Lahaina Fires - A CU Grad and Hawaii Resident Perspective

Aug 12, 2023, 1:17 PM

I am a Clemson grad (Go Tigers!) who lives on Oahu, close to Maui. My wife and I have been to Lahaina many times. It was a compact, historical town bustling with life and one of our favorite places to visit. Front Street was full of wonderful restaurants, art shops, neat stores, and a nearby harbor where whale watches, fishing trips and other sea excursions launched. The shores off Lahaina are a Whale Sanctuary, and I compared the nice restaurants to Charleston - great chefs and an incredible variety of cuisine. I loved sitting at Honu Oceanside and watching the sunset behind the sailboats on every trip. An evening at Warren and Annabelle's Magic was a must to experience really cool magic shows and gut busting laughter. Warren Gibson is a Clemson Grad, and I personally found out you get extra treatment and may be be part of the show if you show up in a Clemson Shirt. We have priceless memories of our visits with family and friends.

All I described above is GONE. IT IS TERRIBLE. LAHAINA NO LONGER EXISTS. There are many people who don't know how their family and friends are. I was trying to reach a close friend since Wednesday who finally responded after a couple of days and told me he moved out of Lahaina and to the upcountry this past February, but he knows a couple of people who lost homes. A coworker informed me yesterday he lost an aunt and uncle that were part of his extended family. The death toll is now at 80 and will climb. Some remains will never be found. Lahaina was not a community of the rich as many people associate with Maui, but a community of hard working people who kept the restaurants, businesses and nearby resorts staffed. People who had a normal life a few days ago now just have the clothes they were wearing at time of escape, while the less fortunate were burned to death or remain severely injured. I read yesterday where rescuers were piling up the bodies of animals that were trapped and died.

Realize your blessings and pray for those with family that perished and the new houseless in Maui. They have a home called Lahaina, but it no longer exists. Only the scorched earth and burned out structures remain. That is reality! The state of Hawaii is a close knit community, and this hits us all. Enjoy your day, your families, your friends, your pets and your next meal! God Bless! Please see the websites below:

https://mauifoodbank.org/

Maui Food Bank — Helping the Hungry in Maui County

Maui Food Bank helps to provide hunger relief to those in need by collecting and distributing food to organizations and agencies throughout Maui County.

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/responding-to-hawaiis-wildfires/?utm_source=Ggl&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=m_YGGM-B23V&utm_content=hawaii-fires-sitelink&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw29ymBhAKEiwAHJbJ8kp9XDG6sAhR7LZmjdraYaZ23D35AjBk-qDvC6_cOFWPfhMa3TVaXhoCxgEQAvD_BwE

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