Scottish-Hawaiian family launch appeal to help disaster-hit community after deadly wildfires leave devastation on island of Maui

A family with Scottish roots living on the disaster-hit island of Maui have launched an appeal to help rebuild the local community and provide shelter for people who have lost everything in deadly wildfires which have ripped through Hawaii.

Flames have been raging across the Pacific state for almost a week, gutting historic towns and forcing thousands of inhabitants and tourists to be evacuated.

At least 99 people are already known to have died, with more than 1,000 still missing and the death toll expected to climb.

Rob Farrell, whose mother stays in Perthshire, lives with his Hawaiian wife Margaux Nelson and toddler daughter Sloane on Maui, where they run a popular restaurant in the historic beachside town of Lahaina. They are some of the lucky ones.

Lahaina, which dates back to the 1700s, has been obliterated by the wildfires – the worst in modern US history – but the couple’s business, Duckine, is one of the few buildings left standing.

Most residents have been left homeless and destitute, with many forced to camp on beaches. Now the couple have joined forces with business partners and relatives to help provide temporary accommodation, food and emergency supplies for those less fortunate than themselves.

They have begun the Duckine Fire Relief Fund, with a crowdfunder to raise an initial target of $20,000 [£15,722]. Almost half of the total has already been given, but more money is needed as well as donations of important goods and materials such as windows, doors, flooring and roofing.

Rob’s younger brother, 17-year-old Finn Drysdale, who swims for Scotland and trains with Perth City, was visiting when the fires broke out. He has delayed his return to the UK to lend a hand.

Rob Farrell and his Hawaiian wife Margaux own the restaurant Duckine, on the seafront in Lahaina -- one of the few premises which escaped the flames

Speaking from her home in Scotland, mother Karen Drysdale described her terror when she saw news of the wildfires and was unable to contact her sons. She has also commended their relief work.

“I didn’t hear from my boys for two days and was going out of my mind,” she said. “It’s been a huge relief to know that they’re safe and I’m really proud of their efforts helping the community.

“All of their friends have lost their homes and businesses, but until the body count is completed they don’t know the extent of the death toll. They’re devastated because there’s so many people still unaccounted for.”

The Farrells are staying with Margaux’s father as their own home has been left without power.

Restaurant owner Rob Farrell, 33, and his 17-year-old brother Finn, who was visiting from the UK when the wildfires rampaged across the Hawaiian island of Maui and has stayed to help with emergency relief for the community

“They’re spending all their savings and time helping others,” Ms Drysdale added. “Anything that can be done to support this vital fundraising would be incredible.

Clothing, food, nappies, sanitary products – anything will help. This community is in dire need of support.”

She said the situation had been very emotional for her son and his family in Hawaii, explaining their deep gratitude to have escaped the worst impacts of the disaster, but also their dreadful feelings of guilt that both their home and business survived. Although they can’t access the restaurant and have no income, they are so much better off than the majority of people they know.

“They have deep links to the community as Margaux was born and brought up there,” she said. “And Rob has settled and been accepted by locals so quickly. He is passionate about Lahaina.”