After suffering years of abuse and stalking by her children's father on the Mainland, Audrey Tusie recently returned to Hawai'i with her children to start a new, safer life.

But living here has been a struggle.

The 37-year-old single mother moved here a few months ago with little money; she sold whatever she had on the Mainland to pay for plane tickets to return to Hawai'i, where she was born and raised.

After she pays for rent and electricity, her Social Security checks are barely enough to buy food and clothes. She and her two school-age daughters have been relying on food pantries and hand-me-down clothes.

"It's just been rough," Tusie said. "The only thing I can do is give them a quiet home and a stable life. We go to church, and we pray."

The family is also struggling with other problems.

Tusie's health has been poor, which has hindered her ability to find work. Her lungs are weak, and she suffers from asthma and anxiety attacks. She has a difficult time trusting people and doesn't like to leave the house.

Her two daughters are also dealing with the trauma of witnessing the abuse as well as moving five times on the Mainland last year to get away from their father. They cry a lot and are having a hard time making friends at school, Tusie said.

But despite the difficulties she and her girls have, she doesn't regret leaving the Mainland and cutting all ties with their father.

"If there's any other women who are going through domestic violence issues, they should get out of it," she said. "Leave, run, whatever they have to do."

Tusie said her relatives who live here are struggling financially as well and are not in a position to help.

So for now she and her family just keep praying.

The family's wish list includes food, a fan, kitchen utensils, pots and pans, bed linens, and towels.

Tusie said her children also need clothes because their clothes from the Mainland are not suitable for Hawai'i weather.

And, if it's possible, a Christmas tree and a meal would also be nice, she said.

"I want my babies to have a Christmas tree at least; even if they have nothing to put under it, at least a tree," she said. Last Christmas and Thanksgiving the family was on the run from the children's father; the children didn't get anything for Christmas, she said.

Her daughters' clothes sizes are 14-16 (girl's). Her older son, who will soon move in with her, wears size 36 pants and XL shirts. Tusie wears a 16 (women's) pants and 1X shirts.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.