My name is Katrina Kulbokas. My husband Kirk, and my ten year old son Noah and I call Lahaina, Maui our second home. We own a home in Napili and  we have been traveling there for the past 20 plus years and my son has grown up to love Lahaina since he was five months old. We live on Long Island in New York full time, where I have been a 6th grade teacher for the past 24 years. On August 8, 2023 my family and I were in Lahaina, as we spend every Summer there. Unfortunately this was a very different Summer all together. The events leading up to the devastating fires in Lahaina forced us to leave abruptly and head to the other side to of the island on that day. Along with thousands of other people, we were evacuated not knowing what would become of beautiful Lahaina town. Less than 24 hours later there was nothing left. Our dear friends and the people of Lahaina town lost everything. Their homes, cars, businesses, schools.....and over a hundred lost their lives. I consider myself blessed to be alive and safe today with my family. We lost, but we also were able to come home to New York. All of our Maui friends, were left with nothing. 

My family and I did not leave Maui right away as we stayed until September and helped with relief centers and the distribution of supplies around the island. Heading back to the mainland was a very difficult thing for us to do. 

As a family we are focused on helping Maui as much as we can from afar. As an educator it has become my mission to help the kids in Lahaina continue their educations. The elementary schools have burned to the ground and high school students have been displaced from their school to another. I want to raise funds for school supplies for all of these kids and thier families. I want to help and I feel that this is a very important endeavor. These families have been through so much and getting back to a regular routine is important for their healing. I have a few very good friends that are helping me make this mission happen and I thank them completely. Any help that we can get, I ask you to please join me. Maui is in our hearts everyday........OHANA STAYS TOGETHER.....MAUI STRONG!