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By Miriam Raftery
Photo: Fire burns Lahaina, Maui; courtesy of the Hawaii Department of Transportation
August 10, 2023 (Lahaina) – Wildfires fanned by a hurricane offshore have devastated the Hawaiian island of Maui, killing at least 36 people and leaving thousands homeless. The historic heart of Lahaina in west Maui has been destroyed, with some fleeing into the ocean to escape flames fanned by 80 mile-per-hour winds from Hurricane Dora south of the island. Two other fires also continue to burn out of control in central Maui, where parts of Kuna remain evacuated.
Fires have also impacted the Big Island, though the largest in the Kohala area is 60% contained.FEMA has provided help, and emergency shelters there have closed.
But on Maui, the Lahaina and Upcountry fires continue to rage as devastation continues. Burn centers are overrun, including some patients who suffered smoke inhalation.
The hurricane knocked out power across fire-stricken Maui, leaving thousands without communications as panicked residents and tourists rushed to evacuate the fast-moving infernos.
With the Governor out of state, Acting Governor Sylvia Luke signed an emergency proclamation, activated the National Guard, and urged visitors to leave the island. Tourists with reservations on Maui are urged not to come, in order to free up hotel rooms for displaced residents. “This is not a safe place to be,” she said at a news conference yesterday.
Airlines serving the islands such as Hawaiian, United and Southwest have added extra flights to evacuate visitors. Evacuation centers have filled up and thousands have sheltered at the airport; the convention center has also been converted into a shelter.
President Joe Biden has ordered military aid for Maui. According to a White House statement, “All available Federal assets on the Islands” are being deployed to help quench the fire, conduct search and rescue missions, and evacuate Hawaiian citizens. The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy Third Fleets are “supporting response and rescue efforts,” while the Hawaiian National Guard and the Army provided Chinook Helicopters and Black Hawk Helicopters, respectively.
“Local people have lost everything,” said James Tokioka, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. They’ve lost their house, they’ve lost their animals, and it’s devastating.”
Former President Barack Obama, who lived for many years in Hawaii, posted a Tweet voicing empathy for residents, stating, “It’s tough to see some of the images coming out of Hawai’I – a place that’s so special to so many of us. Michelle and I are thinking of everyone who has lost a loved one, or whose life has been turned upside down.
Obama also posted this link for people who want to help survivors at https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong. Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green also recommendation giving through the Hawaii Community Foundation’’s Maui Strong fund.
You can also donate to Hawaii.SalvationArmy.org which has set up a disaster relief fund.
Maui United Way is accepting donations to its Maui Fire and Disaster Relief fund at https://mauiunitedway.org/disasterrelief.
People trying to locate loved ones who may be impacted by the fires can call the American Red Cross hotline at 1-800-733-2767.according to Maui County’s Civic Alerts site.
This report is based on reporting by Hawaii News Now, CNN, the Honolulu-Star Advertiser, the counties of Maui and Hawaii, the New York Times, and more.
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