With the recent destruction of Lahaina, I am grateful to say my family is one of the lucky ones who are alive, and all accounted for. While I sit here in safety on the mainland, my family is homeless, jobless, and surviving. Luckily, we have relatives in Napali that has set up as base for my ‘ohana. Which is more than most.

This GoFundMe is to think ahead. As the ash and smoke settle, we must come together as a community to rebuild. And most importantly, ensure our local families are cared for and loved. That Hawaiian homes stay in Hawaiian hands.

Before Lahaina was made a tourist attraction, it was home to our people, our ohana, our life, our way of living, fishers of Mala, and keepers of our Hawaiian traditions. Everything we needed to survive was right here. Our tutu’s house (grandmother’s house) was the oldest home on Front Street Lahaina, built by the backs of our ancestors, Hawaiian-owned. At the time of its destruction, it was called home to four separate families and more. Memory and history, are tarnished. This home gave safety to generations and the LAND itself gave life to my ancestors. So though the home is nothing but ash, the land can still be built upon. The same land that took care of our ancestors, can continue to take care of my family and the generations that shall come after us.

It's hard to understand, it’s hard to feel, it's hard to heal, and now it's hard to survive. I humbly ask family, friends, colleagues, and strangers, please help my ohana in need. Medications were burned, family heirlooms, clothing, everything gone in a blaze with no time to prepare. Our generational home sheltered my nieces, nephews, aunties, uncles, and tutus. Please help us to continue to live in and on our land.

Located at 1433 Front St, Lahaina, HI 96761. Our family has denied being bought out by big corporations and businesses for generations. And still to this very day are denying being bought out by realtors who honestly have no heart to understand the pain the people of Maui are going through. Our home, once valued at $3.2 million was one of the oldest Hawaiian homes that lasted through the decades. Our kupuna built the first-ever boat ramp in Lahaina. Before the Mala boat ramp was created.

My uncle has secured material with a supplier located in Florida. We are aiming to rebuild our tutu’s home to be a 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath sanctuary (estimated cost $245,000). This home will continue to support the following families:

• Kobatake ohana of 4,

• Filikitonga-lukela ohana of 3

• Plus 14 other adults and children. Ages range from 8 to 70 years of age.

Our home has always been a sanctuary and haven. Our family has taken in kids to feed, sleep, and shower when in need for decades. Our ohana has always welcomed anyone and has never turned away those needing a roof over their heads, regardless of the number of mouths to feed. Our family always took care of our community.

I understand that this is a long shot, but I’d rather ask and be denied than say nothing at all. Closed mouths do not get fed. This is me asking my friends, extended family, coworkers, friends of friends, strangers, etc to lend a hand. Anything helps. If you can’t donate money, please just spread awareness of what is happening in Lahaina. If you have items laying around the house, please donate them at your local drop-off points. If you need help locating that, ask me. If you’d rather donate to the larger cause let me direct you to credible sources that are physically giving back to our community, our people.

Mahalo. We will also give updates on progress.