Tragedy has struck the Hawaiian islands as a series of wildfires have spread from Maui to the Big Island as a ripple effect of Hurricane Dora, claiming 6 lives and gravely injuring 20 people.
The town of Lahaina on Maui has been utterly destroyed, thrusting thousands of local families out of their homes, with many being forced to take shelter at the nearby Kahului Airport overnight.
Further adding to the adversity, cell towers in the area were downed, resulting in 911 services being unavailable in most of Maui County, and further hampering the evacuation efforts.
‘We have suffered a terrible disaster,’ said Lieutenant Governor Sylvie Luke in a statement. ‘Much of Lahaina on Maui has been destroyed and hundreds of local families have been displaced.’
The unpredictable wind gusts, fanning the already-raging fires, had made it nearly impossible for firefighters to access the inferno by air. The strength of Hurricane Dora had forced them into the daunting task of battling the flames on land.
Moreover, thousands of tourists are still stranded on the island, desperate to escape the quickly-spreading fires.
A worker at the Four Seasons Wailea remarked, ”We have only been affected by some air quality issues.” But the $990-a-night hotel is surrounded by a ‘scorching’ battle zone as the fires begin to imperil neighboring communities.
Back in Lahaina, many people jumped into the nearby harbor in a last-ditch attempt to save themselves, though twelve people were rescued from the waves by boats throughout the night and morning.
Claire Kent, who managed to escape, said, “I am out of Lahaina, safe with a few friends in Waiehu. My home is gone, my town is gone, my job is gone. We lost everything. This is the scariest thing I have ever experienced. So incredibly devastated.”
While Gov. Josh Green was away in Boston, Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke declared a state of emergency and activated the Hawaii National Guard.
Burn patients have been flown out of Maui to Honolulu in order to receive proper treatment, while the “apocalyptic” blazes continue to cause much worry.
The locals are desperate for help, and with power still out for thousands of Hawaiians, the urgency and tension on the island only seem to grow.
“It’s impeding communication. It’s impeding efforts to evacuate residents and we are very concerned about that,” Maui County Spokesperson Mahina Martin said in a frustrated plea.
With Gov. Green due to arrive at midnight, the hope is that more resources and coordination may become available to help in the rescue mission of those who are still stuck in areas of peril.
Without a doubt, the wildfires have caused tremendous destruction and heartbreak for the Hawaiian people, as well as a sense of fear, panic, and vulnerability—but in the face of chaos, one thing has become clear: Hawaii is stronger together.
For now, the residents united under one flag will have to wait and see, as the fires still rage on.
Breaking: pictures purportedly of Lahaina fire devastation on Maui posted by Richard Olsten on Facebook, who says he is director of operations at a Maui helicopter tour companyhttps://t.co/zOcifUaTpV pic.twitter.com/OWsOgb5tZM
— Steve Lookner (@lookner) August 9, 2023
