Lahaina, HI – May 18- 30, 2026

Day 10

This morning, we welcomed a new crew from Wisconsin, Missouri, and New York. The group has already won us over with their great attitudes, enthusiasm, and beautiful singing. The Blessing: The ladies sang a song they learned (hours before) specifically for the blessing, mentioning how much they love to sing together. Afterward, they expressed how much they enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to meet the homeowner. Asuncion: Ron taught two of the young women how to trim out the front posts. They caught on quickly, and the results look great. The men began trimming out doors and baseboards, and I even had the chance to sand some of the window stools. Ho’opai: Marty continued detailing minor items while the ladies put together furniture, cleaned, and touched up paint. Madrigal: Lukas and Simon taught several crew members how to follow nailing patterns and re-nail roof boards. We surprised the team with a trip to the beach after work, and they had a wonderful time. They are so excited to be here and have already started learning a new song for the home dedications next week.

Day 11

It is hard to believe we are already on Day 11; the time is passing quickly. We are enjoying our new team, who have been incredibly flexible and willing to assist wherever needed. Sadly, tomorrow morning, we will say goodbye to Lukas, our year-long volunteer who has been a valuable member of our Lahaina family. He will be greatly missed. The Big House (Madrigal): The team did not pass inspection this morning. They identified the issue and spent most of the day resolving the nailing pattern. The team remains encouraged and is continuing the corrective work. The Plum House (Ho’opai): Marty and his team worked diligently on repainting trim, doors, and vanities. After some initial confusion regarding paint finishes, they successfully addressed the areas that required a satin finish and have cleaned the floors. The house looks excellent and I am told that shoes are not allowed on the clean floor! The Green House (Asuncion): Two team members finished and stained the front post wraps. It looks so beautiful. The rest of the crew continued installing trim, casing windows, and caulking joints. Additionally, Ron built several sandwich boards to be placed at the vacant lots for the new fall cases. Hub City: The team finished building shelves and organizing the hubs. They are closing the doors on that project. We had a special dinner guest, Autumn from the Lahaina Community Land Trust. She spoke to the new volunteers about the purposes and goals of the Land Trust. She is an enthusiastic speaker and we enjoyed having her join us. The discussion was engaging and informative. We would also like to highlight one of our exceptional volunteers, Sandy. As our eldest teammate, he brings a wealth of expertise and experience from MDS projects across the country. We are grateful for his hard work and good nature on the site. He is easy to recognize because he is always smiling.

Day 12

Today was another beautiful day here, with stunning views of the ocean and the mountains in every direction. The Plum House (Ho’opai): The plumber installed bath faucets and toilets today. We are now ready to begin staging furniture. A concrete pour is also expected within the next day or two. The Green House (Asuncion): The team continued trimming doors, caulking, and painting. We have cleared the carport in anticipation of the cabinets, which may arrive tomorrow. A concrete pour is also planned for this site. The Big House (Madrigal): We had the opportunity to meet some of the family members today during their meeting with Robyn. They have been very kind, occasionally providing lunch and treats for us on-site. It is rewarding to connect our work directly with the families we are helping. Ron and the team installed most of the windows today, and the house is truly starting to take shape. Please pray with us that we will receive our kitchen cabinets to keep the momentum going. We were pleased to host Eric, Brandy, and Rhonda from the Long Term Recovery Group for dinner tonight. They shared a variety of unique dishes and desserts while discussing their mission and how MDS contributes to their meaningful work. To show our appreciation, several of our volunteers performed a song for our guests; it is always a joy to hear such talented singers.

Day 13

Today began with our traditional MDS group photo, followed by a visit to the Memorial site for a time of quiet reflection. Afterward, the teams headed to their respective job sites just as we received the long-awaited news that our cabinets were ready for pickup. The Plum House (Ho’opai): The team cleaned and attempted to set up a queen bed, though missing parts for the new frame delayed assembly. Several team members eventually left to help pick up the cabinets. Marty split his time between here and The Big House to provide leadership for both locations. The Big House (Madrigal): The team addressed various small repairs remaining from last week. Spirits were high as the crew utilized power tools and thoroughly cleaned the floors, leaving the site clean and orderly. The Green House (Asuncion): During the morning, the team set and adjusted closet trim and doors while clearing the kitchen area to make room for the new cabinets. We even saw Audrey, our Office Manager, bringing trim to the job site. Once the cabinets arrived via two trucks, they were immediately unboxed and installed. The crew worked late to ensure the kitchen was in place before heading back for dinner. It has been a busy week, and the entire team is looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

