Family of 7 Lost Everything in Lahaina Fire

My Family Mentioned on KUTV

Aloha Dear Friends,

I am reaching out with a heartfelt plea for assistance to help my family rebuild their lives. They lost everything in the Lahaina fires. Their homes and businesses, along with everything they owned, and most tragically, their entire life savings (more info below). My Mom & Dad are now in their 50s and have 3 kids together: Melanie, Stef (me), and Cindy who is also a single mom of two little ones (5 and 2 years old) with one more on the way who all need your help right now more than ever.

My family is all too humble to ask for help, so I am plucking up the courage of doing it in their stead. Anything you can spare is greatly appreciated. Even if you yourself can not donate, please share this Gofundme on social media. And kindly keep my family along with all those affected in your thoughts and prayers. Mahalo nui loa~!!

A little more if you care to read:

I attended Maui Prep and graduated from Lahainaluna High School with Honors. I am currently not on the island, but I had planned to visit during the holidays, so when I finally heard news break out of the horrific Lahaina fires on August 9th, 2023 while I was at work I could not stop my hands from shaking trying to get a hold of my family. My heart sank knowing that they had all not too long ago relocated from Napili to Lahaina, and even more so of the real possibility of having no home or family to even come home too. Yet by God's Grace they are all alive.

My Mom & Dad have resided on Maui for over 20 years and are two of the most hard-working people I have ever known. Everyone they had the honor and privilege to work for can attest to that. It breaks my heart to pieces that everything they have worked for, everything they have been through to get to where they were vanished in a single night.

Unfortunately, my parents being as old school as they are, kept their entire life savings in cash... and when they evacuated, unbeknownst to them that the fires would reach as far as they did, it all burnt to ash. Life is not fair, I know full well... and if I had the means to, God knows I would retire them in a heartbeat. Even if it meant I had to work hard for the rest of my life. If I was guaranteed that much, there would not be a second thought in my mind.

My two younger sisters were also tragically affected. One of which is pregnant with her third. Her other two little ones are 2 and 5 years of age of which she has raised as a single mom, but as they say, "it takes a village." My family has always done anything possible to help each other and those around them. As helpless as I feel in this situation being so far away at this time, I want to do anything I can to help rebuild their lives.

Not only did my parents, siblings, aunts and uncles lose their homes, they lost their livelihoods. My Mom & Dad own a Vacation Rental Cleaning Business on the Westside. My littlest sis, who has been clinically diagnosed with Depression, had found purpose with her handcrafted jewelry business that had just started taking off. With the little time they had to react to the encroaching flames, she didn't hesitate to run out with our 12-year-old cat Mo, while leaving the rest behind. With the entirety of Lahaina reduced to rubble, tourism has come to a standstill. They lost their vehicles, computers, inventory, tools, etc. There will be no work for the foreseeable future. When they tried to see if anything could be retrieved from where their homes once stood there were only empty, solemn walls to house the ashes.

The two following images are of one of their cars, and one of their homes.

I do not know how you can quantify 20 years into a dollar amount when mother nature decides to press the reset button. All I can do is hope and pray for my family. Again Mahalo, and Bless you all for your kindness and generosity ❤️

With Love & Gratitude,

Stef

Adriana

Gerardo

Cindy

Melanie

Danny (5)

Ezri (2)

Mo (cat)

(We also have aunties, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews affected by these fires).

This is me. The eldest of 3 just trying to rebuild my family's lives. You may contact me with any questions, or to set up an interview with my family as they are still experiencing unreliable cell/wifi service.

Other Links

My Mom mentioned on the Civil Beat