Boise State student spearheads crisis fundraiser for the Maui community

Courtesy of CNN

Fires ravaged the Valley Isle of Maui, Hawaii from Aug. 8 until Aug. 27, burning more than 2,170 acres, 2,200 buildings and resulting in 850 people missing and 114 dead. 

The four wildfires that triggered such destruction include the Olinda fire, Kula fire, Pulehu fire and Lahaina fire. 

Justin Kawamura, a current senior set to graduate this spring and finish his degree in civil engineering, grew up in a town called Makawao in a region called Upcountry on Maui. In an interview with The Arbiter he reminisced childhood memories about Lahaina.  

“I’ve lived maybe an hour and half from a town that got burned down, and I have so many memories from that town,” Kawamura said. “Whether I was playing ukulele under the banyan tree that everyone knows of, or just going to certain shops and hanging out.”

Kawamura, alongside ASBSU’s president Cheyon Sheen and communications officer Lillie Young, are spearheading a fundraising project to aid the Maui community. 

Sheen and Young have supported Kawamura in brainstorming ways to acquire funds and donations to gather essential items for care packages to send to Maui. 

“ASBSU’s sole purpose is to advocate for students and help support them…I hope that this fundraiser can help spread awareness for Justin’s experience,” Sheen said.

So far the project has been a week and a half in development. Kawamura spoke about his ideas, such as a Boise-wide donation fund through Vemo and flier handouts. His brother-in-law’s parents have even set up an Amazon registry for parents and children who need supplies like computers and books. 

The official fundraiser kickoff will begin the week of Sept. 25, with tabling in the quad from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. on Sept. 21, Sept. 22 and Sept. 23. 

Kawamura, Young and Sheen’s goal is to raise $3,000 through the fundraiser titled, “Broncos for Maui”. 

“We are trying to find any way possible to see how we can reach out to BSU students and the faculty around campus as well, anyone in Boise that is willing to donate anything,” Kawamura said.

Kawarmura’s goal is to help restore the historic land of Lahaina to how the locals know it. In 1802, Lahaina became the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom during King Kamehameha’s reign. For over 50 years, the town was the center of the Hawaiian government and multiple monarchy burial sites, a monument of Hawaiian culture. Now, it lies gutted. 

“You can feel the presence of the history and culture, it’s a super significant place to a lot of us,” Kawarmura said.

Hawaii Gov. John Green addressed tensions between developers and locals in a live press conference recording on the wildfire response. Purchase offers for land have disturbed the locals about the future of their homes and their town as a whole. 

“People are worried about the land…my intention from start to finish is to make sure that no one is victimized from a land grab,” Green said. 

Kawamura plans to use his degree for the good of his island and family. His goal is to get a construction job after graduation.

“I’m going back home soon as possible to help the Maui community in any way possible whether that’s working for a construction company there, or working to help get engineering designs out,”Kawamura said.

Even though Kawamura studies 2,785 miles from home, he carries “the aloha spirit” with him. Kawamura is hoping to garner support from the Boise State community and encourages those to reach out and support wherever they can. 

Donations can be made through Venmo @Broncos4Maui. Every dollar counts.

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