticket/RSVP link will be available shortly.
Poi Dog x Seaview
On Sunday, September 24, Kiki Aranita, and husband Ari Miller, will host a 5-course dinner at Seaview Hotel & Golf Club, the New Jersey Shore’s quintessential historic seaside resort located just outside of Atlantic City, an hour drive from Philadelphia, and two hours from New York. From 6 – 9 pm, guests will indulge in a Hawaiian-inspired dinner and welcome cocktail inside the Seaview Hotel’s sprawling dining room. Fifty tickets will be available, with all net proceeds donated directly to the Maui Food Bank.
