From ashes of fire, Maui鈥檚 鈥榦hana spirit rises
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Sarah Matusek Staff writer
| MAUI AND OAHU, HAWAII
Sports journalist Walter Chihara of Lahaina News has covered it all in his community on Maui鈥檚 west coast 鈥� swimmers, canoe clubs, and surfing stars. He鈥檚 spent five decades in the historic coastal town.
As of last week, however, much of his town is gone. That includes the space where he held Lahaina Dojo, teaching Japanese karate. Houses of worship and museums have disappeared.听
So has his home.听
Why We Wrote This
A story focused onThe deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century has shocked the island of Maui. The road to recovery may be long, but grief has also brought generosity.
Though his family is safe, Mr. Chihara says, 鈥渨e鈥檙e really trying to find out about all the neighbors.鈥�
Survivors of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century know the island of Maui as more than palms, peaks, and waves. Beyond its vacationland veneer, Lahaina holds sacred sites for Native Hawaiians, and has for generations been home to various cultural groups and social classes.
Recovery will likely take years, says the governor. Thousands have gone without power in recent days or have been displaced in shelters. Painstaking search and rescue continues, meanwhile, as locals with missing loved ones are encouraged to submit DNA tests to help identify remains. Ninety-six people听were confirmed dead as of Sunday night.听
Yet just as grief follows tragedy, so does giving. Local and state residents, as well as mainlanders, have mobilized a range of donations. An effort mostly led by Native Hawaiians has brought generators and other supplies to survivors by boat, as others help keep track of lists of missing persons. Mr. Chihara is among the grateful recipients, flooded with clothing and funds. As healing takes time, survivors like him are embracing the uplift.听
鈥�Generosity has just been overwhelming,鈥� he says.
Responding to fire鈥檚 aftermath
Since three wildfires began on Maui last Tuesday, most of the devastation has centered on Lahaina.听Many attempting to escape, with no other way, threw themselves into the ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 17.
The fires鈥� causes remain unconfirmed, but they were fueled by strong winds and dry conditions. The perimeters of the fires are now largely contained.听
Local leaders encourage solidarity among the larger Hawaii 鈥�ohana, a cultural belief in the power and extension of family. Hawaiian is an official language of the state along with English.听
鈥淚f you have additional space in your home, if you have the capacity to take someone in from west Maui, please do,鈥� said Democratic Gov. Josh Green last week.听
To ease the sudden demand, Hawaii鈥檚 capital, Honolulu, has paused a short-term rental rule, the Honolulu Civil Beat听,听and more temporary housing options may come with the help of hotels.听Residents may also apply for certain aid through the听.
Officials ask for patience during the difficult process of victim identification.
鈥淓verybody wants a number,鈥澨齅aui Police Chief John Pelletier told a packed room of reporters Saturday. 鈥淒o you want it fast, or do you want it right? We鈥檙e going to do it right.鈥�
Maui locals, meanwhile, have raised their hands to help. Many have prepared free meals on the site of the University of Hawaii Maui College culinary arts program, an initiative also involving the nonprofit Common Ground Collective.听听
On a recent kitchen shift, Truman Taoka听dices vegetables.听
There are 鈥渁ll听these people from other parts of the island helping out,鈥澨�says the Maui-born-and-raised volunteer. 鈥淲e are a small community, so everybody knows somebody on parts of the island.鈥�
Barriers to action
Still, frustration has mounted over initial barriers to action. Firefighters lacked access to enough water,听 The New York Times. And people in Lahaina lacked notice that a disaster was fast approaching.听
Chris Phillips says he received 鈥渘othing鈥� to warn him of the fire. The surfer watched as wind shook the windows of his apartment, and then smoke choked the sky.
鈥淚 have to find a job and start all over again,鈥� he says at the Hawaii Convention Center, opened for evacuees, where he鈥檇 been sleeping in Honolulu.
NASA
The state attorney general has听听a review of 鈥渃ritical decision-making and standing policies鈥澨齛round the fires.
鈥淭he records show that neither the State nor County activated the sirens,鈥� which are typically used for storms and don鈥檛 necessarily signal the need to evacuate, but rather indicate the need to seek more information, writes Adam Weintraub, external affairs director at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, in an email. Alerts sent by officials to cellphones, televisions, and radio stations may have been disrupted by power or cellular outages.
Nina C., while lodging at her Lahaina timeshare last week, only learned of the fire鈥檚 severity through her sister in California, after several attempts to secure cell service. Ms. C., who declined to have her last name printed for privacy, fled with her son and husband, with whom she honeymooned on Maui years ago.
鈥淲e will continue to come back,鈥� she says. 鈥淣ot just because we love it,鈥� she adds, but to keep supporting the local economy.
The cost to rebuild, by one听, could take $5.52 billion. Still, some residents are听听of rebuilding Lahaina, once the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, in a way that mainly privileges wealthy property owners and tourists. That worry parallels experiences of displacement throughout Hawaii, including the overthrow of the royal government and annexation of the islands by the United States in 1898.
Communities 鈥渃ome together鈥�
For some survivors, focusing even on day-to-day needs has proved overwhelming.
鈥淪till, I鈥檓 like, confused,鈥� says H茅ctor Berm煤dez, outside a Wailuku shelter east of Lahaina on Saturday. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even know what day is today.鈥�
The Lahaina resident fled with only his wallet. Family and friends have offered him housing in California, Texas, and Florida, says Mr. Berm煤dez, but he鈥檚 unsure of next steps. He鈥檚 building back his world one donation at a time: fresh white towel, new blue shirt.
Shelby Scofield鈥檚 family pitches a tent nearby.听Despite the difficult road ahead, Mx. Scofield says they鈥檝e been moved by support.
Before the fire, the therapist had helped people transition out of incarceration, homeless shelters, and听substance-use treatment centers into housing. Now clients are helping ease Mx. Scofield鈥檚 own transition, calling to check in and bringing over ice and clothes.听
Also delivered this weekend was the pet guinea pig, which somehow survived.
鈥淭he communities just come together,鈥� says Mx. Scofield, 鈥渨hich is what is beautiful about Maui.鈥澨�
We encourage people seeking to help to research reputable aid groups before donating. The governor of Hawaii suggests supporting the following organizations:听, , and听.
