Help educator colleagues who experienced damage to their property, classrooms

Updated: April 29, 2026

F​​or those who’d like to help, NEA Member Benefits has set up a GoFundMe page and the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association is sharing crowdfunding donation pages of teachers, current and retired, affected by the Kona low storms that struck the islands in March. Mahalo for your generosity during these difficult times.

NEA Member Benefits, HSTA accepting donations for storm victims

NEA Member Benefits has created an HSTA Kona-Low Storms Relief Fund GoFundMe page to accept donations from individuals and organizations who’d like to help teachers whose classrooms, homes and personal vehicles sustained significant damage in recent flooding. The page will accept contributions through Wednesday, May 20.

If you or someone you know would like to support teachers affected by the Kona low storms, contributions to the HSTA March 2026 Kona Storm Relief Fund are greatly appreciated. Donations of any amount may be made by check and sent to HSTA. Donated funds will be provided directly to our educator members affected by the storms.

Please make your check payable to HSTA and mail it to: HSTA Attn: Kona Storm Relief, 1200 Ala Kapuna St., Honolulu, HI 96819.

HSTA is not a 501(c)(3) and any donation is NOT tax-deductible.

NEA Member Benefits activates disaster relief for Hawaiʻi Kona Low impacts

NEA Member Benefits has activated its Disaster Relief Program following the Hawaiʻi Kona Low Weather Systems disaster March 2026, which was declared a major disaster by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program supports members affected during the March 10–24 incident period across Hawaiʻi, Honolulu, and Maui counties, offering resources, financial accommodations, and direct assistance.

A dedicated disaster assistance webpage provides details on available support and accommodations.

Individual teacher donation links

For those wishing to donate directly to affected educators, please consider the list below. All are verified as active HSTA or HSTA-Retired members.

GoFundMe

Carrie Bashaw

Retired Kaimukī High teacher

Carrie and her husband Tom’s home collapsed and washed away in the flooded ʻĪao Stream on Maui. The couple, who are nearing 80, are now temporarily living with their neighbors after spending several nights in a storage container on their property with their cats.

Kiana Ornellas

Pāʻia School kaiapuni kumu

Their outdoor kitchen washed away in the flooded ʻĪao Stream and their 100-year-old home is now critically close to the riverbed, increasing the risk of its long-term safety.

Shane Albritton

Baldwin High teacher

“Our house was flooded multiple times, and our small farm was destroyed during the storms that battered Maui in March 2026. The devastation has left us facing a long road to recovery, with our home and land suffering significant damage. The relentless floodwaters not only swept away much of what we had built, but also left behind hazards that continue to threaten our safety and well-being.”

Tzaddi Lee and Matt Pearce

Hawaiʻi Technology Academy teachers

Tzaddi and Matt Pearce, who both teach at Hawaiʻi Technology Academy, lost both of their cars and their pottery studio on Oʻahu’s north shore in the floods. They are looking to rebuild their studio and fix the flooded areas of their home.

Jasmine Ortogero

Waialua High and Intermediate teacher

Jasmine and her family’s home flooded in Waialua, damaging nearly everything in its path. Funds donated will help them replace personal items including their cars, her husband’s tools, and their stove.

Donors Choose

Marissa Badua

Hokulani Elementary teacher

She is looking for support rebuilding her preschool classroom that was damaged in the floods. Donations will help fund classroom furniture, sensory materials, learning tools, books, hands-on educational supplies, and organizational systems to restore structure and routine. You may also donate to her Amazon wishlist.

Diana Carhart

Konawaena High English teacher

She is looking to replace items for her classroom that were damaged in the floods including flexible seating, alternative lighting, welcoming rugs, shelves for books, and alternative workspaces. She’s also looking for donations to her personal Venmo to help purchase class sets of novels from a local bookstore.

Jennifer Cruz

Konawaena High teacher

She is looking to purchase paint and a Gyotaku printing set to provide painting and drawing supplies to her students so they do not have to purchase them on their own.

Venmo

Mia-Pia Cummins-Van Herreweghe

Konawaena Middle teacher

Her West Hawaiʻi farm sustained damage during the floods, and her livestock lost their free-range grazing space. She needs funds to help cover the cost of repairing the perimeter fencing.

Eliza Shumway

Hau’ula Elementary teacher

Her home was flooded 6 to 15 inches and needs assistance with replacing furniture and appliances.

Dawn Henderson

Kīhei Elementary teacher

Part of her roof collapsed due to the heavy rains, and because that section of the house was built by a previous owner without proper permits, insurance will not cover repairs. Money donated will help her replace part of the roof, insulation, and drywall.

Are you an HSTA member who suffered losses from the Kona low storms and need to rebuild your home or outfit your classroom? If you have a fundraising link, such as DonorsChoose, GoFundMe, Amazon, My Wishlist, Venmo, Zelle, etc., that you would like publicly shared, let us know!

  • Go to our Contact page and submit an online form with the following:
  • Under Topic, select “Storm relief” from the dropdown menu.
  • Include your name, school, chapter, phone number, and personal email address.
  • Under Question, briefly explain your current situation and include your fundraising link.

Related posts:

  1.  HSTA members can apply now for flood relief funds
  2.  Donate to teachers affected by Maui wildfires
  3.  HIDOE memos related to coronavirus (COVID-19)
  4.  All O‘ahu HIDOE campuses, offices closing Friday due to severe weather conditions