Help the Ah Puck family rebuild their home

On August 8, 2023, at around 3:30 p.m., the fires started in Lahaina. The fires led to evacuations and road closures.

Since that time, many have unfortunately been injured, missing, and faced death.

My name is Trevor Hunsanger, and I am trying to help a friend and their family rebuild their homes and get back on their feet. My stepmother's long-time friend, Kristina, has asked for our help to raise donations for Carol and her family. Since asking for our help, I have been on Facetime and texted back and forth with Carol as she told me her story.

Carol Ah Puck and her husband, Kaia, were born and raised in Lahaina. On August 8, 2023, at around 4:30 p.m., Carol and Kaia looked out of their window and saw a sky filled with black smoke. The electricity went out, the phones were barely working, and they heard explosions outside. They quickly decided to pack their bags, grab the dog, and head to their son, Teddy’s, house in Kaanapali, only a few miles north. They struggled to leave their neighborhood, as there was only one way out because the power lines had fallen onto the main highway, but they managed to make it safely to Teddy’s. Although it looked like the fires were coming close, Kaanapali remained intact. Unfortunately, Carol and Kaia’s house did not survive the fires. They lost everything in their home, other than what they were able to pack, and the few items that survived the fire. Many of her other family members have also lost their homes to the fires, including their family business, Nagasako Okazu-ya/Deli (@nagasako.okazuya on Instagram). Her family’s presence in Lahaina goes back to the early 1900s when her Great Grandparents started a candy shop on Front Street. Since then, the family business has changed from a candy shop and grocery store to a large supermarket for the Lahaina community, then downsized to a small General store and Okazu-ya/Deli.

Carol had her 3rd child in 2000 and decided she wanted to stay at home and care for her, in addition to helping out with the family business. She added a 500 sq/ft extension onto their home, started a childcare, and named it after her daughter, Kamalani Day Care. Since then, when Carol last counted, she has cared for over 100 kids. Many have grown older, and still see Carol as a second mother to this day.

Currently, Carol, Kaia, Kamalani, and Carol’s mother are staying in a hotel provided by the Red Cross. They have to check in every 4 days due to the amount of people who are in need of a place to stay. In addition to losing their home, the insurance company is not covering even close to the amount that they need to rebuild as prices for everything have skyrocketed. Kaia has gone back to work but Carol & Kamalani is still recovering from the trauma of losing their family home. The home where they have raised their own 3 children, 2 granddaughters, and the countless many other children in the Lahaina community that Carol has cared for.

Pictures include what Carol and Kaia saw out of their window, the remains of their home, and what they were able to spare. Additionally, they are still helping the community by providing their deli's famous Musubi during local events.

Any support is extremely appreciated and all proceeds are going directly to Carol and her family to help rebuild their home and their lives. If you cannot donate, we would greatly appreciate if you could share this with your family and friends.

Mahalo