Commemorations, memorials begin to mark one-year anniversary of Maui wildfires
LAHAINA (HawaiiNewsNow) – For many, it’s been a year of suffering and uncertainty since the wildfires that destroyed Lahaina, killing 102 people. This week offers a chance for the community to come together to grieve — and to continue healing.
Part of that process played out at a new memorial unveiled Wednesday evening on Lahainaluna Road. The memorial is a giant teardrop, where friends and family offered flowers and prayers.
There is also more aloha on the way from Oahu.
“There are people suffering at all kinds of levels and a pain that I can’t understand, but you just have to be there,” said Pwo Navigator Nainoa Thompson, CEO of the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
Thompson and a small crew set sail Wednesday afternoon, without fanfare, aboard the Hokulea. Destination: Lahaina.
MAUI WILDFIRES DISASTER: ONE YEAR LATER
“We are going to sail there quietly. And hopefully the community will understand that our presence is just about respect,” he said.
Respect, but also hope for those who lost so much.
“The first year was about survival. The second year will be about rebuilding,” Gov. Josh Green said at a ceremony unveiling new housing for fire survivors. “We want to see everyone heal and we know it’s going to take so much time.”
The public is invited to several events marking the anniversary, including Thursday’s paddle-out at Hanakaoo Beach Park, an Upcountry Community Luncheon in Pukalani, and an evening memorial at the Lahaina Civic Center Gymnasium that will be closed to the media, so residents can grieve in private.
And while the names of the 102 who perished will be read aloud this week, it’s not only a chance to reflect on the losses, but to gather strength for the rebuilding ahead.
“We’re going to continue our efforts to support and uplift Maui,” said Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement CEO Kuhio Lewis. “We continue to look at ways to innovate and to ensure that the recovery process is as smooth as possible and can be supported as can be from our lens.”
