Maui on Fire

In between finishing one job and starting a new one, Andrew and I really wanted to go on vacation. It’s been 5 years since we visited Hawaii (we went to Kauaii for both our honeymoon and babymoon), so we set our plans to go to Maui on August 16. Andrew had never been to Maui and I went once when I was a teenager. I spent weeks researching and planning and anticipating our beautiful vacation. We chose to rent condos: a few days in Kihei and a few days in Lahaina to be able to fully enjoy multiple parts of the island. We mapped out beaches for great snorkeling, delicious resaurants, and fun hikes along the Road to Hana.

And then disaster struck. The week before we left, wildfires combined with hurricane winds swept through the island of Maui. The fires incinerated the tourist town of Lahaina and left it in ashes. The pictures look apocalyptic. People jumped into the ocean to avoid getting burned, and they waited there in the water for hours My heart hurts as I think of the people who left their homes and businesses, not fully understanding that they would never see them again. As of right now, the death count is 80 people, with over 1,000 people unaccounted for. This is the largest natural disaster that Hawaii has experienced since the 1940s. It is so so sad.

I am filled with so many emotions. Mostly, I mourn for the people who are suffering because their lives have directly been impacted by this terrible tragedy. Whether they have lost their home and their livelihood or have experienced a death because of the fires, I pray that we can find a way to ease their burdens. With all we have been blessed with, we have decided to donate through Maui Rapid Response. Other verified donation funds include: Maui Mutual Aid, Maui United Way, and Maui Strong Fund. I encourage you to reach out and help where you can.