Blue Banana Tonga Cyclone Relief
Donation protected
Two beautiful souls have had their hearts broken and their livelihood destroyed by tropical cyclone Harold. With travel restrictions in place we can’t be there to help Chris and Shane, so let’s pull together to give them something back. They could do with a bit of help and a lot of love, in this hardest time.
In the early hours of 9 April 2020, tropical cyclone Harold strengthened to Category 5 and struck Tonga’s western coastline. The storm surge coincided with a rare king tide, and the 285km/h winds generated unimaginable waves that swept through Blue Banana wiping out buildings, vehicles, a lifetime of treasures, vegetation, and eroding a large fraction of the property front.
Three iconic fales, the Boathouse, Lookout and Maui, were completely washed away. The Blue Banana shop & museum were destroyed and will require a mammoth amount of work to salvage what is left. The waves entered their home at the top of the property - a staggering 14m above sea level.
Mother nature has been lashing-out with increased frequency and severity. Unfortunately she isn’t as careful as she should be about who she lashes out at, otherwise she surely would have spared Chris and Shane for all the positive work they have done in promoting environmentally sustainable tourism, and giving us all a deeper connection to nature.
This comes at such a strange time. Under normal circumstances we would go and help. But with strict travel restrictions in place for Tonga, we can’t be there. I would love nothing more than to be with them right now. In the meantime, I hope this fundraiser can give them a bit of a boost.
Any money collected by this fundraiser will go directly to Chris and Shane Egan at Blue Banana Tonga, to repair damages inflicted by the cyclone. I know their priorities now are to restore their home and remaining buildings to safe and working order, and to clear the devastation from the property and the beach to make it safe, and stabilize the erosion that took place. It is too early to know what will come of Blue Banana when this is all over. The fundraiser target won’t come close to covering what they have lost, but every bit will help, and I know they will feel the emotional support of all you guys banding together behind them.
If you have been touched by this beautiful place and the two amazing people that have worked tirelessly to make it available, please consider giving something back to help them get back on their feet.
Donations can be anonymous. Feel free to leave a message and we’ll make sure Chris and Shane get it.
‘Ofa atu
Chas, Hayley & Anna
(More about this campaign:- The beneficiaries of this campaign are Christine and Shane Egan of Kanokupolu, Tonga. All money collected by this campaign will be withdrawn by the organiser and transferred to the beneficiaries when the campaign ends, or any time before that at the request of the beneficiaries. The organiser of this campaign, Chas Egan, is the son of Christine and Shane Egan.)
Images from Sept 2018
In the early hours of 9 April 2020, tropical cyclone Harold strengthened to Category 5 and struck Tonga’s western coastline. The storm surge coincided with a rare king tide, and the 285km/h winds generated unimaginable waves that swept through Blue Banana wiping out buildings, vehicles, a lifetime of treasures, vegetation, and eroding a large fraction of the property front.
Three iconic fales, the Boathouse, Lookout and Maui, were completely washed away. The Blue Banana shop & museum were destroyed and will require a mammoth amount of work to salvage what is left. The waves entered their home at the top of the property - a staggering 14m above sea level.
Mother nature has been lashing-out with increased frequency and severity. Unfortunately she isn’t as careful as she should be about who she lashes out at, otherwise she surely would have spared Chris and Shane for all the positive work they have done in promoting environmentally sustainable tourism, and giving us all a deeper connection to nature.
This comes at such a strange time. Under normal circumstances we would go and help. But with strict travel restrictions in place for Tonga, we can’t be there. I would love nothing more than to be with them right now. In the meantime, I hope this fundraiser can give them a bit of a boost.
Any money collected by this fundraiser will go directly to Chris and Shane Egan at Blue Banana Tonga, to repair damages inflicted by the cyclone. I know their priorities now are to restore their home and remaining buildings to safe and working order, and to clear the devastation from the property and the beach to make it safe, and stabilize the erosion that took place. It is too early to know what will come of Blue Banana when this is all over. The fundraiser target won’t come close to covering what they have lost, but every bit will help, and I know they will feel the emotional support of all you guys banding together behind them.
If you have been touched by this beautiful place and the two amazing people that have worked tirelessly to make it available, please consider giving something back to help them get back on their feet.
Donations can be anonymous. Feel free to leave a message and we’ll make sure Chris and Shane get it.
‘Ofa atu
Chas, Hayley & Anna
(More about this campaign:- The beneficiaries of this campaign are Christine and Shane Egan of Kanokupolu, Tonga. All money collected by this campaign will be withdrawn by the organiser and transferred to the beneficiaries when the campaign ends, or any time before that at the request of the beneficiaries. The organiser of this campaign, Chas Egan, is the son of Christine and Shane Egan.)
Images from Sept 2018
Organizer
Chas Egan
Organizer
Yeronga, QLD