The sudden closure of aloha airlines is taking a financial toll on thousands.
As of this weekend, 12-hundred former employees have filed for unemployment.
Those hardest hit are households where both husband and wife were employed by Aloha.
Kevin and Jeri Velasco didn't see it coming.
"We only really had one job and that's been Aloha family," they said.
Combined they worked for Aloha Airlines for 63 years and had managed to build a comfortable life for themselves and their two daughters.
"We felt in a couple more years we'd be able to retire and enjoy our retirement. Not so. Now we have to look for new employment," said Kevin Velasco.
They felt blessed and shared their fortunes.
A few years ago, the Velascos were touched by the struggles of a mother of four.
They reached out, completely furnishing her apartment and showering her children with Christmas gifts.
"Now that we're in that situation without a job, it means even more," said Kevin.
" Knowing we touched their lives. Hopefully others will touch lives of somebody."
They never thought they'd be in this position, asking for help from Lokahi.
"To call Lokahi is something for us I never thought I would do," said Jeri Velasco.
They have bills to pay.
A mortgage, two daughters in college, without the two incomes they've planned their lives around.
"I'm thinking. We need help. How could that be? With all our years at Aloha, we never thought this would come about," said Jeri.
Slowly, it's sinking in.
Just today, Kevin boxed up decades of memories on the job, where he and Jeri met and thought they'd grow old together.

Click here to to make an on-line donation.

You can also send your contributions by mail. Send checks to The Lokahi Giving Project, c/o KHON TV, 88 Piikoi Street, Honolulu, HI 96814. You can designate your donation for the Velasco family by making a note on your check in the memo portion "For Velasco family."

Mahalo for your lokahi!