Aloha, my name is AJ Torres, and I was born and raised here in Hawaii.

In 2023, my life was turned upside down when I lost my job and, shortly after, my home. After months of couch surfing and even sleeping at a bus stop, I eventually found myself living in a tent on a remote beach. I spent whatever money I had left on a blanket and a flashlight. Because the area was completely unlit and theft was common, I was mostly trapped there, making it nearly impossible to leave and find work.

Finding Hope in Hardship

Despite the circumstances, I fought hard to survive. I relied on local food banks and started collecting recycling. Slowly, I saved enough from recycling cans to buy a generator to charge my devices, and some lighting so I could finally have peace of mind at night.

During this time, I took in a stray puppy who was struggling to survive, just like I was. Lufy became my loyal companion. For the first time in a long time, I was starting to feel happy again. I had transformed our little spot into a comfortable, temporary home where we could be safe together.

The March Rain Bomb

Unfortunately, this past March, the islands were swallowed by a catastrophic, unprecedented downpour. The historic "rain bomb" brought strong winds and massive flooding to our area.

We tried to ride it out, but the flooding was simply too much. We lost our home and absolutely all of our belongings: food, blankets, clothes, and my cell phone. When we fled to higher ground for safety, our hard-earned generator was stolen. It was a crushing blow. Losing everything after working so incredibly hard to find happiness again has been deeply overwhelming.

A Fresh Start from Zero

While living on the beach, I had applied for temporary shelter housing and Section 8 but was repeatedly denied. However, I kept trying. I reapplied this February, and my application was finally accepted!

Lufy and I have moved into a temporary shelter facility. They provided a private studio apartment with a bed, fridge, and microwave. When we moved in, the space was unlivable, so I spent my very last dollars on cleaning supplies to make it a safe, sanitary home for us. We are so incredibly grateful to have a roof over our heads, but we are starting from absolute zero.

How You Can Help

Now that we are secure, my goal is to raise enough money to get back on my feet and restart my career. I am humbly asking for donations to help us replace basic daily essentials. Your support will go directly toward:

• Basic Essentials: Clothing, shoes, hygiene products (soap, shampoo), and linens (sheets, blankets, towels).

• Lufy's Care: Expensive monthly preventative medications and the specific food needed to manage Lufy's dietary sensitivities.

• Job Hunting Supplies: A modest laptop, a printer, and office supplies so I can start sending out resumes and applying for jobs.

Every bit of help will make a difference as we try to recover from this disaster. I thank you for taking the time to read my story, and for any support you can offer. Your kindness and generosity mean more than words can express. Thank you for helping me and Lufy find hope again.