As a family business of two born and raised here, we have our share of hardships. We started in 2018 with the dream to help people and enjoy building relationships in our community by keeping their cars safe on the road. It started with my husband's dream and love for fixing vehicles, became a reality with lots of long days and nights working endlessly. With our family and friends' support, we were able to grow very quickly. In the first year, the Covid pandemic came; it lasted a total of 4 years for us. Shortly after recovering thanks to our loyal customers and businesses, we encountered more struggles to stay in business as costs rise. Recently, within this year, a vehicle accident occurred that took the last of what we could manage. My husband and I need to go back to work to live. I have come up with the idea to raise enough money to keep my shop in place till my non-profit is established. Our shop will be closed to reorganize and go through this process.

I found that since we started, the feeling of helping others was worth more than words can explain. Especially when they could not afford it. We made it possible as we all struggle; we still have to find a way to help each other.

One of my two sons graduated from Konawaena High School and joined us right after he graduated. I asked him why the school does not offer mechanics anymore. He said because they don't. Since he graduated and businesses were not hiring, we offered to teach him. This turned out well; he learned how to fix vehicles from learning the basics to advancing to all other systems. This life skill is meant to be taught to our children; if they have no option to learn, they will not learn. If only the high school was able to offer this when he was attending, there would be no shortage in the mechanic trade.

I have hope and faith that we can get support from our community to get this done. I am in communication with a few non-profits to aid us in fiscal sponsorship in the meantime. We are hoping to have a learning center to get high school children of all races to learn the fundamentals of maintaining and repairing a vehicle, so that we can have our own local future mechanics.

Our community lacks learning programs and services in the automotive industry and in many other trades. We hope to keep it local and keep our children here. Funds raised through this fundraiser will be used for sustaining the shop in place while we go back to work, till the program is implemented in full force. This program will aid our community's kupunas, working and disabled individuals, and ohanas who experience financial hardship. This will help get our local community to work, school, and doctors safely. More details on future fundraising for this program will be announced. It may take 6 months or longer to complete this mission; funds will not be used for profit. I am going to get this done no matter what it takes. More details will be sent to all donors and community members as this progresses. Anything helps as this will not be tax-deductible for donors yet, but an investment for the community's future. I am welcoming ideas and individuals who would like to join in as directors or volunteers. I am highlighting this quote from Queen Liliuokalani because I will not fail!!

“Never cease to act because you fear you may fail.”

Spoken to her adopted daughter | January 1917

― Queen Liliuokalani