Lahaina, HI – Jan. 25-31, 2026

Two of our short-term volunteers arrived on Sunday afternoon.  They are from New York state, but had been in California where their sons live, so the storm that stretched across the mid-west and eastern United States did not affect them.  However, the group of 10 young men from Northumberland and Dauphin counties in Pennsylvania did not arrive until Monday evening due to the storm.

The volunteers on site Monday framed interior walls on the Ho’opai house, hung sheetrock on the Yadao house, and put joint compound and tape on the drywall in the Kahahane house—where the inspector came and approved!

Much work was completed Tuesday even after a later start due to a Tuesday morning Orientation.  One crew set posts and beams and framed the last of the walls on the Ho’opai house; another crew continued the mudding and taping work in the Kahahane house and the third hung sheetrock in the Yadao house.

The same work from Tuesday continued on the Kahahne and Yadao houses on Wednesday.  A few volunteers started painting the Yadao house as well. The third crew began framing for the Lanai beams and fastening hurricane strapping on the Ho’opai house.

Volunteers continued to paint the outside of the Yadao house and put sheetrock on the inside walls on Thursday.  On the Ho’opai house, volunteers framed for the Lanai beams and fastened hurricane straps.   The third crew sanded and mudded the Kahahane house.

Volunteers framed Lanai beams and added blocking to all walls on the Ho’opai house Friday. Other volunteers finished painting the outside of the Yadao house and almost completed the inside sheetrock work.  The last crew continued sanding and mudding the Kahahane house.

Early Wednesday morning we visited the Na ‘Aikane o Maui Community Foundation where Ke’eaumoku Kapu explained the foundation’s work to preserve their culture and pass it on to their descendants.  All contractors in Maui are required to take this cultural training. Cleaning up after the fire has uncovered a number of cultural artifacts and burial grounds. The foundation hopes to return some of the early Maui Kingdom elements, such as street names, that the island had prior to colonization.

Our contractor partners, Brandy and Eric Cajudoy, along with Joel, their engineer, were our guests Thursday evening.  Eric took a few folks spear fishing with him and brought and served fish for us for supper!

Several of the volunteers used Saturday to travel the Hana Highway and hike the Pipiwai Trail. Six of us joined the Ioa United Church of Christ for Sunday worship services; others attended Maria Lanakila Catholic Church.

Karen Loganbill