Hi, my name is Julie and I am fundraising in support of the Ampong Kukona-Pacheco family who lost their ancestral home and all of their belongings in the Maui wildfires. Even though Leilani and her family lost so much they were overwhelmingly kind-hearted, supportive of others in need, and optimistic about the future.

Any amount you can give is much appreciated.

I met Leilani and her family on an evacuation bus out of the Lahaina area. The volunteer bus driver, Leilani's uncle, shared with us that he had been searching for his five nieces and nephews (pictured), whom he lost contact with for days during the fires and had only recently reunited with them that day.

Please find below words from Leilani about her family's experience.

"We’re the Ampong Kukona-Pacheco Ohana [family] and we range from ages 3 years old - 94 years old. I’m still speechless and really don’t know what to say, how to start, or where to even start. My heart aches so much. Our family home that my 94 year old papa built with his own hands has been destroyed. This house has raised generations here from my Papa and Tūtū building their family legacy to raising their children, us his grandchildren (my siblings and I, cousins) also his great great grandchildren - my nieces and nephews. All we have is what was on our backs. I don’t know what else to say but my sister is the only one out of Lahaina so she’s housing us but she’s doing the best she can to give the day-to-day essentials clothes, food, water, etc."

The goal of this fundraiser is to provide support to the Ampong Kukona-Pacheco family while they are recovering from this devastating time and to help replace some of what they lost.