Lahaina, HI – Jan. 18-24, 2026

We started this week with the same volunteers from last week:  twelve short-term volunteers; eleven long-term volunteers, including the three Rosedale Bible students and Galen and Kathy Waltner, who came to help with the transition and restart process. Galen and Kathy left us, however, on Monday evening. 

On Monday, a crew completed the trusses needed for the Ho’opai house. Two crews worked on the Kahahane house, one finished hanging the drywall on the ceiling and started the walls; the other washed off the siding, caulked nails and added the final coat of paint to the outside of the house. The fourth crew worked on the insulation and framing of the Yadao house. 

Also on Monday, the decision was made to allow two volunteer cabinet makers to build vanities for the Yadao, Kahahane, Ho’opai, and Asuncion houses, so work began on that as well. 

The drywall hanging on the Kahahane house, the framing of the Ho’opai, and the insulation work in the Yadao house continued Tuesday.  Also, some concrete had to be hammered out for the shower drain in the Yadao house. 

Wednesday was a rainy day, so the framing on the Ho’opai did not move forward.  Instead, the crew helped others install drywall and concrete board in the Kahahane house and build vanities for all four of the current houses.  One crew continued insulating the Yadao house. 

On Thursday, the framing the Ho’opai house resumed, another crew continued to hang drywall on the walls of the Kahahane house, another completed the insulation and painted trim on the Yadao house. 

On Friday, the drywall in the Kahahane house was completed along with some corner beading and caulking.  Framing continued on the Ho’opai house and outside painting on the Yadao house began.   

We had special guests for supper this week. Wednesday’s guests included Annie Collopy, board member of Ho’ola LTRG; Dr Amy Petersen, who founded Pediatric Therapies Hawai’i, from Lahaina Comprehensive Health Center; Dr. Justin Feinstein from the Maui Calm Project Calm; Dr. Lorrin Pang, who has served as Maui’s District Health Officer and an advisor to the World Health Organization; and Chris Akins who brought us a beautiful bouquet of flowers that included King Protea, which she grows. 

Our Thursday guests included Father Kuriakose Nadooparambil of Maria Lanakila Catholic Church and Eric and Brandy Cajudoy. 

Weekend activities included more snorkling, hiking in Maui parks, observing turtles on local beaches, and attending various church services.   

Karen Loganbill