Help Bring Luke Tawerling Home

Bring Luke Tawerling Home

10/19/1980 - 09/13/2024

It is with heavy hearts that we reach out to ask for your support in helping us bring Luke Tawerling back to his homeland. Luke was a beloved son, brother, and friend who passed away tragically on Friday, September 13th, 2024, after a long and painful battle with mental health challenges.

I was asked by Luke’s family to assist in raising the necessary funds to transport his body from Hawaii to his final resting place in Woleai, Yap, where he grew up. I had the privilege of knowing Luke personally, sharing memories with him during his school days in Pohnpei. He was always a humble, kind-hearted person who loved to make others laugh and enjoy life. After moving to Hawaii for further education, Luke made it his home, but over the years, he faced growing mental health struggles.

Though his family in Maui did all they could—offering advice, arranging emergency visits, and ensuring regular checkups—Luke tried to fight many of his battles on his own. Mental health is often overlooked, especially within our Pacific Island communities, where it's not always given the attention and care it truly deserves. Luke's story serves as a painful reminder of how critical it is to break the stigma and to ensure those suffering are fully supported.

In honor of Luke’s life and memory, we are reaching out to family, friends, and the wider community to help raise funds for his journey back home. Any contribution, no matter how small, will go toward covering the transportation and funeral costs, allowing his loved ones to give him the proper farewell he deserves.

Thank you for your support, prayers, and love during this difficult time. Let’s honor Luke’s memory by coming together as a community to support his family in their time of need.