Help Marie Recover From Brazen Pahoa Carjacking

Marie Materazzi cleans houses for a living all over Hawai’i island. She has also provided end-of-life care for several of her clients during the past year or so, who were suffering with terminal cancer.

Late last month, she stopped in Pahoa Town at Paul’s Repair Services before heading out to the house she was scheduled to clean that day.

She jumped out of the car for a moment while it was running, and just then a young man who had been watching her leaped out of his car and pushed past her and into her car. He drove off even as Marie tried to stop him. His accomplice drove off after him. Her purse, along with ID, cash, and Covid vaccination card, were all gone.

Marie is a strong, honest woman, and she wasn’t about to quit. She raced after her car for as far as she could manage, chasing it for several blocks before she finally collapsed. But because of that stress, and the stress of losing her livelihood, she suffered a heart attack right there in the middle of town.

She was rushed to Hilo Medical Center and spent the next two days in a hospital bed. She survived, and she’s home now, but she is still shaken. And with her car gone, she has no way to get back to work. And her medical bills will come due eventually.

Her friends have all rallied around her, offering support where they can, but Marie still needs a car, and a little help to cover those medical bills. We’ve started this campaign to help Marie get her back on her feet, and to let her know that there are also still a few good people in the world.

Help out if you can. Mahalo.