I am writing this as the grandson of a 103-year-old woman who still asks every day to go home. My Lola came to Hawai‘i as an immigrant with almost nothing. Through years of hard work and sacrifice, she bought herself a small home in 1981. That home has been the center of our family for decades, and it is where she wants to spend the rest of her life.

Earlier this year, a severe storm in March forced us to evacuate her. During the aftermath, she became seriously ill, was hospitalized for more than a month, developed pneumonia, and lost much of the strength in her legs. She is now in hospice care. At 103, she is still mentally sharp and clear about what she wants: “I want to go home.” Our family is now facing a painful legal situation involving her home and future care. Because English is not her first language, we are working to ensure she fully understands and participates in every decision involving her life, care, and home.

We are raising funds to help cover legal fees, translation support, transportation, care costs, and accessibility modifications needed to safely return my Lola home with dignity. The photos we shared mean everything to us. In one, my two-year-old daughter is taking food from the hands of her 103-year-old great-grandmother. In another, my oldest daughter sits beside them on the porch of the home my Lola worked her entire life for. This is about dignity, family, and protecting someone who gave everything she had to build a life for the generations after her. Thank you for reading, donating, or sharing our story.