Our Kuleana as a Kaluaʻehu Partner: Keeping Lahaina, LAHAINA

The spirit of Lahaina is not just a place we are from; it is the ʻāina of our ʻohana for over ten generations. It is the soil where our multi-generational home, a home to five generations, has stood. As a kupa of Lahaina, a native and rooted resident, my most profound goal is to ensure the same village that raised me is the same village that gets to raise my keiki and future generations. This is the shared mission of every family rooted in Lahaina, for may we never lose sight of what makes Lahaina feel like Lahaina.

For over a decade, my husband and I faced the heartbreak of miscarriage after miscarriage. In that private devastation, we learned what it felt like to have a dream turn to dust. Then, on August 8th, that devastation became a terrifying roar for all of Lahaina. I watched my hometown burn in the rearview mirror as we made our escape out of West Maui, losing our home and our family business.

But in the ashes of that collective and personal loss, new life emerged. In August 2023, right after the fire, I got pregnant. Our son was gifted a name the day he was born: Henōheamakahiokalehu, the beauty that comes from the ashes.

This is why Henōhea was born. It is a business named after our son, and it is a testament that new life and beauty can emerge from the ashes of loss. The soul of our brand is our kuleana (responsibility), a commitment that extends far beyond creating beautiful clothing. It means actively participating in the rebuilding of our community, ensuring our home can rise stronger than ever.

That's why we are so incredibly proud to announce our partnership with the Lahaina Community Land Trust as a Kaluaʻehu Partner.

The Lahaina Community Land Trust offers a powerful solution, fighting to keep our ʻāina in the hands of our community. Their work provides a pathway to permanently affordable housing, ensuring that our families can continue to call this place home. It brings me to tears to watch them help family after family, and I knew in my heart that this partnership was our sacred duty, a way to ensure the village that raised me can continue to raise my keiki, and their children, and their children's children.

This isn’t just a partnership... it is a personal pledge to honor our past and support our present by building a future where our ʻohana can thrive for generations to come. We have made it easy for you to join us by including an option for a direct contribution on our site and at checkout. Your support will go directly to the Lahaina Community Land Trust.

Mahalo nui for helping us keep Lahaina lands, in Lahaina hands.