The owner of an Irish pub in Maui has launched an appeal for donations from Ireland as search efforts continue for missing locals.

Mike O'Dwyer left Ireland 30 years ago – ending up on the picturesque island of Maui in the Central Pacific.

Now, as the owner of Mulligans On the Blue Pub and Fabiani's Italian Restaurant, Mr O'Dwyer has launched an appeal for international aid for the islanders, after wildfires killed more than 90 people and destroyed hundreds of homes.

Speaking to The Pat Kenny Show, Mr O'Dwyer said there are a lot of people "missing or unaccounted for" in the days following the devastating event.

"It's becoming quite obvious that these people will not be found," he said.

"There's a bartender who worked for me and we can't find him.

"He worked for me 20 years ago, for a year – him and his son are missing – along with the 1,400 other people."

An aerial photo shows destroyed homes from the wildfire near a marina. 10th Aug, 2023.(Credit Image: © County of Maui/ZUMA Press Wire)

Mr O'Dwyer said the flames moved at one mile a minute, making any effort to contain the outburst almost impossible.

"As I said to my mam, Ronny Delaney ran a mile in four minutes," he said.

"This all came within the space of 30 minutes and everybody's saying what other people could have done [and] the alarm system – it doesn't matter at this stage.

"A friend of mine went to look for his car today, and he said it was a pile of dust on the road."

Wildfire wreckage is shown Aug. 10, 2023(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

As the death toll is set to rise above 100 people, it has fueled criticism that there was an inadequate official response that contributed to the heavy loss of life.

"People were pointing fingers. There's no need for that right now," said Mr O'Dwyer.

"We have to work together because there's no other way other than going forward."

Recovery efforts

Mr O'Dwyer said he thinks officials in Maui have not been transparent enough with the international media about what stage recovery efforts are at.

"I think they should be [more transparent] so we get more help and it's hard to get goods and things in there right now," he said.

"People are going by boats or flying stuff in rather than letting trucks bring things in. So, that's becoming a problem as well."

Two Hawaii Army National Guard CH47 Chinook perform aerial water bucket drops in Maui 9th Aug, 2023. Photo by MSgt. Andrew Jackson/USAF/U.S. National Guard/UPI Credit: UPI/Alamy Live News

Mr O'Dwyer said tourists began to visit the site of the fires to see the aftermath.

"As the police chief said two days ago, 'Please stop. You're walking on people'," he said.

"They've recovered 3% of the area in four days, so, do the math there.

"They have cadaver dogs come in. They've got I think nine of them and I think they're bringing another nine in."

Aid

Mr O'Dwyer has launched an appeal through his website, and he said the money has been "flowing in".

"All that money is going to go somewhere properly. I'm going to wait for a little bit 'till we see what happens and where it's needed and it will be needed," he said.

"If it's gift cards that are cash cards, and people need to go buy diapers, or if somebody goes buys a bottle of whiskey with it, that's not my problem.

"Whatever they want to do with it, that is for them to do with it."

Volunteers sort relief supplies at a church which is a temporary shelter in Kahului, Maui, (The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images)

If anyone wants to make donations to locals, Mr O'Dwyer encourages people to donate practical items.

"People need things, basic hygiene things – a fresh pair of underwear, something for them to give them some dignity while they're in these shelters," he said.

"The Hawaiian people are like the Irish people and we know each other good and bad, we take care of each other."