Plantinghope.
Aunty Paula survived things most of us can’t imagine, including 13 years of homelessness, and built a thriving plant business. When a string of setbacks threatened to take it all, our family came alongside her.
Where
Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu
When
January 2023
Status
Completed
Alongside
Aloha Junk Man, Morning Brew Kailua, Uncle Doug Tolentino
Aloha, Aunty
Seven kids on the porch.
The first time we pulled up to Paula’s house, her smile got bigger with every one of the seven Molina kids who greeted her with an “Aloha, Aunty” and a hug. Then we sat on the porch and listened.
The more she shared, the wider our eyes got. The woman in the story and the woman with the loving smile and the thriving business were the same person. She deserved to have a community wrap its arms around her.
A Plant Jam
A nearly empty table.
With only a few days notice we put together an evening of plant sales and live Hawaiian music at Morning Brew in Kailua. Courtney hosted. Uncle Doug Tolentino sang.
By the end of the night, friends and family from all over had talked story and bought nearly everything on her table.
Many hands
Taking things off her list.
When Paula had to dismantle her home garden business, Matt and Nathaniel from Aloha Junk Man worked through the rain in Kāneʻohe and hauled away nearly the whole pile in one truckload.
Then Aunty gave back. Her leftover art supplies went to the residents at Hui Mahiʻai ʻĀina for their market signs. We also recorded her full story so others can hear it.
The numbersbehind this story.
Paula’s story isn’t rare. Plenty of hardworking people in Hawaiʻi are one bad month away from losing what they’ve built.
Be someone’scommunity.
Sometimes it isn’t a disaster. It’s one person who needs people to show up. Your gift helps us keep showing up for the next Aunty Paula.