Pi'ilani and Bronson Aea and their 1-year-old daughter, Kilinahe, are grateful to have a roof over their heads at a Waimänalo transitional shelter, but have experienced how quickly family fortunes can turn desperate.

Two years ago the Aeas thought they had it made. Bronson, 25, was working as a delivery driver and Pi'ilani, who was expecting the couple's first child, was a manager at a computer store.

They had a Hawai'i Kai condominium, a new car and money to spare.

"We had everything we ever wanted, pretty much," recalled Pi'ilani, 25.

Then, after her stepfather died and her mother needed financial and emotional support, the couple decided to move in with Pi'ilani's mom. In the meantime, Pi'ilani had her baby and went on maternity leave from work.

With only one source of income and mounting bills, the couple was caught off guard when Pi'ilani's mother, on short notice, decided to move in with another person. Forced to leave their mother's home, the couple stashed their belongings in storage and became homeless overnight. Compounding the situation, Pi'ilani lost her job in a conflict over the duration of her maternity leave.

Just when the couple thought things couldn't get worse, they loaned their car to a family member who totaled it and two other vehicles. That's when the couple found out their car wasn't insured because of a mixup with their latest insurance payment — leaving them holding the bag for the nearly $6,000 crash tab.

The final indignation came when they spent what savings they had left on a used car that blew its engine a month later and is now virtually worthless.

Pi'ilani says that in an odd way she's thankful for the family's ordeal because "it knocked me off my high horse and put me where I can appreciate all the things I do have."

Bronson's income now goes to pare down their debts and pay bills. But there's nothing left for little extras, such as small holiday gifts, Pi'ilani said. She wishes someone might help make this Christmas bright enough to light a better future for the family.

"I am just hoping for a great new beginning," she said.