Let's Unite to Support Wilmont and His Family!

Aloha dear friends, extended family, and kindred spirits,

We hope this message finds you well. In times of hardship, the spirit of aloha shines brightest. Today, we come together as a tight-knit ohana to extend our love and unwavering support to our dear friend Wilmont. Our hearts ache as we share the news of a devastating wildfire that has swept through Lahaina, Maui, claiming Wilmont's home, his family's belongings, and his life's work.

Wilmont Kahaiali’i is family - to all who know him. As a kupuna, he is a holder of much of Hawai’i’s rich history and people, a community leader, and friend to all.

Wilmont has touched our lives in ways words cannot fully capture. In 2009, he blessed our engagement on Maui with traditional Hawaiian song and chant, infusing our journey with the timeless wisdom of his culture. In 2011, his presence illuminated our wedding ceremony on the Big Island, as we exchanged vows under the vast Hawaiian sky, surrounded by the mana of the 'aina. We visit with Wilmont every chance we get when visiting Maui, most recently just last month — he gave us and our children a private tour of an ancient Hawaiian Heiau (a place of worship where mana is transferred and concentrated through ritual and prayer) near Honolua Bay. Wilmont's connections to West Maui run deep, and his love for the 'aina and its people is a testament to the enduring spirit of Hawaii.

For most of his life, Wilmont has been working on a legacy project focused on preserving the lineage and culture of the Hawaiian people. He is a caretaker of the Hawaiian culture, carefully documenting the stories and history from the Hawaiian ancestors, through the kings and queens, to the land battles of today. Yesterday, his life’s work went up in flames.

Wilmont is a man of tremendous spirit and love who shares his blessings with all that he meets. He is the first to drop everything and help when others need a hand. A truly generous soul, he and his family have lost everything in this fire- rushed to evacuate with only what they could throw in their car. All of his tangible family history, belongings, his music, and his life’s work… lost in an instant.

He is a true embodiment of the aloha spirit, and he and his family now need our help.

The damage has been widespread and quick, devastating homes and businesses in its path. Many families and business owners were forced to flee with nothing and now face uncertainty with no home or work to return to, the land on fire, and only what they could carry.

Lahaina town is a beautiful stretch of land filled with history. To see it go up in flames is crushing…

Lahaina will be rebuilt, but not without much hardship. The stories will continue to be told, but the people who hold them need our assistance as they find their way.

Today, our friend faces the daunting task of rebuilding not just a physical structure, but the heart and soul of his family and people.

With the spirit of aloha guiding us, we've established this GoFundMe campaign to embody the tradition of kokua—extending a helping hand to those in need. Your contribution, whether it's a humble maika'i or a larger gift, will go a long way in providing Wilmont with the means to restore his life's tapestry. Funds raised will help secure a home, replace the essentials of daily life, and support his mission in documenting the stories of his people.

E hui pu kakou, let us come together, each offering a bit of our own light to collectively illuminate Wilmont's path forward. Share this campaign, offer your kokua, and let's weave a new tapestry of aloha for our friend.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of Wilmont’s journey to recovery. Let’s surround him with the strength and love that he has always shared with us.

With aloha and gratitude,

Jeff and Brittany