Lahaina, HI – May. 4- 16, 2026

Day 1 — Monday, May 4, 2026

Today is our first official day of the MDS May Volunteer Group.

Meet the team! Samantha: Project Director Ron: Construction Supervisor Audrey: Office Manager Marty: Crew Leader Dorothy: Head Cook Rylee: Ast. Cook Simon, Mary Joyce, Lukas: Long Term Crew Leads Mike, Dale: Goshen College Leaders 15 Students

We started out a little disjointed as we tried to organize lunch boxes, coolers, jobs sites, water jugs, volunteer teams, and finally loading everyone into vehicles. Through it all, we saw positive attitudes as we arrived at our first stop, 219 Malanoi St. We installed nine window blinds and walked around a completed MDS house. We had a nice visit with the homeowner, Mr. Clint. He shared his story of the fire that devastated his home and neighborhood. Afterwards, we split the team and went to a couple of different job sites.

Mr. Dale took a small group to 125 Leoleo St, the Cabatic home. They installed the stove hood vent and spread a coat of drywall mud on a few spots.

Mr. Marty headed to 1345 Ainakea Road, aka “The Plum House”. He and his team of volunteers worked on a handful of “punch list” items before running out of trim paint. We are working from Ms. Brandy’s list, meaning that we are in the homestretch.

Ron, Mr. Mike, Simon, Lukas, Mary Joyce, and everyone else went to the Madrigal home on 1411 Kahoma St. to work on that project.

The majority of the time at all of the locations was spent patiently teaching our volunteers about construction basics. Several had never spread drywall mud or used a screw gun. After a long work day, our group returned to base camp. Each person was a sweaty worn out mess, but managed to find the strength for a quick beach trip before dinner. Today was a good day.

Day 2 — Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Aloha,

The morning went much smoother today as volunteers are quickly adapting to the daily MDS workflow. The students are full of energy, and it is taking quite a bit of coffee for the rest of us to keep up! Mr. Marty and his crew returned to the Ho’opai (plum) house to continue painting and installing closet doors. The new granite countertops were also installed today; they are stunning and have really transformed the space. Between the refreshing breeze and the ocean view, the crew is thoroughly enjoying their time there. Mr. Dale’s team briefly returned to the Cabatic house for paint touch-ups before joining the rest of the team at the Madrigal house, also known as “The Big House.” We had volunteers working across the entire site. We did have a brief pause in productivity following a call from Mr. Eric regarding an inspection matter, but the crew took the opportunity to enjoy a long lunch before resuming work. By the end of the day, we successfully added ceiling lumber for drywall, installed fire blocks and roof sheathing, and put the bird boxes in place. After a hard day’s work and a quick trip to the beach, Ms. Dorothy treated us to a wonderful dinner. We also took a moment to recognize five volunteers for their exceptional efforts. This included one student who was covered head-to-toe in sawdust and dirt, a volunteer who spent the day clearing nails from the yard, and three others for their overall diligence and dedication.

Day 3 — Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Aloha,

This morning, we had the privilege of listening and learning about Maui’s culture. It was an engaging lecture regarding Lahaina’s history, environment, and the impact of the Lahaina wildfires. Our team made significant progress at the job sites today:

Ho’opai House: Simon picked up a washer, dryer, and refrigerator from town. Trash Removal: Lukas handled trash collection and disposal at the transfer station. We appreciate his leadership in this essential task. Closet Doors: Mr. Marty continued meticulously fitting the closet doors. This is detailed work and we appreciate his patience and talent. French Doors: The team completed the finishing touches with white paint. Railings: Mr. Dale established a priming and drying station for the volunteers to begin painting the railings.

Ron and I visited the Asuncion house and decided to proceed with repainting the exterior on Thursday. We also visited the Cabatic home regarding the carport floor leveling; I have decided to shelve that project for now to allow the crew to focus on their current jobs. Work continues at the Madrigal home, which began with a positive visit from the building inspector. The team focused on roof and wall sheathing, and it was great to see the volunteers gaining confidence as they walked the walls and roof! We ended the day with a refreshing swim at Baby Beach. Leadership continues to speak very highly of the Goshen College students and their valuable contributions.

Day 4 — Thursday, May 7, 2026

Aloha! Good evening everyone. I hope you are all doing well. We have reached the end of Day 4, and I am incredibly proud of the progress the volunteers have made across all three job sites. It is amazing to see how many new skills our volunteers have learned in such a short time.

We started the morning with a lighthearted moment at the Malanai Street. After accidentally taking Mr. Clint’s new red broom and dustpan during Monday’s blind installation, we were happy to return them to their rightful owner. At the Asuncion residence, the team did a fantastic job repainting the entire house and trim. Mr. Mike, Ms. Mary Joyce, and the students worked hard all day and the finished product looks wonderful. Meanwhile, at the Ho’opai site, Mr. Marty finished installing the closet doors, which are now ready for paint. They look amazing. Our larger team also completed the railing installation. It has been primed and received its first coat of paint. The team really “nailed” it! Get it, nailed? Anyway, moving on…

While we have a few minor spacing adjustments to make on Monday, it looks beautiful and makes the porch feel larger. Progress at the Madrigal site — the “Big House” — is also moving quickly. The crew was thrilled to see a Hawaiian Electric truck arrive on-site; we are hopeful for temporary power soon so we can move away from using the noisy generators. Led by Simon and Lukas, the team has nearly finished the roof sheathing, making significant headway despite the heat.

Finally, a special thank you to Ms. Audrey and Ms. Rylee for treating everyone to ice cream on the job sites! How spoiled are we? Afterwards, Mr. Madrigal dropped off a wonderful homemade enchilada lunch for the entire MDS team. We feel truly blessed to work alongside such kind people in such a beautiful location.

