A Lahaina swim instructor who lost her home in the 2023 Maui wildfire is asking for help finishing repairs so she can get back to work.

• Benae Basurto ran Little Honu Swim School from her backyard pool for 31 years, teaching over 120 kids a week before the fire destroyed her home and damaged the pool.
• She has since rebuilt her living quarters but still needs about $30,000 to fix the pool itself, and has been borrowing other people's pools in the meantime.
• As a mother of five, she says losing the ability to work has hurt her both financially and emotionally, calling the swim school her passion as much as her livelihood.
• The business was also a community hub where families bonded, not just a place for swim lessons.

Outlook: She's seeking donations to cover the pool repair so she can resume teaching and fully support her family.