69yr Old Woman Victimized By Arson

Aloha! I am a salon owner in the town of Kalaheo, Kauai who has witnessed a terrible situation unfold. Together with neighboring business owner Suzie Woolway from Ohana Home Health, we are reaching out to the community of Kauai and beyond to ask for help in assisting a 69 year old near-homeless woman who is the victim of arson get into a safe home. Luana recently lost the lease of her home that she rented, which closely neighbored our businesses. We've all gotten to know her because she walks around town, visiting us almost daily since she has no car. Luana is an Italian woman from New York who has lived on Kauai for 35 years. She is truly funny, witty, intelligent, has a very kind heart and has always helped out in the community. She lives free of what society thinks of her. Losing her home was very distressing for her. She didn't know where she would go. She has a HUD voucher but the availability of homes she could afford is non-existent. A very kind businessman near us offered her a vacant room as a temporary place for her to stay while she found a more suitable home. The entry to this room has many stairs and she cannot get up there easily, but she took it, as it was her only option. While moving into this temporary place, she had to place her belongings in the building's open garage because she could not fit it all into the tiny room. She was very much afraid of leaving her things outside, but had no choice. The building had been vandalized in recent years and she was afraid of something happening to her things. I assured her it should be okay as long as it wasn't there for too long. One night two weeks ago, on September 18 at about 2am, a very tragic thing happened. Her belongings were set on fire and she lost everything. The things burned were a lifetime of photographs, old cards, her entire library of music, handmade angels which she loved, clothing, canned food, many books, and things of great sentimental value. A passerby may have interpreted her things as "junk", or maybe someone had ill-will toward her. Whatever the case is, this can't be ignored. It is very sad as this fire seems to be intentional and has sent her into a very hopeless state. She was very attached to her belongings. What's most concerning is that if this was intentional, it is clearly an act of targeted violence toward a struggling, harmless 69year old woman. Luana was in the hospital at the time of the fire and upon being told what happened, she fell into despair. She is someone who certainly is in a position of needing our help. She doesn't have any family and she is our kupuna. In addition to being very emotionally distressed, she is not physically well, and has a very hard time getting up the stairs to her tiny, unsafe room where she fears she may be targeted again. If we can raise enough money just to cover her deposit and a few months rent for a comfortable apartment while she gets back on her feet, it would mean so much. She is currently on waiting lists for elderly housing, but it is unclear if she will ever get accepted. Suzie and I appreciate any help you can offer. Mahalo! And if you see Luana walking around town, please extend any form of kindness, help or support to her. She really needs it and she will very much appreciate it!