I look forward to another productive week ahead.

Day 5 — Friday, May 8, 2026

Aloha everyone,

This morning, the team visited the Lahaina Memorial site. It was a poignant reminder of our purpose here and the hope that rebuilding can bring to a community. We had a productive day across all three locations:

Ho’opai (Plum House): Work continued with the reinstallation of the porch railing. Mr. Marty installed the microwave and positioned the stove, while the shower floor tile was set (Eric’s crew). Volunteers assembled and positioned the closet system, and the attic access panel was painted and installed. The crew finished the day by dismantling the scaffolding and cleaning the porch.

Room 6 & 8 Reorganization: Mr. Mike and his team successfully inventoried and organized bunk 8 before moving the contents of room 6 into it. They concluded by cleaning and mopping room 6, completing this difficult task ahead of schedule.

Madrigal: Simon collected the stove and microwave for Ho’opai before joining the efforts at Madrigal. Lukas led the team in installing roof decking and sheathing, with volunteers focusing on attaching the necessary strapping.

I am incredibly proud of this group of volunteers and all that was accomplished today.

Day 6 — Saturday, May 9, 2026

Work continues across Lahaina as we have added a fourth job site: the storage hub behind the Community Center. The MDS team arrived fully equipped with shade tents, generators, and building supplies to begin organizing the five containers at this new location, which we’ve dubbed “Hub City.” Mostly because after unloading all of our tools, volunteers, and such, it looked like a bustling metropolis at the otherwise barren hillside. I am impressed by the team’s positive attitude as they build out shelving despite the heat and sun.

At the Plum House (Ho’opai), we are beginning to pack up. Mr. Marty and his team have been finalizing details, including cleaning the porch and windows. Meanwhile, Mr. Eric’s team has set the bath wall tiles and completed trenching for water and electric lines.

At the Big House (Madrigal), the team continues to make progress on the roof decking, sheathing, and strapping. The team has remained led by Simon and Lukas, both are patient teachers and extremely talented workers.

We also took some time to celebrate. The crew enjoyed a birthday dinner, cake, and ice cream for Ms. Audrey with local pizza from Pizza Paradiso. We truly appreciate all her hard work in keeping us organized.

Additionally, we were joined for dinner by Mickey Burke, Autumn Ness, and Carolyn Auweloa from the Lahaina Community and Land Trust. They shared the inspiring mission of keeping Lahaina lands in local hands, and we look forward to welcoming them back next week.

Spoiler Alert! I see an MDS truck bed full of flooring for the “Green” house (Asuncion)! Watch for pics!

Days 7 & 8 — Sunday–Monday, May 10–11, 2026

Aloha!

We have had a busy couple of days, so I am combining our project updates into this note.

Hub City: Work on the storage units was briefly stalled due to a misunderstanding with local authorities. After a few days of sorting things out, the team is set to return this Friday to finish the shelving and begin organizing the remaining units.

The Green House (Asuncion): Flooring is nearly complete. Our new team members worked quickly alongside Ron to lay the floors and prepare the trim for installation. We also finished touch-up caulking and exterior painting.

The Plum House (Ho’opai): Marty and Dale have been addressing our punch list, including door adjustments. The team is also assembling a kitchen island that is already looking great. Eric’s crew finished the tiled shower and it looks fantastic! They also brought in the big toys and dug out the yard for a new driveway.

The Big House (Madrigal): We are close to finishing the roof and wall sheathing. We did have two minor injuries: Lukas skinned his leg on some plywood. Not to be outdone, Simon accidentally discharged a nail gun into his foot while trying to catch it with a hammer. Fortunately, Simon is doing well after a quick trip to the ER and even kept the nail as a souvenir.

Community & Team Updates: We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with Eric, Brandy, and Rhonda from the Long Term Recovery Group, who shared insights into their ongoing efforts. We were also treated to delicious pies from Mr. Madrigal. He often spoils us with delicious treats. Finally, Mike and Dale and the Goshen College team are finishing their time with MDS. They have been an invaluable asset to our projects and a pleasure to work with. They will be greatly missed.

Day 9 — Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Aloha,

Today marks the final work day for the Goshen group, and they have achieved an incredible amount in the short time that they have been here.

Plum House (Ho’opai): Mr. Marty and his team installed door stops, assembled furniture, and cleared construction debris. Additionally, Eric’s team dug out the driveway to prepare for paving.

Big House (Madrigal): All sheathing is now complete! The team celebrated this milestone with photos before finishing the day by cleaning up the yard.

Hub City: Mary Joyce and her team finished the shelving for the first container and began organizing items into the new space. They also secured hurricane strapping through the bracing loops at the top of the container. Meanwhile, Simon collected trash from all job sites and the unit, filling his truck to capacity.

Green House (Asuncion): Ron and his team finished installing all of the floors, which we then mopped and protected with what little cardboard was found after Simon’s trash run. The floor crew even signed their work. Mr. Dale installed nearly all of the interior doors, and Ron wrapped the front columns with T1-11 siding, significantly improving the home’s exterior. Additionally, Eric’s team used heavy equipment to finish the yard work.

Ms. Audrey and Ms. Dorothy brought ice cream to each site. The crew enjoyed the cold treat on such a hot day. The entire team returned to the unit to clean vehicles, handle maintenance, wash clothing, and tidy up the unit.

As we bring the week to a close, we say goodbye to the Goshen College students, Mr. Mike, and Mr. Dale. It has been a pleasure getting to know them, and we wish them safe travels to their next adventure. We hope to work with them again on another MDS project.