It’s hard to describe the emotions we feel today as we watch the Maui fires that have devastated Lahaina especially and other parts of Maui and the Big Island. All of Hawaii feels closely connected, especially today. When a tragedy comes to one island, it is felt deeply by everyone. There is no emotional separation between us as specks in the middle of a vast ocean.
We mourn the loss of so many lives, the countless people and animals who are suffering, and the emotional heartbreak of losing loved ones, homes and businesses. Maui will recover just like Kauai did after Hurricane Iniki. But it will not be easy, and the people of Maui will need our support just as Kauai did then.
To help victims, the County of Maui recommends these organizations:
Hawaiʻi Community Foundation started a Maui Strong Fund to support residents affected by the wildfires. Donations can be made at www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong.
Maui United Way is accepting donations to its Maui Fire and Disaster Relief fund at https://mauiunitedway.org/disasterrelief.
Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
It has always played a prominent role in the history of our islands. Between 1820 to 1845, this was the center of the Kingdom. But even before that, it was the royal capital of the High Chief (Ali’i Nui) and, 1500 years ago, where Polynesian settlers arrived in dugout canoes. In the 19th century, Lahaina was the center of the global whaling industry, with up to 400 ships anchored in its harbor. This is also where the first missionaries from New England arrived.
Lahaina’s historic Front Street was ranked one of the top 10 greatest streets.
That accolade was by the American Planning Association. Some of its structures date back to the 1800s and were declared a National Historic Landmark District. You can see a map of Lahaina Town and the destroyed area today.
We won’t attempt to cover the news from Maui.
That is already being done, and it is big. A federal emergency proclamation is in process. To see updates, you can search on Facebook and other social media too.
Fire concerns statewide should abate later today.
Yesterday winds whipped through the islands, and on Kauai, we had very unusual dry gusts of perhaps 60 miles per hour as Hurricane Dora passed south of the island chain. It wreaked havoc with Maui and also Big Island.
Hawaii infrastructure is woefully inadequate to deal with such devastation.
The Maui Memorial Hospital, the island’s only acute care hospital, needed to be in better shape and prepared to manage a catastrophe of this magnitude. They have been unable to keep up with everyday healthcare demands on that island. Patients today are being medevacked to Honolulu.
Let us know how the Maui fires have impacted you firsthand or from a distance.
Photo credit Maui Fire Department of boat on fire in Maalaea Harbor Maui.
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Please publish a name list & room count of all the resorts from Hyatt to Kapalua, oncluding condos. People need to see the magnitude of beautiful
Resorts & beaches & numbers of welcomingemployees
From north of Lahaina, where we just cobbled together some internet where I’m at, I can’t express how thankful we are to the people of Maui and Hawaii who came to our rescue in pickup trucks, boats, jet skis, airplanes, and helicopters. The government’s relief effort has been “lacking” up until a couple of days ago, but that is a discussion for another day. Our neighbors, friends, random strangers came to our aid in our time of greatest need, and not only supplied us with the things we needed to survive, but also the inspiration, for me, anyway, to keep hope. I hope circumstances like this never arise again for me to have to return the favor, but when my turn comes, I will, and hope to live up to half the example the people who helped us out have set. Mahalo, Maui, and Hawaii.
Hi Frank.
We’re so glad to hear from you again and are most grateful you are okay! Your hopeful words are uplifting and Maui is always in our thoughts and prayers and those of countless readers and others at this time.
Aloha.
Our hearts are broken. We love Lahaina and all the people of Maui. We are praying for our brothers and sisters in Maui. We love you! Support is on it way. God Bless all.
Our hearts are broken. We love Lahaina and all the people of Maui. We are praying for our brothers and sisters in Maui. We love you! Support is on it way. God Bless all.
I have donated a portion of my Hawaiian Airlines miles to the Red Cross to help with transportation.
So heart breaking. The west side of Maui will never recover. I pray that families can find help/assistance. It’s terrible to see all the homes, many that are older, burned to the ground. We’ve driven through those streets, during our drives around the island & hate knowing most are gone. The ongoing news is so devastating. Our prayers go out to all; especially those who’ve lost family members. We know it will hard to see the emptiness on our next visit. Aloha!
Will it look the same, very highly impossible. Zero idea what this will look like….
Every now and then Hawaii gets reminded that it is truly out in the middle of the ocean. I’m hoping that this tragedy moves along quickly for the people of Hawaii.
Westboro Baptist Church is here and claimed all of Hawaii would be destroyed a few days in my news feed. Is there a correlation here?
Please google Westboro Baptist church and their activities and statements upon arrival on the islands.
Holy cats….I normally discount any kind of internet conspiracy stuff but…. I googled it. Those people are genuinely as crazy as the 9/11 terrorists……..
Heartbreaking ! Im scheduled to travel to Kihei next month. Still deciding what to do. If VRBO refunds my money, I can make other plans. I think the island will still need some visitors to help the economy. If they are going to limit travel to west maui, perhaps the resorts should house these now displaced people at substantially reduced rates. Unlike the big island when people were displaced by the volcano, I heard directly from family that people were being charged outrageous sums of money for temp housing. For those of us traveling in the coming months. Please be respectful. Stay away from Lahaina. These people do not want looky loos taking pictures of their burned down homes and businesses. We have seen enough devastation in the news.
