THANK YOU, KAMAKA. NOW, LET’S MOVE ON TO MAUI, WHERE A JEWELER’S MISSION TO RESTORE PRECIOUS HEIRLOOMS IS BRINGING MORE THAN JUST THEIR SPARKLE BACK TO PEOPLE. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE OWNERS OF MCCOY JEWELERS, AND THOSE THEY ARE ASSISTING SAY IT IS LIFE-CHANGING. AFTER THE WILDFIRE DEVASTATED MAUI, MICHELLE KIRK, LIKE MANY OTHERS, LOST EVERYTHING. WHEN SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RETURN, THE ONLY THING SHE WANTED WAS A FAMILY HEIRLOOM – HER GRANDMOTHER’S RINGS.
SHE SEARCHED THROUGH THE ASH AND FOUND THEM, EXPERIENCING OVERWHELMING EMOTIONS OF EXCITEMENT AND HAPPINESS. JEANETTE NEWMAN’S FAMILY ALSO HAD PRECIOUS MEMORIES BURIED UNDER THE RUBBLE. IT WAS HEARTWARMING TO FIND SOMETHING FAMILIAR, SUCH AS PIECES FROM THEIR WEDDING WEEK. HOWEVER, THEY WERE ALSO DEVASTATED BECAUSE THOSE ITEMS REPRESENTED SO MUCH TO THEM. UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF EILAT AND HIS WIFE, ONLY JEWELERS WANTED TO HELP THOSE IN NEED WHO LOST SO MUCH. THEY ARE RESTORING FIRE-DAMAGED PIECES FOR FREE, AND IT IS AN AMAZING FEELING TO SEE THEM RETURN TO THEIR FORMER GLORY. SO FAR, THEY HAVE RECEIVED OVER 30 ITEMS, WHICH CAN TAKE HOURS TO DAYS TO RESTORE.
HOWEVER, THE JEWELERS BELIEVE IT IS WORTH IT. SEEING A PIECE MADE WHOLE AGAIN IS LIKE FINDING SOMETHING THAT WAS LOST. FOR PEOPLE LIKE TOM DE GIAMBI, THE RESTORATION PROCESS REPRESENTS MORE THAN JUST JEWELRY; IT SYMBOLIZES THE RETURN OF HOPE. IT HAS CHANGED HIS PERSPECTIVE ON EVERYTHING, BRINGING POSITIVITY TO THE SITUATION AT HAND. IF ANYONE FINDS DAMAGED JEWELRY FROM THE FIRE, THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE JEWELER, AS MOST PIECES MADE OF COOLED PLATINUM AND DIAMONDS CAN BE POLISHED AND REVITALIZED.
THESE ITEMS HOLD SENTIMENTAL VALUE THAT CANNOT BE REPLACED, AND THEIR RESTORATION TELLS A POWERFUL STORY OF SURVIVAL..
