Guest User
February 6, 2024
As a senior who lost her home and most of her business in the Lahaina fire, I was moved to the Royale Lahaina by the Red Cross. This is my 8th move since the fire, but I have actually stayed here the longest as I continue to strive to find a more permanent housing solution. From what I hear, the Royal Lahaina opened its doors to fire survivors immediately after the fire, long before they had a contract or knew that they would be compensated for housing. That says a lot about the character of the people at the very top level of management, and this same ideal continues down to every employee that I have meet and interacted with here. When I first checked in and the staff at the front desk could see that I had an injured knee, they put me in a room close to the elevator and suggested a shower chair, which made all the difference in my comfort level. The maintenance guys have made regular stops to replace A/C filters, check plumbing, and ask if anything needed attention, so I know that they are on top of the general upkeep. Currently, they are working on the exterior of the building, but as I 'talk story' with some of the crew, they tell me how blessed they are that management keeps finding them 'things do do' so that they can keep their employment during these uncertain times. And then there is Chiiko, this little Japanese lady who has a desk in the lobby. She picks flowers and makes wonderful leis for the weddings, furnishes cute little flower vases for the dining tables, but more importantly she has a keen eye and notices the guests that are struggling from this recent tragedy. In such a quiet, nondescript way, she has been a shoulder to cry on, a caring hand, doing whatever she can to make your stay as pleasant as possible. Most would not know that Chiiko also has lost her housing in the fire, as many employees here have. Yet, it is as if they have put their personal troubles aside so that they can be available to help others. It is this overall essence of Aloha that Chiiko and the other employees here at the Royale Lahaina have that bring me hope. They recognizing that we truly are one ohana, and that it will be possible to rebuild our entire town, so long that we all remember what is truly important.