Daniel Mathias wen stay supah shock wen braddahs from all ova da island came fo’ cut his grass wea wen get all wild. ?✂️ “Hawaiians helpin’ Hawaiians — an’ I stay supah tankful,” he said. ??️
He jes recently found out he owe da city plenny million dollahs in fines. An’ now da peepo in da community, dat he no even know, dey stay rallying behind him. ?? “Not too many peepo get heart fo’ help strangahs,” he wen add. ??
Mathias wen inherit da empty land on Murphy Street in Kalihi an’ wen cut da grass fo’ long time till he wen get cancer. He also wen lose his leg. ?️? He wen say he found out from one newspapah article dat da city wen fine him $5,000 a day since 2014 fo’ ovahgrown weeds. By den, was too late. ??
“My heart wen drop,” Mathias said. “How in da world can I pay $15 million dollahs?” ?? One kupuna advocacy group wen post about his situation on top social media. ?️?
An’ Reid Viela neva tink twice about helpin’ one kupuna in need. ?? “I wen tell my wahine I goin’ be Kalihi Valley, but I neva tell her wat I was doin’,” he said. “I try help dem cause, wat if dat was my grandpa?” ?❤️
Since Sunday, about one dozen oddahs wen jump in, puttin’ in hours of sweat fo’ clean up da land. ??️ “We all came togeddah fo’ one purpose only. An’ dat was fo’ help uncle out,” said Aumauinuuese Puni. “Dat’s da ting about da aloha spirit, you jes’ help automatic, you know, no questions asked.” ??
Da city say da fines wen grow moa den $17 million. ?? Officials stay tinkin’ about one reduction o’ waiver of da fines cuz of his situation — an’ da community’s help in clearin’ da violation. ??
Mathias stay hopeful an’ touched by all da aloha. “Mahalo from da bottom of my heart.” ??
NOW IN ENGLISH
?? Strangers Help Kalihi Property Owner Facing $17 Million in Fines for Overgrown Weeds! ??
Daniel Mathias was overwhelmed when people from all over the island came to cut his grass that had gotten out of control. ?✂️ “Hawaiians helping Hawaiians — and I’m very grateful,” he said. ??️
He recently found out he owes the city millions of dollars in fines. And now, community members he doesn’t even know are rallying behind him. ?? “Not too many people have the heart to help strangers,” he added. ??
Mathias inherited the vacant property on Murphy Street in Kalihi and cut the grass for years until he got cancer. He also had his leg amputated. ?️? He says he found out from a newspaper article that the city was fining him $5,000 a day since 2014 for overgrown weeds. By then, it was too late. ??
“My heart dropped,” Mathias said. “How in the world can I pay $15 million dollars?” ?? A kupuna advocacy group recently posted about his situation on social media. ?️?
And Reid Viela didn’t think twice about helping a kupuna in need. ?? “I told my wife I was going to Kalihi Valley, but I didn’t tell her what I was doing,” he said. “I tried to help them because, what if that was my grandpa?” ?❤️
Since Sunday, about a dozen others jumped in, putting in hours of sweat to clear out the property. ??️ “We all came together for one purpose only. And that was to help uncle out,” said Aumauinuuese Puni. “That’s the thing about the aloha spirit, you just help automatically, you know, no questions asked.” ??
The city says the fines have grown to more than $17 million. ?? Officials are considering a reduction or waiver of the fines because of his circumstance — and the community’s help in clearing the violation. ??
Mathias says he’s hopeful and touched by all the aloha. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” ??