Day 14

Today’s update is a bit different than usual. Ron and I had the privilege of spending the day on Moloka’i with Rhonda, Kelly, and Brandy from Maui’s Long Term Recovery, Don from MDS, and Sybil from the County of Maui Department of Planning. We completed a tour of several areas recently damaged by flooding. Moloka’i is incredibly beautiful and remains untouched by tourism; with no high-rise hotels or traffic lights, it reflects a traditional Hawaiian landscape. Most importantly, the people are exceptionally friendly and share a deep connection to their land. This investigative trip provided a behind-the-scenes look at the groundwork required for a potential MDS project. We spent the day evaluating whether there is meaningful work to be done, identifying volunteer accommodations, and establishing necessary partnerships. As my first time participating in a pre-MDS site investigation, I was impressed by the extensive planning and details involved. It was also wonderful to meet several of the families seeking assistance. While no commitments were made, we established important connections and gained a better understanding of each unique situation. This was an informative and productive trip that warrants further discussion. Ron and I are very grateful to have been a part of it.

Day 15

As we begin to wind down our time here in Lahaina, everyone has been working hard on their cleaning lists. The Unit: Mary Joyce cleaned and organized the tool trailers, even as more tools arrived to be sorted. Ron and Kyle assisted where needed, delivering supplies and packing tools. Ron also cleaned the area between the trailers, which had become a collection point for miscellaneous items and trash. Afterward, he mowed the grass while Kyle and Audrey swept up the grass clippings from the walkways. The unit was looking sharp and ready to receive our dinner guests. The Plum House (Ho’opai): Ron and I tried to sneak a peek but were shooed away by Will from Cajudoy Construction and his water hose! We will finish cleaning the carport area tomorrow. It is almost ready for our Friday dedication. The Green House (Asuncion): Significant work was completed today. Volunteers touched up the paint while Marty led the effort to organize tools and load them up for return to the unit. The team also washed windows and mopped floors. We replaced the old cardboard with new to keep the dirt to a minimum as the plumber finishes. The countertops were also installed and they are beautiful. We are nearly ready for tomorrow’s dedication! The Big House (Madrigal): Simon and several volunteers focused on detailed window work and removing stray nails. Dinner: Tonight, we hosted guests from the Long Term Recovery Group, FEMA, and other organizations. It was an informative evening of sharing stories of hope and healing. We have truly enjoyed getting to know the team at the LTRG and will miss them greatly.

Day 16

Today marks the first of two home dedications, the highlight of every MDS volunteer’s service. The Green House (Asuncion): Dedication Day. This morning was a flurry of activity as Marty and the MDS volunteers swept, mopped, and installed the final hardware and appliances. Members of the Long Term Recovery Group arrived to complete their own last-minute preparations. The dedication was a beautiful ceremony, rich with historic and cultural nuances. Following the dedication, the team returned to base to deep clean the vehicles. It was a productive day, ending just in time to catch one last sunset. The Big House (Madrigal): Ron and his team finalized the windows, soffit, and roofing details while clearing yard debris to tidy the site. The volunteers finished early to return to base and prepare for the dedication ceremony. The Plum House (Ho’opai): Friday Dedication. Ron’s team cleared the carport of trash and tools. Meanwhile, the LTRG team has been staging the interior for tomorrow’s big reveal. The Unit: As our time in Lahaina draws to a close, we are packing up to return in the fall. Simon collected trash from all sites, Mary Joyce organized the tool trailers, and Dorothy and Rylee cleaned the kitchen and continued to prepare for the closing.

Day 17

Today marks our final day in Lahaina as we close up shop for the summer months. The unit is cleaned and organized, and we have begun sending our volunteers on to their next adventures. The highlight of the day was the Plum House dedication to Ms. Valerie Ho’opai. The ceremony was well-attended by family, friends, and community members, including Mayor Richard T. Bissen, who shared a few words. The home was beautifully staged and is now officially move-in ready. To mark the occasion, our MDS volunteers sang a wonderful home dedication hymn. Last evening, we took time to recap the past two weeks. This was truly a unique MDS experience. We worked in the hot sun, in the hot sun with strong winds, and in the hot sun with light rain. We saw a daily rainbow on the mountaintop. We enjoyed the best of Maui: daily beach trips, snorkeling in calm waters, swimming in angry waters, watching the sunset, and seeing the Lahaina Luna High School “L” burn on the mountainside for graduation. Our time was filled with meaningful work and local culture. We picked up and installed kitchen cabinets in a single day, attended cultural training, and heard powerful stories from the Lahaina Community Land Trust and the Maui Long Term Recovery Group. We listened to a praise and worship night at a church housed in an old golf cart storage barn. We also enjoyed local traditions, from fresh mangoes and raw poke to wearing flower leis and drinking POG (Passion Fruit, Orange, Guava). We even felt the Big Island’s magnitude-6 earthquake! To top it all off, we had two home blessings, one land blessing, and learned to use power tools on a roof. It has been wonderful. Best wishes to all.