Pilina Relief Fund - Day 15 - The Winds Keep on Coming
August 24, 2023
Aloha all,
The winds continue to be a challenge at Kapalua airport but we did manage to get supplies in today. If I haven’t mentioned I’d like to express my gratitude for the folks who manage the Maui County airports and the subsequent contractors that have come in to help with the current challenges.
Kapalua airport is a private airport and general aviation isn’t allowed to use the airport except in emergency situations. The airport management team has been nothing but kind, helpful, and easy to work with these last few weeks. In a time where it could easily be mired in paperwork and challenges they have, instead, made it as smooth and friendly as they possibly could. We actually look forward to seeing the folks who manage the tower, the Maui Fire folks, and the volunteers who all assist with the unloading of the aircraft. Big mahalos to them all!
I realized that many of my emails are of struggle and hardship. I don’t want to make light of what continues to be a very sobering experience in West Maui but I do also wish everyone could see the community in action. In the midst of all of this tragedy, it is beautiful to see Hawaii come together as only Hawaii can. I know of quite a few Big Island folks who have gone over and are helping at the shelters, hubs and driving supplies over from Kahului. (I’m sure we all do.) I’m sure there are folks from all of the other islands doing the same. For the first time in weeks, I’m beginning to see people smile. I don’t think anyone has forgotten the tragedy but rather that people are seemingly beginning to understand that Hawaii will rebuild and that so many people are supporting them. It feels like people are starting to discover a community again…even if it does look and feel intrinsically different.
I think we all look forward to the day when people can smile regularly and feel “normal” again. Where they have safe drinking water and a safe home for their families. For now, it seems as though the folks we continue to support at the donation hubs are very grateful for everything you all continue to do.
How can you help?
1. You can help keep us general aviators and small aviation companies flying by making monetary donations to the Pilina Relief Fund page. We continue to rack up significant avgas and jet fuel bills and can really use your help with collecting additional monetary donations.
2. The donation distribution hubs said their current needs are: air purifiers, can openers (a lot of non-perishable food has been donated but they don’t have enough can openers for that food), 5-gallon water bottles (many places in west Maui still don’t have safe drinking water. The water is being used to bathe with, cook with, and stay hydrated with so they are going through our water quickly. The 5-gallon bottles allow them to refill them once water refill stations are available), toilet paper, batteries (of all kinds but AA and AAA are very helpful to keep radios going) baby formula & bottles, men’s & women’s undergarments (may I remind you that these should be new and not used ☺), a few hand trucks/dollies (to assist the hubs with moving all of the supplies around at the airport and then at the hubs). Mauna Loa Helicopters and Paradise Helicopters will be accepting donations of the above-named items on Friday. They are located at the Kona airport commuter terminal. If you aren’t on the big island please feel free to reach out to Mokulele, your local flight schools, or anyone around the airports. I’d bet they know how your generous donations can make their way to the donation hubs. And if you want to know what hubs our donations are going to, they are listed on the Pilina Relief page. Please direct anyone you know in West Maui who can use a little something to go to any of those hubs.
3. Feel free to patronize some of the amazing organizations who are collaborating with us to help: Paradise Helicopters offers amazing tours around most of the major Hawaii Islands, Mauna Loa Helicopter School for those of you who want to learn to hover, Tropicbird Flight Services (fixed wing - that’s airplanes for the non-aviation folks - flight school) where I did my training and Mokulele Airlines (our local island hopper, for those of you not in Hawaii). I’m happy to add Pacific Flight Academy in Honolulu to the list of collaborators. A big mahalo to some local restaurants who have donated pilot meals: Willies Hot Chicken and Taylored Meals. We already all love Punaluu Bake Shop goods but remember to pick up another loaf next time you’re at the market. Same with Lone Palm…I love their alfalfa sprouts on my salads and sandwiches. Grab yourself a bag to support this wonderful farm! Hawaii Farming (grab your keiki cukes next time you’re at Costco) and the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council for always wanting to help feed Hawaii. And a continued mahalo to the Hawaii Food Basket for assisting us with the donation collection and for all of the wonderful work they do in feeding the people of Hawaii regardless of natural disasters!
Mahalo,
Dana