Help Us Save Our Family Land and Support Our Momʻs Care

Hi, my name is Suzie Leong, and I’m creating this fundraiser on behalf of my mom, Mayta Draeger (75), and her sister, my aunty Lorna Puailihau (82). They live together on our family land in Hawai‘i — land that has been in our family since the 1800s — but they are now at serious risk of losing it due to $24,000 in unpaid property taxes.

My mom moved back home from Alaska in April 2019 during the COVID pandemic with only her dog Ebbie and three backpacks. She lived alone in a tent for over a year clearing tall California grass by hand, determined to reconnect with the land and rebuild.

In September 2023, she was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She fought hard and is now in remission, but the illness left her unable to walk, incontinent, and struggling with her mental health.

The very same week, my Aunty Lorna moved in — expecting to spend her golden years gardening and enjoying time with family. Instead, she unexpectedly became my mom’s full-time caregiver. Aunty is 82 and has her own health issues, but she’s doing everything she can to care for her sister.

When my mom’s car died that week, my aunty used her limited funds to purchase a vehicle so she could drive my mom to appointments — a 60-mile round trip each time. We’re hoping to use part of the funds to help pay off her car loan.

We’re also trying to level the land so that my mom can safely reach the driveway. Right now, medical transport can't pick her up because the path is too uneven. If we can fix that, it would give my aunt a break from driving and allow my mom more access to care and independence.

We’re raising funds to:

* Pay $24,000 in back property taxes to save the family land

* Pay off my auntyʻs car loan used for medical trips

* Level the property so my mom can access transport services

* Install a fence for safety and privacy

* Support ongoing care needs for my mom

They live entirely off-grid — no electricity, just running water — and are surviving on a fixed income. While our church and neighbors have shown incredible kindness, we simply can’t do this alone.

Every donation, no matter how small, brings us closer to saving our home and giving my aunty and mom the care and rest they deserve. If you can’t give, please share our story.

With heartfelt thanks,

Suzie Leong