Ed Freedman’s Stable Road Foundation Expands Housing Initiative for Maui Fire Survivors

LAHAINA, Hawaii--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Maui-based philanthropist Ed Freedman’s Stable Road Foundation recently celebrated the construction of two new Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) for survivors of the deadly 2023 wildfires that swept across Maui.

The new ADUs are located in Lahaina at the historic Jodo Mission, where a Buddhist temple stood until it was destroyed by the fires. One of the homes will be occupied by the mission’s caretaker, Reverend Gensho Hara, who has looked after the site for the past 60 years. The other home will be occupied by his daughter, Yayoi Hara, and her two children.

“We’ve been laser-focused on healing our Maui community ever since the fires hit,” says Freedman, founder of Stable Road Foundation. “Reverend Hara is a respected leader for many people here on the island, and we’re honored to help his family get their lives back on track after such a long and difficult journey.”

Considered a local landmark since its founding in 1912, Jodo Mission is renowned for its 12-foot tall statue of the Amidha Buddha (which survived the fires). The statue was erected in 1968 to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the first Japanese people to arrive in Hawaii.

The new housing project is part of Stable Road Foundation’s long-term recovery plan for Maui. Working with their longtime partner Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), Stable Road Foundation has committed over $1 million to help island residents get back on their feet following the 2023 fires.

In addition to providing immediate emergency relief in the form of tools, cash cards, and clean water, the Foundation has also helped rebuild critical infrastructure across the island. Previous projects include the reconstruction of Sacred Hearts School, as well as a development of nine ADUs near the heart of the burn zone.

Stable Road Foundation also donated $10,000 to Treecovery Hawaii, a local landscape restoration nonprofit. Treecovery provides free local, indigenous trees and plants to Maui residents such as Reverend Hara whose properties were damaged by the fires.

Founded in 2017, Stable Road Foundation leads community-strengthening projects both on Maui and around the world. The Foundation’s primary missions are to ensure that every child has a chance to achieve their fullest potential, and to protect the natural environments in which they live.