🌊 Maui Remembers the 102 Lost Souls One Year After Wildfires
Hey there, fellow adventurers! It's been a year since the heart of Maui faced one of its toughest challenges. On Thursday, the community came together in an epic "paddle out" to honor the 102 lives tragically lost in the wildfires that swept through the historic town of Lahaina.
Imagine the sight: dozens of surfers, canoe paddlers, and boat riders making their way into the crystal-clear waters off Lahaina. The beach was packed, vibes were high, and the air was filled with the haunting sounds of conch shells echoing both from shore and sea. Flower petals floated gently on the waves, a colorful tapestry of remembrance 🌺.
"Today we're remembering the 102 loved ones we lost, the many injured, those who lost their homes," Governor Josh Green shared with heartfelt emotion. "We are grieving for them, still."
🏡 Where Are People Living Now?
The wildfires didn't just take lives; they consumed over 2,200 homes, leaving around 12,000 folks without a roof over their heads. Talk about a massive upheaval! Over the past year, many have been crashing in hotels, slowly transitioning into rentals, apartments, and even temporary modular homes as they wait for permanent housing to rise from the ashes. Rebuilding isn't a sprint; it's a marathon, and Maui's journey has just begun.
Fun fact: Did you know that after the 2018 wildfire in Paradise, California, residents were still rebuilding five years later? It’s a long road, but with the strength of the community, anything is possible.
🌳 How's the Greenery Holding Up?
The flames didn't spare nature either. Lahaina lost about 25,000 trees, including locals' favorite fruit trees like mango, avocado, lychee, and breadfruit. But there's a silver lining! The town's iconic 150-year-old banyan tree on Front Street survived, thanks to some heroic efforts by arborists. Picture this massive, sprawling tree still standing tall—a true symbol of resilience 🌴.
And get this: They also saved breadfruit trees, known as ulu in Hawaiian. These aren't just any trees; they were brought over by Polynesian voyagers around 1,000 years ago! Once upon a time, Lahaina was called Malu ulu o Lele, meaning "the shaded breadfruit grove of Lele." Talk about deep roots!
🌊 What's Up with the Environment?
Good news for all you surfers and swimmers—the waters off Lahaina are officially safe, according to Hawaii's Department of Health! Scientists are still keeping an eye on how the fires might have affected the coral reefs, though. After all, we gotta protect those underwater gems 🐠.
Quick shoutout to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who swooped in to handle the toxic debris and cleanup. They've been working tirelessly to clear out over 1,300 residential and 60 commercial lots. Heroes, am I right?
🚀 What's Next for Maui?
Maui's gearing up for the future! The Fire Department's adding 29 new firefighters to the team, and the Emergency Management Agency is boosting its crew by 13. Mayor Richard Bissen mentioned that they're stepping up their game when it comes to safety, even going door-to-door when evacuations are needed.
"We are taking those steps to, again, get ahead of these types of fires that have been happening," Bissen said.
Governor Green is all about accelerating the construction of transitional housing. "This is the 12-month period where a ton of housing will be authorized. In fact, one of the bigger challenges we're going to have is: can we get enough construction workers? Because it's a lot of work," he shared.
And let's be real—housing those workers is a challenge in itself amid the ongoing housing shortage. But if anyone can pull it off, it's the resilient people of Maui!
So, here's to Maui's journey of recovery and to honoring those we've lost. Let's keep the aloha spirit alive and support our island friends as they rebuild and heal. 💖🤙
Reference(s):
Maui remembers the 102 lost in wildfire a year after devastating blaze
cgtn.com
