Maui chef who served community during fires now fighting for his life

KAHULUI (HawaiiNewsNow) - A West Maui chef who sprang into action to help countless people during the Maui fires is now fighting for his life.

Riko Bartolome was recently diagnosed with leukemia. The specific form he is battling is high risk that affects his blood and bone marrow.

The morning of August 8th, 2023, with no power in West Maui, Bartolome did what he does best – he jumped into action to help his community.

“I started thinking about, well, I have to start feeding people,” Bartolome said from a hospital room in Portland.

The esteemed chef set up a soup kitchen on the west side and fed anyone who came by. He even delivered ice to those in need for several weeks straight.

Nearly one year later, those memories are still vivid.

“That was the craziest,” he said still in disbelief. “The craziest time.”

Many know him as “Chef Riko.”

But for Malia Duro, her dad serves much more than just delicious food and fills people’s tummies.

He fills their hearts and their souls.

“He’s helped amplify people’s voices. He’s helped elevate people’s experiences. He serves people. That’s when he does,” said Duro. “He feeds people with love, and he’s just a good person and he expects nothing in return.”

His family has never asked for anything until now.

“Family is everything,” Duro said fighting back tears. “I’m fighting so hard to make sure that he has the resources … doing as much as we can to make sure that he feels loved and supported and that he’s not fighting this alone.”

“We want to be able to keep him around as long as we can,” she said. “He deserves to have an army behind him.”

“Hopefully something happened with all the transfusions. If not, then we’ll have to find a bone marrow donor,” said Bartolome.

Bartolome and his ohana want to encourage folks to consider becoming a donor.

“Not for just my father, but other patients throughout the Hawaii community, throughout the nation, because they could save lives – like my father’s.”

To learn more about Chef Riko, click here.

To help with mounting medical bills, click here.

For at a special event happening this month, Maui Chefs Cook for a Cause, click here.