“You gotta keep going no matter what.”
That is what John tells himself every day. With no family left here, it is just him and his will to keep moving forward.
Before the fires, John was living on the streets of Lahaina. When the wildfires swept through in August 2023, he survived by jumping into the ocean. The experience left deep scars.
“Every night I go to sleep, I cry, brah. Every night.”
Today, John is part of the community at Puʻuhonua O Nēnē, a temporary shelter for wildfire survivors who were already unhoused before the disaster. For him, it is more than a place to sleep. It is a chance to begin again.
"They gave me a shot over here and I'm thankful for that. They gave me a place to lay my head and be safe. That's why I like it here."
John’s story is one of many. To truly understand, we need to listen.
Later this year, HomeAid Hawaiʻi, in partnership with the State of Hawaiʻi, will open Kīpūola Kauhale. As an expansion of Puʻuhonua O Nēnē, it will offer 128 tiny homes along with shared kitchens, laundry, showers, storage, and community spaces.
#PuuhonuaONene #Kipuola #Kauhale #HousingIsHealthcare #mauistrong
