Thanksgiving made possible for some displaced families | News, Sports, Jobs

Kula’s Ashley Razo (from right) looks on as Ka‘ehu Program Manager Keolamau Tengan and volunteer Jacob Danish load a Thanksgiving meal in her car Tuesday afternoon in Paukukalo. Razo said her rental home was lost in the fires on Aug. 8 and she is still “bouncing around” as she looks for permanent housing. She said support like the organization’s holiday meal giveaway helped her stay “hopeful.” “The community has been everything,” she said. “Not having to worry about food helps lighten the load.” Tengan said growing up in the area, he learned that kokua, helping and sharing are ways of life. “I was raised by my tutu that aloha is about giving without any question of receiving,” Tengan said. “‘You give what get,’ is what she used to say.” The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos

PAUKUKALO — Tears welled up in a Lahaina woman’s eyes as she said she was thankful “for everyone helping us” this year.

Josette Leialoha DeGama Crisostomo, whose family members lost at least 20 homes in the Lahaina and Kula fires on Aug. 8, held back her emotions Tuesday morning when describing the outpouring of support from the community, including nonprofit organization Ka’ehu, which was distributing Thanksgiving meal packages for displaced Lahaina residents living in Central, East and Upcountry Maui.

Crisostomo wanted a frozen turkey, which Ka’ehu provided, as she wants to put together a traditional Thanksgiving feast and invite friends, which would be a return to normalcy amid the hardships and emotions she and others continue to go through.

Unlike some other fire survivors who are staying in hotels or places without a kitchen that cannot roast a turkey this year, Crisostomo said she is fortunate to be staying at the Aston Ka’anapali Shores in a condominium where she can cook.

“I want to … invite friends that we made there. So that’s why I asked (for the packages) so I can cook and we can all be together,” she said as she picked up her goods near the beach at Kaehu Bay in Paukukalo.

Kula’s Ashley Razo hugs Ka‘ehu Program Manager Keolamau Tengan as volunteer Jacob Danish looks on Tuesday.

The nonprofit spearheaded the event to distribute nearly 60 packages of frozen turkeys along with other meal items including fresh poi, onions and cabbage. Another 10 or so packages would be delivered to other fire survivors in Kahului and Haiku who were unable to make the drive, said Keolamau Tengan, program manager at Ka’ehu.

“Ka’ehu is primarily focused on those displaced here, town side. We got a couple of families out in Haiku, for example, that we are going to deliver to,” Tengan said.

He added that since Ka’ehu is far from West Maui, the organization felt it was best to “focus those here,” in Central Maui.

Tengan said there are an estimated 700 to 800 displaced Lahaina residents living in Kahului and Wailuku.

Part of Ka’ehu’s mission is to restore the land and perpetuate traditional Hawaiian culture using a community-based, inclusive, family-oriented approach to environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture, according to the organization’s website. The nonprofit is also involved in promoting the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of the land area and natural resources at the nearby bay that it’s named after.

The distribution event was also sponsored by Maui Strong, Maui Food Bank and Native Hawaiian Philanthropy. Tengan said Living Pono donated the poi and other fresh produce.

Jacob Danish, who is also a crisis counselor, was volunteering on Tuesday. Danish said the dozen or so families who had come to pick up their turkey meals so far were “very gracious and very grateful.”

Danish, who serves in his professional role at the Lahaina Civic Center helping victims, said they are still dealing with a lot of uncertainty, especially on their shelter status. He said with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming, it will be challenging for the victims.

“The holidays is really a hard time for families especially after a disaster,” Danish said.

For the upcoming holidays, Ka’ehu will be holding free activities for displaced family and keiki.

On Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be cultural workshops at Ka’ehu and parents can order Christmas gifts for Lahaina keiki. Tengan said there may also be lomi lomi or massages for parents and counseling for those who want it. To register for the event, email events@kaehu.org or call (808) 856-6679.

On Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, there will be a “Mele Kalikimaka Pa’ina” for displaced families living in Central Maui, with keiki activities, cultural workshops, food, entertainment and Santa’s sleigh.

To register, email events@kaehu.org. Living Pono Project, Aumana, Ka’ehu, Native Hawaiian Philanthrophy and Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong are sponsoring the event.

Tengan said they want to let people know about their upcoming programs and that Ka’ehu is there to help. They are working on building capacity to help more people “so from this moment on … we can accommodate everyone and anyone who is seeking not necessarily shelter but a connection to a place and provide the services that are in our kuleana to those that need it.”

The nonprofit will also accept donations, organizers said.

For Crisostomo, it’s been a rough ride since the fires. Her home burned down and so did her workplace, Lahaina Fish Co., where she was a manager.

Her husband, Roberto Erese Crisostomo, was in charge of the “back of the house” at the restaurant and knew the menu by heart.

Aug. 8 should’ve been a special day, as it was the couple’s anniversary. On that day, Josette Crisostomo was in Central Maui celebrating a grandniece’s belated birthday. Her husband was tired from work and was at home sleeping in Wahikuli when the fires broke out. A firefighter came into his home to evacuate him.

“I thought Darth Vader came in,” he said.

The couple reunited days later after Roberto Crisostomo reached Central Maui through Kahakuloa. While he has gone back to work at The Beach Club, a restaurant in his condominium, Josette Crisostomo said she is not ready. She has not yet gone back to the ruins of her home, even though she is allowed to.

Instead, she has put her energy into keeping up to date with various assistance programs from the government to nonprofits, sharing information with family and friends who have really helped her through the crisis as well.

Even amidst the disaster, she said, “We are so blessed.”

* Staff Writer Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.

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