The only person doing something good for the Maui people that I have seen is a local real estate agent named Eric West, and his son Colton. Eric has a YouTube channel named Hawaii Real Estate. As part of his business he films lots of pro-Hawaii videos and as such already had high-end cameras and drone video cameras which was fortuitous.
He provided some of the first videos of the fires of Lahaina, interviews with the survivors, videos of the aftermath including driving through the devastation on a motor bike with his GoPro filming and flying a drone over the area to capture 4K video from the air. He was loaned a Starlink satellite uplink from a generous friend which allowed him to stream the videos to YouTube in near realtime, when all of the cell phone and internet was kept 'SHUT DOWN' by the people in charge. He still posts videos with updates multiple times each week.
He then ALSO created a website where people could post the names of the missing or report that they were found OK, when no government agency was doing anything or giving the people any information.
He THEN set up a fundraiser for the victims
It has raised (as of right now) $450,000 already, and which they are dispersing immediately to multiple Maui community churches for distribution and say they are keeping a careful accounting of where the money goes. He says he, his son and other volunteers are taking none of the funds and giving 100% to the fire victims.
The man and his son are the embodiment of TRUE AMERICANS and deserve some recognition for their efforts. At the very least one of those medals the local Mayor gives out for the services to the community.
I learned that Eric West got fired from his real estate company 'Keller Williams' for (I think) his commentary on the videos that he believed the fire was not naturally caused and that the behavior of the local authorities was lacking.
He was also bad-mouthed by local Hawaiians on social media who claimed all of his efforts were only to promote his real estate business and that he was likely keeping the fundraising money for himself.
They opined on his white skin, called him a Haole (white person) citing his intentions as being false. Some have since apologized for their awful misrepresentation of him after his fundraising efforts were proven and his videos are going to be able to be used for insurance purposes by the local victims.
Eric has now joined another real estate firm who reached out to him and welcomed him, after his previous firm behaved so atrociously.
He has expressed his exasperation for the terrible treatment certain people have demonstrated towards him when he has worked tirelessly as an advocate on their behalf.
Thank you for the Heads Up on Keller Williams - I know there are likely to be some good people working for them, but this stinks! Forwarding to others needing.
Yes, I saw his video asking people not to attack Keller Williams. He apologized and just wanted to move on from that particular incident. Apparently people must have been calling/emailing/social media them very angry. He'll be fine, I think. I've prayed to keep angels around him as he has been threatened for spreading the message about what is being done to the people there. Keller Williams must be woke and a bunch of assholes. I'm glad he was welcomed by another company proving there are still many good people around.
The only person doing something good for the Maui people that I have seen is a local real estate agent named Eric West, and his son Colton. Eric has a YouTube channel named Hawaii Real Estate. As part of his business he films lots of pro-Hawaii videos and as such already had high-end cameras and drone video cameras which was fortuitous.
He provided some of the first videos of the fires of Lahaina, interviews with the survivors, videos of the aftermath including driving through the devastation on a motor bike with his GoPro filming and flying a drone over the area to capture 4K video from the air. He was loaned a Starlink satellite uplink from a generous friend which allowed him to stream the videos to YouTube in near realtime, when all of the cell phone and internet was kept 'SHUT DOWN' by the people in charge. He still posts videos with updates multiple times each week.
He then ALSO created a website where people could post the names of the missing or report that they were found OK, when no government agency was doing anything or giving the people any information.
He THEN set up a fundraiser for the victims
It has raised (as of right now) $450,000 already, and which they are dispersing immediately to multiple Maui community churches for distribution and say they are keeping a careful accounting of where the money goes. He says he, his son and other volunteers are taking none of the funds and giving 100% to the fire victims.
The man and his son are the embodiment of TRUE AMERICANS and deserve some recognition for their efforts. At the very least one of those medals the local Mayor gives out for the services to the community.
POST SCRIPT:
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished, it seems. Damn.
I learned that Eric West got fired from his real estate company 'Keller Williams' for (I think) his commentary on the videos that he believed the fire was not naturally caused and that the behavior of the local authorities was lacking.
He was also bad-mouthed by local Hawaiians on social media who claimed all of his efforts were only to promote his real estate business and that he was likely keeping the fundraising money for himself.
They opined on his white skin, called him a Haole (white person) citing his intentions as being false. Some have since apologized for their awful misrepresentation of him after his fundraising efforts were proven and his videos are going to be able to be used for insurance purposes by the local victims.
Eric has now joined another real estate firm who reached out to him and welcomed him, after his previous firm behaved so atrociously.
He has expressed his exasperation for the terrible treatment certain people have demonstrated towards him when he has worked tirelessly as an advocate on their behalf.
Man!
Thank you for the Heads Up on Keller Williams - I know there are likely to be some good people working for them, but this stinks! Forwarding to others needing.
Yes, I saw his video asking people not to attack Keller Williams. He apologized and just wanted to move on from that particular incident. Apparently people must have been calling/emailing/social media them very angry. He'll be fine, I think. I've prayed to keep angels around him as he has been threatened for spreading the message about what is being done to the people there. Keller Williams must be woke and a bunch of assholes. I'm glad he was welcomed by another company proving there are still many good people around.
You are correct. I saw his video already. It's true. He busted his butt.