WAILEA — As Shane Victorino looked around the clubhouse of the Wailea Gold and Emerald golf courses last month at his annual golf/dinner weekend to benefit his foundation in its charitable work, he smiled when he thought about starting the event 16 years ago.

“I remember trying to take on the first one,” Victorino said. “Here we are, year 16. I think it’s humbling still yet, as I always say, to be able to come back, especially in these kinds of times.”

His mind immediately went to the weekend taking on a little more meaning in the wake of the Aug. 8 wildfires that did significant damage Upcountry and devastated Lahaina.

“You understand that much more what you’re trying to do and where you’re trying to make the biggest impact in these relief efforts, so yes, it’s always important,” Victorino said. “And it’s something that I think I will never stop, hopefully. As long as I’ve got support by the community, you know I love doing these kinds of things because it’s not about me.

“It’s about the kids, the programs and, you know again, in these kinds of times, the relief effort that’s going to benefit because of this.”

Victorino, a 1999 graduate of St. Anthony High School who won two World Series championships in his 12-year Major League Baseball career, said the fact that the 16th annual Shane Victorino Celebrity Golf and Dinner event arrived just 3 1/2 months after the ravaging fires raised the stakes this year.

“Yes and no, and when I say ‘yes,’ it’s because obviously of what has happened, but I think for me as I look on each and every year and the impact that this event has had, you know, every one has played its role,” Victorino said. “I think for me at this point, the frustrating thing is was there a way for this not to happen so that we don’t have to do what we deal with today?”

Victorino was moved by the images of the devastation when he first saw them, but has always kept Maui in his heart.

“For me, the biggest thing is, as I’ve always said, I will always be here for my town, for my island,” he said. “I will always be here for where I grew up.”

He will take the time necessary to figure out the best way to distribute the funds from this event and other charitable efforts under his foundation banner.

“These kind of times, when the opportunity — whether it be in two months, whether it be a year from now — we’re going to sit back, I’m going to go where I believe this will be a long-term thing and a long-term relief,” he said. “So, I think that’s the part for me, is that it’s never easy to do these, but yes definitely what has happened in August has definitely changed a lot where I grew up. … I’m always here to help.”

He confirmed that all of this year’s funds raised from the dinner and golf event would go to fire relief efforts.

“Oh, that’s a no-brainer,” he said. “I wish it wasn’t that way, but yes, the circumstances that are at hand, yes, every bit, all of the money that I put in personally, every bit of what is being raised, and what is organized during these times, all of it.

“When that time comes and when we deploy back into our efforts and where we feel like is the best fit long-term and what we believe in, yeah. But it’s a long road. As you know … it’s not going to be an easy journey for anybody. Not just the people that faced it first-hand, it’s a whole island that’s suffering right now.”

Victorino said the fundraising efforts are ongoing since his event on Nov. 17-18. He emphasized that there is no timeline on decisions on where the money will go yet, as the needs must be analyzed.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be a few months, I don’t know if it’s going to be a year from now, I don’t know if it’s going to be two years from now, but what we’re trying to say is we’re going to collect and keep collecting,” he said. “But, again, if something pops up a month from now that makes sense, that fits a plan that we have and what we’re working on, then yes. If not, we’ll wait for that time.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.