Kim and Molly Moo in Maui

My name is Denise. I'm originally from New York but I have been living in California for the past 20 years. This fundraiser is for my friend, Kim, and her sweet dog, Molly Moo. Kim is a beautiful, generous soul, the kind of person who, by her very real and joyful presence, makes you thankful and reminds you that there is still good in this world. For all she is and all she does, it is time Kim had a whole lot of good come back to her. Here's exactly why:

Last week I went on a solo trip to Maui and was just north of the devastating Lahaina fire. I was alone and frightened having gone through similar turmoil elsewhere. I was desperate for a plan and connection with people who knew the area. I heard Kim's voice talking to some people nearby and I introduced myself. The second she learned that I was traveling by myself, Kim sprung into action! She brought over her dog, Molly Moo, to sit with me, and insisted that I visit with her and a family who evacuated to her home. I'll say that part again -- she was already helping another family of three when she invited me, a stranger, to sit at their table and join them.

"Are you hungry? Come eat dinner with us. There's plenty of food."

"Come play cards with us. Don't be by yourself now."

Kim went out of her way to help me. I didn't even need to ask. She just knew and was already thinking ahead of what I might need. She offered her phone that had better signal so I could connect with my husband, David, working with us to stay level-headed, to plan and reason options amid the uncertainty. She cooked and delivered meals to my doorstep, drove to the Kapalua airport nearby to learn details of departing charter flights, spent time walking with me and driving to find gas and learn what we could from neighbors. Kim eventually rolled the dice on being let back into the area when she caravanned with me to Kahului airport the day I left. (Indeed, the road was closed when she attempted to return, so she wound up camping with 30 other people that night.)

But that was just me.

Kim leads others to organize and continues to help her community.

She collects food and supplies and redistributes these among the neighbors.

She is driving back and forth to Kahului to pick up supplies and deliver them to the people in Lahaina.

She has been looking in on pets for her friends and neighbors who cannot get into the area.

Through all of this, I learned that Kim lived in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit.

Kim has only 8% of her hearing. She relies on a hearing aid. She's been denied disability aid, caught in a ridiculous Catch 22 by our bureaucratic system. She will have medical coverage for cochlear implant surgery this fall, but not enough coverage for it to be turned on. She gets vertigo and hasn't been able to work.

Due to the fire, Kim lost her source of income relying on tourism as she rents her vehicles.

Can you help this amazing woman catch a break? She is facing her property tax bill, mortgage, surgery vet bill for her 13-year-old dog (multiple teeth extractions), and her living costs. The funds raised from this GoFundMe will go directly toward these needs for Kim.

Kim is one of the good people of this world. Let us come together to surround Kim with the same spirit of Aloha that she so generously taught and shared with me. Let us uplift her and support her so that she can ground herself and stand anew, and look after her pup, Molly Moo. Anything you can give will directly impact Kim who is a loving community pillar of Lahaina.

With great admiration,

Denise Elia-Yen

Photo of Molly Moo and Kim!