Over the past few weeks, Hawaii has been hit with relentless storms, leaving the ground oversaturated and vulnerable. On Thursday night, Laie and the surrounding areas experienced a devastating 17 inches of rain in just one night, causing major flash flooding across the island. That night, while my brother was on shift as a firefighter, his house was flooded with 8 inches of water. While we are grateful that his home is repairable, the damage is extensive. Pictures can’t capture the full impact—there’s a tremendous amount of repair work ahead (drywall, flooring, cabinetry, etc.) and many essential items, like a refrigerator and other appliances, along with furniture and personal items, are a total loss. What makes this even more challenging is that my brother’s home isn’t in a designated flood zone, so he doesn’t have flood insurance to help cover the costs. All repairs and replacements will have to come out of pocket. Also, because the water was most likely sewer contaminated, anything it touched must be sterilized if possible or thrown away. The funds raised will help his family (and my 87 year old Mom who lives with them) to rebuild their lives and everything that entails.

Our family is not one that normally asks for help (we were taught to help others and try to take care of our own needs), so we have humbled ourselves to ask in this time of need. Some people affected by this catastrophic flash flooding had insurance, but since my brother isn’t in a flood zone, he has no flood insurance. A bunch of my Georgia and mainland friends and family have asked how they could help, so I’m creating this fundraiser to give them a way to support. Thank you for anything you can help with; our family is so appreciative. Even if you just share this post, it could help us reach someone who can donate. Your support, in any form, means the world to us as my brother, my Mom, and the rest of my family in Hawaii work to rebuild and recover from this disaster. Mahalo piha.