Aloha kakou! My name is Yumi Kijima and I am trying to raise fund for my family and friends in Lahaina.

Apparently this type of donation sites require very detailed information, so please bear with me with my story here which may seem to be TMI.

My Maui family (mom, 4 siblings, 3 cousins, and 9 of their kids/grandkids live(d) side by side in the neighborhood along Lahainaluna. All of their homes are heavily damaged, if not entirely burnt down, or not inhabitable nonetheless. My cousin and niece's houses, cars, 2 business (Serenity Spa in Lahaina) are burnt down to ashes. Majority work(ed) in the hospitality industry in Kaanapali, so all of their jobs are lost indefinitely. (It is not fire-related, but we just buried dad on 6/30 after losing him to a cancer.)

My dear friend (Proprietor of Lahaina Spice Company and 9th generation native Hawaiian in Lahaina) lost all of the retail shops in West Maui, left with only 3 shops off the island. She has been trying to help the natives, locals, and the guests stranded at the hotel she work(ed) for about 40 years. She is doing this by going to Kaanapali ON FOOT everyday. (I am very sad to add here that she lost one of her sons for a non-fire related emergency last night on 8/13.)

I am prepared to fly to Maui as soon as the roads to the West side open, and I plan to take this fund along with emergency supplies in person. I can wire money now but ATM's are down with no power. When they get out of current shelters, they will need housing, generators, bikes, cars, trucks, gas, food, meds, and just about EVERYTHING to survive the immediate weeks and months until infrastructure is restored and they receive any kind of money from the government.

If you need additional information, please feel free to contact me directly.

Mahalo in advance for your your kokua! Any little bit helps.