Maui barbers spread back-to-school aloha with free haircuts

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Some lucky keiki are showing off brand-new hairstyles, thanks to a generous back-to-school gift from a Maui barbershop.

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Barbers from Maui’s UpperKutz808 gave free haircuts to 80 kids on Lanai last week, stacking up school chairs to turn the Lanai High and Elementary School gym into a makeshift barbershop. Days before that, the team gave free haircuts to foster children in Kahului.

This marks the second year the shop has offered free back-to-school keiki cuts. UpperKutz808 owner Javy Alres Toro said he and his team wanted to give back to the community that has shown them so much aloha over the years.

“The way I started my career, I was going from house to house, begging people to let me cut their hair and giving haircuts in the back of my truck, so that’s what got me to where I am at now,” said Toro.

Chelsea Tadena of Lanai City said her nephews are loving their new haircuts.

“We don’t really have that many barber shops here on Lanai. I don’t know exactly where a lot of these school age kids get their haircuts but I know they have to travel off island to either Oahu or Maui,” said Tadena. “They (Upperkutz808) literally also take the financial burden off the shoulders of parents because a haircut can cost anywhere between 30 to 45 dollars. It’s really nice for them to do this because school shopping is already so expensive.”

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“Ah, those kids man they want the little fade on the side, tapered and messy on top,” said Toro. “When I give them the mirror, and you see that smile on their face, I don’t even want their money. You see that smile or they blush or you got the guys that say oh yeah, yeah, yeah that’s fine, that’s fine!”

Next, Toro and his crew will head to Molokai on Aug. 21 and 22 to give free cuts at Kaunakakai Baptist Church, followed by a stop in Hana, Maui, from Sept. 4 to 6.

Residents can check the shop’s Instagram page for exact locations and times. Haircuts are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

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“A little touch of love with our hands goes a long ways,” said Toro.