Dunedin Hawaiian restaurant to host Music for Maui benefit

A Hawaiian-themed restaurant in Dunedin is gearing up to throw a fundraiser for those impacted by the Maui fires.

The Honu Restaurant and Tiki Bar will host Music for Maui from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. The event will feature a special menu packed with Hawaiian specialties and cocktails, a silent auction and a 50-50 raffle. Local artists will be playing music on two stages throughout the event. All proceeds will be split between the Maui Food Bank and the Maui Humane Society.

“It’s kind of our other home,” said chef Kimberly Platt. She owns the restaurant with her wife, Lisa, who runs the bar. “We always say we’re not from Hawaii, but we will be some day.”

The couple visit Hawaii for several weeks every year, and have heard from their friends that the impact of the fires has been much worse than photographs on social media show. Even getting basic necessities has been challenging.

“There’s people that are really, really suffering over there,” Platt said. “We’re just doing our best to do our little part for our Ohana over there.”

If you go

Music for Maui takes place at The Honu Restaurant and Tiki Bar at 516 Grant St., Dunedin. For more information, visit facebook.com/TheHONU. Donations can also be sent to @thehonu on Venmo.

Music will take place throughout the event on two stages. The tentative lineup is as follows:

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: Sam Williams and Don Gravelle

1 p.m. - 2 p.m.: Beach Bum Barry and Koala Fire Music

2 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Nora Ricci and Dave SanSoucie

3 p.m. - 4 p.m.: R&B Project and Hawaiian Breeze

4 p.m. - 6 p.m.: Big Tiki and The Mai Tais

5 p.m. - 6 p.m.: Bill Blackburn

6 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Ever Be and Lisa Noe

7 p.m. - 8 p.m.: Beauty School

7 p.m. - 10 p.m.: Poly Essence

8 p.m. - 9 p.m.: Tommy & Mimi “The Rum Syndicate”

9 p.m. - 10 p.m.: Red Sky Horizon