Emergency housing made more affordable by donation of solar panels for families displaced by Maui wildfires

A collaboration between AES Hawaiʻi, Young Brothers and Goodfellow Bros. has resulted in the donation of 212 solar panels to the nonprofit Made in Hope Hui Homes program for emergency housing of families displaced by the Maui wildfires. 

AES Hawai‘i provided the solar panels, Young Brothers shipped them from Hawai‘i Island to Maui, and Goodfellow Bros. coordinated the shipment, transported and offloaded the donation at the worksite so that they can be distributed to newly built tiny homes all free of cost to Made in Hope and the families staying in the housing units. The solar panels were delivered this week and will soon be installed.

In addition to the tiny homes built by Hui Homes, some of the donated solar panels will be used to support the worksite, where the tiny homes are constructed. 

According to the organization website, Hui Homes can be dropped onsite to be attached to existing homes or connected to water and electricity. They can also be used as extra bedrooms to existing homes to allow families to house loved ones.

“Mahalo to AES Hawai‘i, Young Brothers and Goodfellow Bros. for their aloha with this generous donation of solar panels and services to help our Maui families recover and rebuild their lives,” said Chris Kanemura from Made in Hope. “Everything we can do together to provide more housing for families is another positive step forward in strengthening their resolve to overcome this terrible tragedy.”

Josue Aguilar from Hui Homes said, “We are incredibly grateful for this donation, and it’ll go a long way for many families in need.”

Made in Hope is a nonprofit organization on Maui and the fiscal sponsor of Hui Homes, a collective of individuals who came together to provide emergency housing for families displaced by the Maui wildfires. The new tiny homes they’ve built can accommodate up to five people per unit, be easily transported, and give families a safe and secure place to sleep and recover as they go to work, raise their children, and eventually transition to permanent housing. The solar panels will generate renewable energy to use for lighting and power for the units, making them more affordable while also supporting their sustainability.

AES Hawai‘i President Sandra Larsen praised Made in Hope and Hui Homes’s dedication to providing emergency housing and expressed appreciation to Young Brothers and Goodfellow Bros. for donating their services to collaborate on this initiative to help displaced Maui families. 

“One year after the devastating wildfires, we are humbled to be a small part of the ongoing recovery efforts. Made in Hope, Hui Homes and its hard-working volunteers are doing an admirable job with their emergency housing, which supports displaced families with a safe, accessible and affordable place to live while they get back on their feet,” said Larsen. “We appreciate the community spirit shown by Young Brothers and Goodfellow Bros. to transport these solar panels from Hawai‘i Island to Maui.” 

Jay Ana, president of Young Brothers, said, “Our islands may be separated by miles of ocean, but the people of Hawai‘i are one community, connected by our shared kuleana and a deep sense of compassion. At Young Brothers, our mission is driven by this responsibility—to deliver what our communities need now and for the future.”

“At Goodfellow Bros., we are committed to giving back to our communities,” said Ed Brown, Division President – Hawai’i. “By partnering with vital non-profit organizations, we actively enhance the communities in which we live and work. We encourage employees to get involved in the causes that touch their lives. Inherent in our culture is a sense of pride in making a difference. Great things can be accomplished when a company is an active corporate citizen.”