Aloha !
Aloha!
My heart goes out to everyone on Maui, especially those who lost their lives, were injured, lost their homes, jobs, way of life from the devastating fires.
When i saw the images of the devastation in Lahaina, I cried. So many lives lost (36 so far), total devastation. And the beautiful Banyan Tree, such a central part of the Aloha spirit, no doubt burned. I’m praying by some miracle it survives and can be a Beacon of Hope for Lahaina and Maui! Whenever I was on island, i never missed an opportunity to visit beautiful Lahaina, patronize the businesses and hug that amazing tree!
Will be supporting both of the organizations you named in this article, BOH.
As always, Mahalo BOH, for helping me stay connected with my beloved Maui.
Continued prayers for Maui!
Maui Strong!!
I donated Hawaiian Airline miles yesterday on their website. I also donated to The Maui Humane Society as well. A few friends made it out of Lahaina with only the clothes they were wearing and minimal belongings. The winds made it more harrowing and they are lucky to have made it out of town. I lived in Lahaina and worked at The Pioneer Inn for many years. The thought of the history and all of the Hawaiian artifacts lost are unfathomable. If you have true Aloha, you know how resilient Hawaiians are, and by doing what we can from wherever we are is how we can help.
Great minds think alike! I too donated some of my Hawaiian miles, donated money/ ordered pet supplies through the Maui Humane Society wishlist on Amazon Smile. There is a great need for the 4 legged kids too and this was a great way to help out. As a Oahu Born & raised, stationed Kamaina living on the Mainland (Tacoma WA) it is important to come to the aid of our Ohana.
There’s also another way to donate by going to the Hawaii Community Foundation/ Maui Strong. It will list Approved “Go Fund Me” List to donate. Prayers to the Maui Ohana!
Aloha ~~~ When I moved here in 1993 to work for the Queen’s Medical Center days after working there, I said to my self ” Hawaii is not ready to handle a catastrophe and that includes a hurricane, fires etc and I was right then and I will continue to be right now. Yet, they keep building high end condos and hotels but no hospitals to care for the Hawaii residents and the millions of tourists that visit the islands every year. Something needs to be done!!!! and it needs to be done today or we will be heading into a cement wall real soon!
Xavier
Hi Xavier.
Thanks for that on the ground input. Beat of Hawaii is blessed to have commentors with medical expertise as well as aviation. We appreciate it!
Aloha.
Early this morning in CA, I woke up to this devastating news, I was shocked! By the time several other photos appeared, and authorities spoke, I was crying. As I type this my eyes tear up for my home island and Maui residents. My aloha goes out to everyone on the island and to the visitors who now have to pack up and leave. Hopefully they will come back and support this island, down the road. Mahalo to all who are there to pick up the pieces and rebuild, it will be a long road. Also to the firefighters and first responders for their bravery through all of this. God Bless.
Maui is my husbands favorite island. I love it too. We shopped in Lahina many times. We always stayed at the Ritz Carlton and loved Kanapali, and explored the whole island. My heart is breaking for all the residents and tourists. Especially the Native Hawaiians. My prayers and hopes go out to all. God Bless you all.
Just saw this after posting elsewhere asking for what you have well covered here…Mahalo
Hi John.
Thanks. This is beyond shocking.
Aloha.
My heart is broken over today’s devastation. There is no emotional separation from the mainland, either. We visited just after things began reopening after Covid. The owner of a shave ice shack we visited was so gracious and welcoming because he had opened his shack in March of 2020, and we were some of his first customers that week. I hope he is ok now. I’m praying for everyone in Maui tonight and will be looking for ways to contribute. ♥️
I just got an email from Hawaiian airlines to donate miles that will be used to help with moving the volunteers. I had woefully few but I did donate what I had. Just in case someone didn’t get the email.
I donated all of my miles also.
As the tears fall down my cheek our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Maui. A couple of years ago we were visiting from Australia and had 4th July in Lahaina and it was something special. Beautiful place and so sad 😞
Could we possibly see a map of the burned out area? I have a time share north of Lahaina that I’ve been going to for over 20yrs, just wondering if it’s still standing. This whole thing has been such a tragedy for the locals. Maybe some of that budget the HTA has could be rerouted to help these folks with medical and housing needs.
😥😥😥
Donation in support of Maui: I just received an email from Hawaiian Airlines. They are matching donated miles with their
Partners, American Red Cross Hawaii. Donations will help ferry staff & supplies to Maui. Program is during the month of August.
The hospital received milions in Covid funds to build it out.The excuse given was it was pointless to build because by the time it was built out Covid would be over. So not a single additional wing was added.
Live and learn I guess
My heart is breaking for the people of Maui. Lahaina was such a beautiful place. We loved going there for shopping and dinner and of course the beautiful Banyan tree that we have taken many pictures under the beautiful branches. Such a tragic event to happen to this historic treasure. Our hearts are with the people of Maui. We are praying for you.
Watching the flyover of Lahaina, my husband and I were gutted. All of the places we have built beautiful memories in are gone. Utterly, and irretrievably gone.
Setting aside our feelings, our hearts go out to the residents of Lahaina for their loss. We cannot begin to imagine the depths of their suffering.