A single mother of two who teaches at Pahoa Elementary School is among those who have lost their homes to the lava outbreak in Leilani Estates subdivision, and her friends are raising funds for her online.
Hawaii State Teachers Association spokesman Keoki Kerr confirmed Sunday that Amber Makuakane’s Makamae Street home was destroyed. He said Makuakane was born and raised in Pahoa and she and her family have lived in the home for nine years.
Her fundraiser is called “Help Amber Rebuild,” and according to the text at https://www.gofundme.com/help-amber-rebuild, hers was one of the first five homes destroyed in the latest lava breakouts.
The 37-year-old Makuakane reportedly evacuated on Friday with three trash bags of clothes, two towels, three blankets, a cooler with food, riding lawn mower, the bicycles of her children — Alana, 6, and Aaron, 4 — a grill and important documents.
Makuakane said her three-bedroom house was across from a fissure that opened Friday, when “there was some steam rising from all parts of the yard, but everything looked fine.”
On Saturday, she received alerts from her security system that motion sensors throughout the house had been triggered. She later confirmed that lava had covered her property.
“They don’t really understand,” she said about her children. “My son keeps asking me, ‘Mommy when are we going to go home?’”
Makuakane grew up in the area and lived in her house for nine years. Her parents also live in Leilani Estates.
“The volcano and the lava — it’s always been a part of my life,” she said. “It’s devastating … but I’ve come to terms with it.”
The fundraiser page says she has homeowners insurance, but it’s questionable whether her loss will be covered. It says Makuakane “is faced with finding a place to rent while paying for her mortgage and replacing the necessities to live a normal life.”
Makuakane’s parents also live in Leilani Estates and had to evacuate, the page said.
As of about 7 p.m. Sunday, $18,344 had been raised in 22 hours, with a goal of $100,000.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
