Aloha, friends, family, and ʻohana of Puna and beyond,

My name is Jasmine Steiner , and I'm reaching out as the daughter of Sara Steiner - a dedicated warrior who has given her life to protecting our sacred ʻāina, serving our Puna community, and fighting for justice, all without ever asking for help.

Sara, 63, lives simply off-grid in Pahoa on Hawaii's Big Island: an artist, founder and chair of Laulima Pahoa 501(c)3 nonprofit (serving since 2016), a Colorado Tech University graduate who applies her education as a paralegal leading powerful pro se actions like the current active unprecedented Hawaii Geothermal Injunction (currently awaiting hearing date in Intermediate court of Appeals as they try to expand geothermal all over Hawaii island) to defend our land and future generations, and a gardener selling her homegrown fruits, vegetables, and fruit trees at the Kaimu farmer's market to get by. She has no steady income or safety net—just hard daily work and deep aloha for her community.

Now, Sara is battling Stage 2 primary urethral melanoma—an extremely rare, invasive, and aggressive form of mucosal melanoma. The tumor is advanced enough that immediate surgery isn't the starting option. Her treatment plan starts with immunotherapy to target and control the tumor, followed by targeted radiation, and—if the response is strong—surgery to remove it. This approach gives her the best chance to address it effectively.

These treatments will require Sara to step away from her physical gardening work, market sales, and paralegal efforts for at least 2-3 months (likely longer for recovery and follow-up). In Hawaii—especially rural Pahoa—the cost of living is brutally high, even off-grid: groceries are 30-50% more expensive than the mainland due to shipping, utilities (propane, fuel for generators, water catchment maintenance) run far above national averages, and basic transportation is a constant challenge.

Sara relies on an old truck that breaks down every other week, leading to unexpected repair bills, towing, or lost market days that wipe out her small earnings.

Cost of living/gas/utilities/groceries/off-grid essentials easily hit $1,500–$2,000/month or more here, and without her income, the stress of bills could seriously hinder her ability to rest and heal. She needs to stay off her feet, focus on treatment, and avoid financial worry so her body can respond as well as possible.

Even during this, Sara's commitment to justice continues: She has upcoming court dates, including an April hearing on her rulemaking petition for new geothermal regulations in Hawaii (likely via Zoom if travel or energy is low). Your support will give her the peace to prioritize health without the added burden of Hawaii's high costs.

For those who know her , they know Sara has never asked for handouts—she's the one who shows up for protests, volunteers tirelessly, and fights for our clean air, water, and ʻāina. This is her time of need, and I know our community will surround her with the love she's given us for decades.

How Your Donations Will Help:

Living Essentials in High-Cost Hawaii: Gas, utilities (propane/fuel/maintenance), groceries, off-grid needs, and basic household support for 2-3+ months (~$1,500–$2,000/month adjusted for Pahoa/Big Island realities).

Treatment Support: Co-pays for immunotherapy, radiation, medications, and transportation to appointments (possibly inter-island, relying on her unreliable truck).

Recovery Needs: Nutritious foods (extra costly here), supplements, rest setup, mobility aids, and home assistance.

Unexpected Repairs/Activism Continuity: Truck fixes (frequent breakdowns add hundreds unpredictably) plus tools for Zoom/court participation without strain.

Every donation—$10, $50, $100—helps ease the load in one of the most expensive places to live. Treatments are moving forward, she starts them soon, So PLEASE share if you can. I'll post regular updates on Sara's progress as well . It means the world to me , her daughter ❤️

Mahalo nui loa for standing with Sara. She's a kīai for our ʻāina—let's be kīai for her now. #AolePGV #PunaLivesMatter #PeleRising #WeArePuna #HelpSaraHeal #MalamaPele #HawaiiHighCost

With gratitude and aloha,

Jasmine Steiner (Sara's Daughter)

@Kahu_Puna on Insta/TikTok| LERZ Puna News Weekly on FB

(P.S. PELE IS NOT FOR SALE, and Sara's strength is unbreakable—help us keep her healing strong in paradise's high-cost reality!)