American Idol winner Iam Tongi is encouraging folks to take a moment out of their lives to help the victims of Maui after devastating wildfires ripped through the historic town of Lahaina, killing more than 90 individuals and leaving dozens of people without homes.
On Saturday (Aug. 12), the Season 21 American Idol winner, who years ago moved from Kahuku, a town on Oahu, Hawaii, to Seattle due to the rising costs of living on the island, took to his Instagram account to extend his heart out to those who have been affected and are still suffering in the aftermath of tragedy.
“The devastating news of Maui hits harder than I can express,” Tongi, 18, writes in the caption, which accompanies the video post. “I have thought and rethought about ways I could help the people of Maui because I feel incapable seeing people donating so much money that I don’t have. Talking with family members and watching videos of people helping each other has made me realize there’s so much more way to help.”
“If you’re donating money, any amount would help as long we try to make sure it’s going to the right hands… If you can’t donate money, we can look into other ways of donating whether it be clothing, food, time, etc…,” He continues. “Anyway, the only talent I have is music, and [I] wanted to dedicate this song by Mel and Tim sung by the great Bruddah Iz… I love you Maui, and you’re always in my prayers.”
Watch Iam Tongi’s Tribute Performance Below
After urging fans and followers to do what they can to assist in bringing support to the victims of Maui, Tongi broke into song, delivering a powerful rendition of Mel & Tim’s “Starting All Over Again.” Tongi provided his own arrangement to the moving take, playing chords and notes on his ukulele while showcasing his soothing vocals over the melody.
“We lost what we had, that’s what hurt us so bad (oh yeah) / It set us back a thousand years / But we’re gonna make it up, though I know it’s gonna be rough / To erase all the hurt and tears,” Tongi sings solo while using his cell phone to look down at the lyrics before he incorporates harmonies into the rendition.“Starting all over again is gonna be hard / But I pray that the love will help us make it (yeah) / Starting all over again is gonna be slow / But we, we both know that we can make it.”
The wildfires in Maui started on Tuesday (Aug. 8), causing widespread damage over Lahaina, destroying structures, bringing down power lines, and shutting down businesses. Residents and tourists were forced to evacuate the island, yet those who were unable to leave in time perished in the flames.
According to CBS News, the blaze accounts for the deadliest in the U.S. in over a century, claiming the lives of at least 90 people.
“There are more fatalities that will come,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said. “The fire was so hot that what we find is the tragic finding that you would imagine, as though a fire has come through, and it’s hard to recognize anybody.”
Winner Of American Idol
Tongi launched his career during Season 21 of American Idol, where he auditioned with James Blunt’s “Monsters.” He immediately struck a chord with viewers and judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, with his earnest and honest approach and heartbreaking story of his father, who passed away from kidney failure just weeks before his TV debut.
During his Idol journey, Tongi brought folks to tears and captivated hearts with his natural vocal talent, finishing his run as the winner against finalists Megan Danielle and Colin Stough.
Debut Single, Headlining Tour
The fast-rising star recently released his debut single, “I’ll Be Seeing You,” which was solely penned by Season 18 Idol alum Francisco Martin. The tune serves as a tribute to his late father.
“’Cause I’ll be seeing you / Seeing you / Wherever I go / And I’ll be / Be with you / Be with you / Wherever I’ll go,” Tongi sings on the chorus.
As Tongi hopes to bring awareness to people that Maui is still in need of help, he is currently on the road for his headlining Iam Tongi Live In Concert tour, which began on June 23 in Virginia Beach, VA. The 10-date trek concludes on Oct. 7 at Eden Festival in Auckland, New Zealand.
Fans who miss out on those shows can visit Iam Tongi’s social media pages for updates, as more dates are expected to be added in the coming weeks.
