By Jondi Gumz
Rick Kepler, the former tennis director at Seascape Sports Club in Aptos and Aptos High tennis coach who relocated to Maui in 2011, is a Coldwell Banker real estate agent in Wailea, Maui, 28 miles southeast of Lahaina, where wildfires have claimed 106 lives and caused $5.5 billion in damages.
Rick Kepler
Asked about his situation in Maui, he told the Aptos Times via email, “All my friends are there and my Dad is there too.”
He is with Coldwell Banker Island Properties, where agents, staff, and community members have been affected by the fires on Maui.
Broker Steve Baker of Coldwell Banker Island Properties sent out an update with hashtag #MauiStrong on what the company is doing and how people can help.
Coldwell Banker Island Properties closed offices in Paia and Kapalua, kept open locations at Kukui and Wailea, collected donations to help, and called for a pause on open houses for 30 days.
During this time, the company calls for agents to connect with clients and the community and support Maui relief efforts.
In Wailea, the marketing team is designing materials to educate the public about relief efforts. Possibly this office could become a donation point.
Office operations on the Big Island, Kauai and Oahu will continue as usual, with transactions expected to remain on schedule.
“Mahalo for your support and patience of those on Maui,” Baker wrote.
However, for West Maui and Kul, real estate is in limbo.
The first of 32 generators arrive at the FEMA staging area to support the ongoing response and recovery to the Maui wildfires. • Photo Courtesy of FEMA
Coldwell Banker Island Properties has been told that no homeowner insurance policies can be written. People with an active escrow on Maui are advised to tell their buyers to contact their lender for guidance. Some areas may require an additional inspection to confirm the property is habitable.
Baker pointed out, “Tragically, disasters often attract opportunists. We’ve received reports of scammers and realtors from the mainland reaching out to those affected by the fires. Please stay alert and guide clients to be cautious, reporting any suspicious activities.”
•••
How to Help
For details, see: blog.islandproperties.com/support-for-maui-how-you-can-assist-our-local-communities-in-need.
Coldwell Banker Island Properties suggests making donations to Maui Food Bank, Hawi’i Community Foundation, or Maui United Way.
All have a long-standing presence within the Maui community.
GoFundMe has created a list of verified fundraisers for Lahaina and Upcountry victims and families on their Maui hub page: www.gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/maui.
Community organizers have created a document at Google Docs with links to hundreds of fundraisers directly contributing to individual family needs at tinyurl.com/Help-Maui-List.
For those who need housing, the Realtors® Association of Maui and Hawaii Island Realtors® are working to connect people with homes in Hawaii who have been displaced by the fires. See: mauikokua.com/housing/
Top Photo: On Aug. 16, President Biden authorized the federal cost share for debris removal for the Aug. 8 Maui wildfire to be increased from 75% to 100% for 30 days within the first 120 days of the state’s choosing. • Photo Courtesy of FEMA