Aloha my friends,

My name is Raimana Van Bastolaer, Tahitian pro surfer and Surf Ranch coach. Some of you know me from Instagram, and many of you — the ones who call me Tonton — are my close friends and family. Today, I’m reaching out from the heart.

In March 2026, Hawaii was struck by catastrophic flooding caused by back-to-back Kona low storms. These storms brought record-breaking rainfall, overwhelming rivers and drainage systems across several islands. Homes, cars, schools, and sports equipment were destroyed. Many families had to evacuate and even swim to safety. The devastation has been severe, and the recovery will take a long time.

Among those deeply affected were two amazing kids — my nephew and niece, Nuutea (18) and Nawai (12).

Nawai lost all her school sports gear.

Nuutea lost his car and most of his belongings, which were inside.

Both had to swim for their lives through the floodwaters.

But here’s something that makes me so proud as their uncle: Nuutea didn’t just survive — he led. When the water reached chest level, he helped his younger sister and girlfriend escape safely, even using a coconut palm to stabilize them in the rushing current. He even tried to wake up neighbors and guide them to safety. Meanwhile, both of them have been helping others in their community, shoveling mud and cleaning up, showing courage and compassion beyond their years.

These two are resilient, caring, and hardworking — but right now, they need support to rebuild their lives. They are currently staying at Nuutea’s girlfriend’s home and need help to replace essentials, school supplies, sports equipment, and the belongings they lost.

Anything you can give — big or small — will go directly to them. Your generosity will help them recover, rebuild, and regain stability after losing so much. Even just sharing this page with your friends will mean the world to them.

Mahalo nui loa, Mauruuru roa (thank you very much) for your kindness, support, and aloha spirit.

LOVE YOU!

Raimana — a.k.a Tonton