August 10, 2023- Lahaina was a royal city. Kamehameha I established his palace there, in the 1802, seeing its value as a central location among the Hawaiian Islands. It was quieter and less subject to visits from rowdy foreigners than was Honolulu.
Lahaina was a whaling port, after the capital moved back to much larger Honolulu. It then built a fort, to protect itself from those same rowdy whalers and sailors who were nonetheless the source of its income.
Lahaina will now decide when and how to rebuild. Fire came, in the midst of Hawai’i’s Big Dry, stoked by one of the furthest traveling major hurricanes, ever: Dora,which started off the Pacific coast of Mexico, passed well south of Hawai’i- while sending gale force winds north to the islands of Hawai’i and Maui, and is now on track to brush Wake Island, albeit as a tropical storm, by the middle of next week. My concern rises for the low-lying Marshall Islands, lying as far to the south of Wake as Hawai’i lies to the north of Dora’s recent track.
Serving those who come to recreate, relax, “vacate” is often a thankless job- and one which depends, as much as any walk of life, and more than many, on the good graces of Mother Nature. It falls to the character of those being served, as to how much appreciation is shown. In times of tragedy, especially when the tourist, the traveler, the surfer, the diver, the hiker, the casual visitor are joined at the hip to those who have made their home in a place of paradise, there is an awareness of just how connected we all are-and of the fact that there is no one class that really rises above the rest, in terms of privilege and protection. Everyone’s pants go on one leg at a time.
I make my home in a salubrious place, which has seen its share of natural calamity. Prescott’s version of Front Street, Whiskey Row, has burned to the ground, twice, and came close a third time, in 2012. I watched that last one play out. We have had ravaging fires, many times, which have come close to the densely-populated areas of town. The worst, in my lifetime, was Yarnell Hill, which took the lives of 19 wildland fire fighters, just ten years ago.
Lahaina now takes its place among the paradises that have suffered Nature’s wrath: Pompeii, Krakatao, Angeles City, St. Pierre, Montserrat (where Plymouth is still off-limits), Galveston. There are places that were pounded, though not sundered: The entire Indian Ocean basin and much of its Rim, in the great tsunami of 2004; Grand Bahama, in 2019’s Hurricane Dorian, Guam, this past Spring and Haiti, more times than one can count.
Lahaina was a palace town. Lahaina was a whaling town. Lahaina was vacation land. Lahaina now lies in ashes-and has the love and support of every good-hearted soul.
A Sagittarian Seeker 
We were there on our Hawaii vacation! The news said that the historic Banyan tree had been singed and was in danger of dying….
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The Banyan is being treated already,as it is considered possible that the .are still in decent shape. Several trees closer to the waterfront also appear to have survived
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The banyan tree may or may not survive — but there were numerous waterfront buildings (and the waterfront itself) that dated back to 1700 — they are all in ashes now, and won’t survive. They may be built back, but it won’t ever be the same! Rumor has it that the fire is also burning up towards Kaanapali — hotel row along some beautiful beach country! To say nothing of the fire burning in Kihei, as well as half way up Haleakala — and on the northern end of the Big Island! It’s all terribly sad!
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There are three fires in the south central part of Maui-as well as Kihei. I have never been to Maui, but that’s superfluous-the disaster touches the souls of every feeling human. Rebuilt Lahaina will not be the same, no matter how authentic an effort is made. It should be made anyway.
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This morning (Friday), the numbers are up to 6 fires, and 55 lost lives. It’s second only to the Paradise Fire! I can’t imagine the emotions involved for those poor people who are still on the island but trying to return home after a “vacation of a lifetime!” It is a wake-up call out of all proportion, and could have happened anywhere!
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Yes, it could have-and can-happen anywhere. I have read that United Airlines is sending empty planes to Honolulu, Hilo and Maui to pick up those visitors who are stranded. The Air Force may also be offering transport.
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All the airlines are helping to some extent. It will be more difficult to get all the locals settled than to extract the visitors! They’ve lost a LOT of housing and jobs! I can’t imagine!
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THAT is the biggest dilemma. It will be even more difficult than the resettlement of Paradise residents. I imagine it will almost be on Marshall Plan level, with a very well-organized, tightly-run task force, and yes, both military and civilian entities involved. It will be unlike anything this country has done, since at least the Great Depression, if then.
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I think there will be a lot of construction work to be done — first for the construction workers themselves, then for the needs of the town and finally for the tourists. To begin with,, there is virtually no place for the locals to relocate, so many of them will move to other islands. Yes — much more difficult than Paradise! Hopefully FEMA will be helpful, along with the aloha and resourcefulness of the local people!
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A very moving post. Thank you.
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Thank you, Judy!
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