Wela and Steph Maui Fire Recovery Effort

Aloha Friends & Family,

It would be hard to find a bigger heart with more Aloha spirit than Wela Espiritu. A true local born and raised on Maui his Hawaiian family goes back generations on island. My time on Maui for nearly a decade barely had a story in it that didn't feature my wingman and best buddy Wela. I've personally witnessed him give the literal shirt off his back, money, food, anything anyone needed, nothing is ever too large an ask for Wela. His infectious laugh, huge smile and ability to get er done in any situation has made him the unofficial "Mayor" of Maui. He met his match in the lovely, charismatic, kind-hearted and funny Steph and they married in 2015. This is that couple who you look at and can just feel the deep love, affection, and tenderness they have for each other. Beautiful daughter Stella and adopted son Kahanu realized this couples dream of a family. Post pandemic, times have been rough for this family when inflation and the cost of living skyrocked on an already expensive island. But this is their HOME and they have always made it work.

Nothing could prepare anyone for the events of this past week. The entire world is mourning the loss felt from the Maui fires. I'm coming to you today in a desperate plea to help this incredible family financially. Wela is an extremely talented chef who recently became unemployed in July due to KBH being sold to Outrigger and Steph ran Lahaina Sunglass Boutique & Maui Sunglass, both on Front Street in Lahaina-both burned down completely. Stellas school burned down and they don't know where the kids will attend school. Everything is up in the air with no relief in sight as the tourism industry is what the island and this family depends on for survival.

Being the amazing human that she is, when I asked Steph if I could start a GoFundMe for her family, she told me that 3 of her employees lost everything 2 single people and a family of 3 and that she is going to try and help them as well.

No amount is too small and 100% of any donation received will go directly into Stephs account to help them regain their footing, sense of balance and the security that comes from monetary contributions.

The community on Maui is extremely strong and I know this family will be in the thick of it helping with the rebuild efforts. Please, let us help Wela & Steph rise to the extremely difficult occasion of looking into the future with hope and courage. That the dreams and vision they have for their family can sustain this blow to their very existence and be met with love, tenacity and bravery.

Thank you so much for your generosity. Please share and ask your friends and family to share this page.

Love,

Jen