Lahaina Sequeira 'Ohana Support

On August 9th, wildfires and high winds completely destroyed Lahaina Town, Front Street and surrounding neighborhoods leaving it looking like a war zone.

Among those who lost everything, we learned that in our own family, 7 family homes were destroyed.

All funds raised will be sent to our cousin Leo in Wailuku, Maui, who will take everything we receive and distribute it equally among our 7 families to help meet their immediate and urgent needs.

*****

Lahaina has been the family home on my dad’s side for generations. My childhood we spent many summers in Lahaina deepening our relationship with aunties, uncles and cousins and learning about our Hawaiian culture and roots; which I am eternally grateful to my parents as well as my aunties and uncles. These are the cousins, aunties and uncles we are wanting to bless.

Just 5 years ago we had a house fire and while it wasn’t completely destroyed, we were displaced for 14 months. We had insurance that covered many things, but there was a lot of paper work and at times it took a while to receive things or get things done. Our house was the only house in our neighborhood burned, I can’t imagine an entire town going through the insurance process all at the same time.

I’m setting up the fund because from experience, there are immediate needs: medicines / medical supplies, clothes, hygiene supplies, kitchenware / utensils, food, water, etc. while insurance gets sorted out.

I have been overwhelmed by the kindness of many of you wanting to know how you can help and many who generously gave when our house burned. After seeing recent images of Front Street, the Harbor, Pioneer Inn and the Banyan Tree, a short walking distance from our family home we stayed and played at, and after a long conversation with my cousin Lei-Ann, we felt like we needed to do something for our ‘ohana now. Lei-Ann lives on Oahu and has been in close contact with our Lahaina family. She has been keeping me updated and is helping me on this. We believe this will be the quickest way to help meet our Lahaina family’s urgent needs.

We are humbled and grateful for any and all assistance. Mahalo nui loa.