Help He'aliʻi Kauhane Rebuild After Devastating Maui Flood
He'aliʻi Kauhane is a beloved member of our community, a Native Hawaiian elder, and a lifelong carpenter who has spent decades building and restoring homes across Maui.
At 70 years old, He'aliʻi is still out there every day—working with his hands, helping others, and showing up for his community.
After the Lahaina fires, He'aliʻi was one of the people who stepped in to help rebuild. He used his skills, his tools, and his time to support families who had lost everything.
Now, he’s the one who needs help.
During the recent historic Kona Low storm on Maui, we received over 25 inches of rain in just 10 days. A levee above our land breached under the pressure, sending massive amounts of water and silt rushing down the mountain—tearing through our farm and burying everything in its path.
He'aliʻi’s losses were devastating.
His tools—his livelihood—were destroyed.
His vehicles were damaged and buried in silt.
Crops we had planted together were wiped out.
The land itself is now covered in heavy debris that must be dug out before anything can be rebuilt.
This isn’t just about property. This is about a man who has spent his life building for others, suddenly facing the loss of everything he depends on to work, live, and care for his family.
He'aliʻi has also been preparing a small agricultural home here in Olowalu for himself and his wife. For months, his wife had been on bed rest and in hospice care. In a beautiful turn, she has slowly recovered and is now strong enough to come off hospice.
Their dream is simple: to live together on this land, to farm, and to be in a peaceful home they’ve been preparing with so much care.
Right now, that dream is on hold.
Our Plan Moving Forward
In the aftermath of this storm, it became clear that rebuilding in the same location isn’t the safest path forward.
We are coming together to relocate Healiʻi to a safer part of the land—out of the path of future silt flow—so he and his wife can rebuild with more stability and peace of mind.
Healiʻi is family to us. He will have a place here on our land without rent, so he and his wife can focus on healing and rebuilding. His needs are simple—but still require real support to make this transition possible.
How Funds Will Be Used
We are raising $41,000 to help Healiʻi recover, relocate, and rebuild. Funds will go directly toward:
- $10,000 to replace essential carpentry tools so he can work again
- $6,000 for transportation ($3,000 per vehicle) to repair or replace Healiʻi and his wife’s cars, which were buried and damaged by silt during the flooding. If you are a mechanic, have access to parts, or can donate a vehicle or labor, that support would be just as meaningful as financial contributions.
- $5,000 to restore lost crops that Healiʻi has been planting over the past two months in preparation for his wife’s return home—both for their own nourishment and as a source of income. This is a humble estimate, as the true cost of restoring the land, water lines, and growing systems will be significantly higher.
- $5,000 for labor to clear heavy silt and recover what can be salvaged. This includes digging out his tool shed, uncovering the foundation of his current home, retrieving buried tools and materials, and excavating the vehicles so they can be assessed or repaired.
- $15,000 for materials to build a small, humble home in a safer location on higher ground. This will allow us to use whatever can be salvaged and create a more secure place for Healiʻi and his wife to live.
In the flood, He’alli’i lost paperwork and other stuff. He is 70 years old and doesn’t deal with email. I, Eddy Garcia, will be withdrawing the funds to my personal bank account and giving them directly to He’ali’i. I will post a video update with how He’ali’i uses the funds, and have him let me & all GoFundMe donors know where the funds have gone.
I can provide receipts as I transfer funds to He’alli’i.
About This Fundraiser
This fundraiser is being organized by Eddy Garcia of Living Earth Systems and Regenerative Education Centers.
We live and farm in Olowalu on Maui, just north of Lahaina, and have spent the past three years rebuilding after the Lahaina fires—both from our own losses and in service to our community.
Our relationship with Healiʻi began when he showed up to support our nonprofit, Regenerative Education Centers, in the immediate aftermath of the fires. Since then, he has worked alongside us full-time for the past two years, helping rebuild Lahaina and supporting others who were impacted.
Healiʻi has become part of our family.
After the fire recovery work slowed, his wife became terminally ill and entered hospice care. Around that same time, he also lost his housing. We offered him a place on our farm, where he has been building a home for himself and his wife as she recovers.
The recent flooding has now compromised that space as well.
We are organizing this fundraiser on his behalf and will ensure that all funds are used specifically for the purposes outlined above to support his recovery, relocation, and rebuilding.
Let’s Help Healiʻi Rebuild
Healiʻi has given so much to this community—quietly, humbly, and without ever asking for anything in return.
Now it’s our turn to show up for him.
If you’re able to donate, any amount helps.
If you can’t give, sharing this page makes a real difference.
Let’s help Healiʻi rebuild.
First update from He'ali'i