This Waimanalo Family Needs Our Aloha

Aloha, my name is Cyd Rosa and I am a friend of the Fukumitsu 'ohana of Waimanalo. Our friends, Kinohi and Kaha'i have been active in the Hawaiian community for several decades and they could really use our help today. On 4/18/23, hurricane-force winds blew through Oahu and caused a ruckus all over the island... In the aftermath, the roof of the Fukumitsu's home was badly damaged/blew off and the rainfall from that evening destroyed most of their possessions as well as the interior of their home.

The entire roof blew off in the middle of the night, as pictured here above.

(In this picture, you can see the water pouring into their home through the ceiling)

Our families went to help yesterday to temporarily patch up the roof until the family can gather enough funding to rebuild and we gathered to help clean up and start planning...

For anyone who is reading this story, it's hard to imagine unless you are there or it has happened to you. The sheer weight of the amount of work that will need to be done to restore their living space seems monstrous, BUT, I have faith in our community to help us get this amazing family back up and running again.

A little backstory on Kinohi and Kaha'i:

As a family, they are a backbone in the Hawaiian community and have been a part of many initiatives that have demanded action to move our our lahui forward.

Kinohi has been a long-time supporter and contributor of time and energy at Paepae 'o He'eia fishpond and has taken the knowledge she's learned there to other parts of the community.

She now works through Ke Kula Nui 'o Waimanalo as an educator and caretaker at Pa Honu in Waimanalo. As a practitioner of the art and craft of uhau humu pohaku (Hawaiian drystacking/masonry), she continues to use her skills at the fishpond there and I have witnessed her at Kaiona in front of droves of kids teaching them about the importance of keeping these hana no'eau in practice. In fact, if your keiki has ever been out to Kaiona beach on a field trip and was ushered into a tent that said "Ke Kula Nui 'o Waimanalo" to hear an amazing talk about the area and its history, I can guarantee you that Kinohi was the one who was pouring into your child and their classmates! She is also a part of Kua ʻāina Ulu Auamo (KUA) which is a native Hawaiian networking non-profit that connects other non-profits with the right people to ensure funding and continuance of these kinds of programs that directly impact our kids here in Hawaii... their goal is to give the youth access to more of these kinds of experiences so that they are encouraged and empowered to make a difference in their community.

Kaha'i's story is a humble one - he is a man of few words who puts action into his works by doing instead of talking about maybe doing it. His family is from Hakipu'u and he grew up in the environment of sharing what you have to the benefit of all. He has provided kalo for the community more times than we can count, and I'm sure that historically, his family has fed more families with free kalo in the Hakipu'u and surrounding communities than they might even realize.

As a family, they give their time to restoration efforts accross the state, and they teach their children to do so as well.

Why am I am including all of this?? It's because this family has given soooo much more to the community than we might realize. When you live a generous life, you can give one of three things: Your TIME, your TREASURE, or your TALENT. Some people have more treasure to give than time... some have more talent to give than treasure.

The time and talent that this family has poured out has been incredible, and I am praying that we can reciprocate that energy right back to them, through pule (prayer) and the outpouring of whatever we can provide so that they can get back to what they do best ---- serving our community!

How can you help?

May God bless you and your family Kinohi and Kaha'i! Let's goooooooooo, Hawai'i!!!!

On behalf of the Fukumitsu 'ohana, mahalo for sharing this fundraiser! Aloha!