ANAHOLA — A couple that lost their home to an early morning fire two years ago is a few months away from returning to their land in Anahola. “This is a chicken-skin moment,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., moments after
ANAHOLA — A couple that lost their home to an early morning fire two years ago is a few months away from returning to their land in Anahola.
“This is a chicken-skin moment,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., moments after the blessing of the site where Elvis and Debbie Fitzgerald-Troche’s home burned almost entirely to the ground on June 25, 2011.
On that day, Debbie Fitzgerald-Troche was at work when she got a call from her husband, telling her the house was in flames. Before leaving the house with burns on his right shoulder and arm, Elvis Fitzgerald-Troche closed his bedroom door because the couple’s two cats, their “babies,” were still in there.
“I learned in school … close the door and that room stays safe,” said Elvis, adding it was only room that didn’t burn — and the firefighters were able to retrieve the cats.
In the last two years, the couple received much help from friends, family and strangers. But it’s been a bumpy road.
They faced hefty fines — $23,000 per day — if they didn’t demolish what was left of the house. They lived in a hotel room for a couple of months, then moved into a home with no electricity and purchased a generator. Meanwhile, their 34-year-old was hit and dragged by a car while riding a moped in Wailua. While at the hospital, they found out he had cancer, and he is still fighting the disease.
On Monday, it seemed the tide was turning to the Fitzgerald-Troches’ side.
“I declared that each of you today are blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom,” said Kahu Mokihana Powers, while sending her prayers to the couple and everyone present at a ceremony Monday morning.
Powers blessed the site where a new house will be placed and become the couple’s new home.
“I mau aku kaloko maikai o ka haku o Iesu Cristo me ke aloha o ke Akua a me ka launa puana o ka ‘uhane hemolele me ka kou apau (May the grace of our lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of his spirit be with you always),” she said while praying.
Milani Pimental, director of development at Kauai Habitat for Humanity, said this was possible thanks to a donation of a house by the Toulon family.
“This donation was made to Habitat, and then in turn, Habitat is working with the (Fitzgerald-Troche) family to take ownership of the home,” said Pimental.
She said it will be a new mortgage for the couple, who will make monthly payments based on what they can afford.
About three years ago, Justin Toulon convinced his father to go to New Orleans for spring break and work for Habitat for Humanity there.
“I had a wonderful experience down there,” Eric Toulon said.
Back to Kauai, the Toulons were planning to remodel a rental home in their property in Kahili Mountain Park, near the South Shore. The 1,200-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house was originally built in 2006.
“After looking at things, I started penciling out the numbers as far as a donation,” said Eric, adding he called Habitat for Humanity, which was interested in the idea.
“It just made sense to us to donate it versus remodeling,” said Jeanne Toulon, Eric’s wife. Their daughter, Tiare, was also part of the decision.
As a result of working with the nonprofit, the Toulons donated the house, along with a “little monetary donation” of $25,000 to help get the house to Anahola, he said.
“It’s a nice little house,” Eric said. “It’s a perfect house as it is for a family that would be content with that, and it seems like they’re content.”
Hopefully, he said, more people who buy property here will consider donating houses rather than putting money into remodeling, which may work out well for Habitat for Humanity.
“There’s a huge need for housing, not just in the Hawaiian community, but for a lot of people around the island,” Eric said.
Pimental said islandwide, with Habitat for Humanity alone, there are close to 2,000 people on a list waiting for a home.
Catherine Shiningstar Kaauwai, family services manager for Habitat for Humanity, has been in contact with the Fitzgerald-Troches since soon after the fire. She said there are a few details that need to be worked out, but she is hoping that in the next couple months the house can be moved to Anahola.
To Debbie, who inherited the Anahola property from her uncle and has lived there for some 25 years, the new home is the same home that burned up almost two years ago.
“I still have Catherine’s original card that in the back she wrote words that will always stay in my heart, how she wanted to help and how much they could do,” said Debbie, failing to fight back tears.
