Help Hans Support His Neighbors on Maui

Please help Hans Sucher to continue to support his neighbors!

Our brother Hans has lived on Maui for over 30 years now. West Maui is his home. As people started hearing about the devasting fires on Maui, many of you asked, “What can I do to help Hans?” We have asked Hans that same question every day since those fires destroyed Lahaina. Each day is new and the needs of the residents of West Maui change. At first, we were all concerned that our loved ones were safe. Luckily, Hans, Isaiah and Ana were safe. While their homes were spared, their day-to-day lives were dramatically changed. Hans quickly learned that his sources of income were gone as the vacation rental he managed was destroyed by the fires and the restaurant where he worked in Lahaina is indefinitely closed. Getting food and safe water for his family were Hans’ immediate concerns. Electricity was out, roads into West Maui were closed, there was no internet and there was only sporadic cell phone service for a lucky few. While the electricity is now back on in parts of West Maui, the other issues are remaining and are obstacles to moving on. While Hans has found many of his friends, sadly, some have lost everything, some are injured and some are still missing.

These are not problems that will be fixed soon. It will take a long time for the infrastructure and the jobs to come back. It will take even longer to recover emotionally. But the people of Hawaii are resourceful and are coming together to help each other through this trying time. Some schools are starting to reopen next week (including Isaiah’s high school where he will be a freshman) but many logistical and financial problems remain for the schools, the teachers and the students. This will not be a typical school year but with volunteers, like Hans, they will try to help the students through this.

Hans recently posted the following on FB: Hawaii is an amazing place! Everyone is chipping in to help the grief stricken, the injured, the houseless, the hungry, the jobless and the children. Hans has been helping where he can by visiting shelters, delivering food, supplies and medicine to neighbors and spreading the word about resources available to residents. He has also been doing what Hans does best- making others just feel better! One of his neighbors posted on Hans’ FB page: …very much appreciated your uplifting talk in the driveway. You’re a good man.

But this tragedy is so hard on everyone there and Hans now needs your help. He would like to have funds available to help his family and his neighbors on Maui as their many needs arise as they start to rebuild their lives. These funds will only be going to year-round residents, the locals who are the heart and soul of the Maui community. It is hard to predict all of the needs that will arise over the next few weeks and months, but Hans wants to help where he can. So, if you can, please donate to Hans’ GoFundMe so he can continue to help others!

Mahalo for your support.

Photo: Hans and Isaiah visiting our cousin Thom Leonard at War Memorial Shelter