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Interesting. She hadn’t been on a date in a year? Angel’s immediate thought was that he wanted to be the man to break that streak. But first, they needed to figure out who was targeting her and her business. “Competitors?” Angel suggested.
“I’ve never had trouble with our competitors in the past. We share information about weather and oceanic conditions. When we’re booked solid, we refer customers to each other.”
“When did the troubles start?” Angel asked.
“Shortly after they reopened Maui for tourism again.”
“Your competition could be hungry enough to want all the tours,” Teller said.
She gave them a weak smile. “We’re all trying to work to put food on the table. The free meals many of the restaurants, resorts and local farms are providing can’t last forever.”
“True,” Angel agreed.
Leilani continued, “The lack of housing is a huge problem. Many of the people from Lahaina who worked in the service industry have left the island. Those who remain are being housed in the resorts and vacation rentals.”
Angel nodded. “And as the number of tourists increases, they’ll have to find alternative housing options.”
She nodded. “Right. And that includes me. I’m staying at the same resort as you. I have nowhere else to go.”
“No family elsewhere on the island?” Reid asked.
She shook her head. “Nor on any other island. My folks passed during the COVID pandemic. It’s just me and my cousin Makai. He’s staying at one of the other resorts. He’s in the same position as so many others. The homes we lived in are gone, along with all our possessions.”
“Is your cousin part of your family business?” Angel asked.
Leilani shook her head. “No. That’s a long story in itself.”
Reid crossed his arms over his chest. “We have nothing better to do until your help arrives.”
Angel nodded. “He’s right. If you don’t mind sharing, we’re listening.”
Leilani drew in a deep breath and let it out. “Before my grandfather passed away, he asked his two sons what parts of the family business they wanted to inherit. I think my grandfather knew that my father and uncle didn’t see eye to eye on many things. He wanted to leave something to each of his sons but didn’t want them to argue over how to run things.”
“Your grandfather sounds like he was a smart man,” Angel said.
Leilani looked down at her hands. “He was. He set up his will so that they got equal assets. When my grandfather passed, the oldest son, my uncle, got the apartment complex my grandfather owned in Lahaina. My father got the strip of stores on Front Street my grandfather inherited from his father.” She looked away. “My grandfather had just finished a major remodel on the apartments and its exterior. My uncle didn’t waste much time before he sold the apartment complex and moved to Vegas.”
“Did your cousin go with his father?” Angel asked.
Leilani shook her head. “Makai didn’t want to leave Maui. He loved the life here, and surfing is his passion. When my uncle left, my father offered to take my cousin into our home and put him to work in the family business.”
“That was good of your father to offer,” Angel said.
Leilani smiled. “My father was a good man. He loved his brother, even when he disagreed with his decisions. He loved Lahaina, the people, our culture. He would do anything to help others. He didn’t mind helping people out who were in a tight fix, but he also expected able-bodied people to help themselves.”
“And your cousin wanted a handout but didn’t want to work for it?” Teller asked.
“Sort of,” Leilani’s brow twisted. “Dad had just started to renovate the stores, using some of the money he'd inherited along with the buildings. He used the rest as a down payment on boats to diversify from being strictly a shop owner to being a tour company owner. Makai didn’t like the idea of starting at the bottom as a construction helper or deckhand and working his way up. He felt that, as family, he should have elevated status in the company, like manager over the tour company or one of the shops. Makai declined my father’s offer and went to work for one of the resorts.” She gave them a half smile. “Sorry. You didn’t ask for our complete family history.”
Angel smiled. “No, I’m glad you’re willing to share.”
“Makai’s father didn’t leave him anything before moving to Vegas?” Dev asked.
Leilani shook her head. “Makai and Uncle Jim had a falling out the day before my uncle and his wife left. As far as I know, they never spoke again to each other.”
“Are your uncle and his wife still living in Vegas?” Reid asked.
“No. Uncle Jim and Aunt Rita died in a helicopter crash over the Grand Canyon a couple of years after he sold the apartments. I left college to attend the funeral with my father. Makai didn’t come. I found out later he’d gone surfing instead.”
