Maui Fires
- Thread starter SylentK
- Start date
A friend of mine just moved there. Didn't know about the fires, asked him how things were as he was evacuating.
Just 2 weeks ago we booked a week there in November. Ugh. It looks pretty awful.
About 10 years ago I stayed with some low level non-violent organized criminals that were squatting in a foreclosed mansion on the beach there. Looks like it got taken out.
We were on the big island in June. We went to waipio valley with our Airbnb host, whose family has had land in the valley for generations. I remember him making a remark about how horribly dry everything was (by Hawaiian standards) and I made a joke about "welcome to the American west". It may have been more prophetic than I meant it to be.
Everyone I know is okay but everyone lost their homes. More than that we lost the whole town. I'm not sure I want to rebuild on that property any time soon. There's nothing nearby. The whole point was living in town, running errands on a bike, seeing everyone all the time. No stores, not town, no reason to be in Lahaina anymore. I'm in CO for the summer so it's harder on my housemates who are now homeless.
@Lelandjt
I'm about to donate a ton of quality clothes, performance fabrics. I'm usually an L or XL. Size 11 shoes, I've got it all. You know, the Closet Purge. If you think your bros on the islands could use it, let me know. I'm up for paying for the shipping. No worries there. Just let me know.
haven't heard from my friend since he said he was evacuating. Hopefully just dealing with more important shit than me.
Heard from my friend. Everyone is safe Houses on one side of him are all gone, his place has some charred siding but is otherwise intact.
I think clothes can be useful but I don't know where to send it. None of my friends have a mailing address anymore. You might have to google the county response. The biggest problem they have is no house or work for the forseable 2-3 years so in a few more days when reality has set in many will leave. My housemate is preggers and due in 3 weeks so they can't fly and are gonna try to stay even after the baby is born. Imagine spending the last 9 months making a nursery in our house and looking forward to raising their son in our super kid friendly neighborhood, and then right before he arrives they lose everything they own and are crashing on a friend's floor. It's just crazy.
Delayed over a day but they’re back. Their flight got out because he, a United pilot, gave up his first class seat and piloted/co-piloted the actual flight back to the mainland. Otherwise they were going to have to cancel that flight as well.
Buddy of mine has been working in Hawaii for a while now. He just quit a project in Lahaina and hopped to another island. If he’d have stayed on the project he would’ve been in the middle of the fire.
As is customary when folks want to help but feel helpless, I just sent $100 to the Maui Food Bank. My company will match it too, which is cool.
My college friends were on vacation and left Lahaina on Monday night. SO crazy!
Kinda cool they got to see it right before they lost the chance. In April we had our wedding in my backyard and we're so grateful for that opportunity to show our Mainland friends & family the house, town, and introduce them to our local community. It was so cool seeing all my Polynesian friends' kids playing with my Breckenridge friends' kids in the treehouse. Now all of them are so glad they came and experienced that.
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Where could I send anything? Even the post office is probably burnt down. Maybe somewhere else on the island?
I had to ask the wife, but all our baby stuff has already been donated. But I feel for them. That sucks.
I saw a post from a guy in Lahaina. Saying they're letting in tourists, but not locals?!
We're talking access to the town and getting hotels. Locals need a place to stay. He was saying his company had to make reservations at hotels, so his employees could get access to the town, let alone live somewhere temporarily. Over the tourists. He was nice about it. Probably nicer than I'd be.
A local 808 joint here is doing a big fundraiser and are giving to the Red Cross and Salvation Army as they seem to be on the ground helping. I like @I Are Baboon with the food bank.
Colin England on Instagram: "My friend @noahtomkinson wanted me to share their first hand experience in the Lahaina fires. They wanted the world to see the reality of the situation. You can donate to Noah’s family using one of the links in my bio. Message From Noah’s GoFundMe: My family and I are lahaina residents. On August 8 during the fires we lost our home, car and most of our belongings to the flames. We survived by jumping into the water and staying there most the night. Both of my parent’s places of employment burned down. We would use any greatly appreciated funds to keep us afloat while looking for housing, employment and to replace our lost items We are so grateful to be alive. Any donations would help us get back on our feet❤️ Thank you all so so much"
77K likes, 3,983 comments - c0lin.official on August 11, 2023: "My friend @noahtomkinson wanted me to share their first hand experience in the Lahaina fires. They wanted the world to see the reality of the situation. You can donate to Noah’s family using one of the links in my bio. Message...
www.instagram.com
And that stuff grows so fast during the winter that the majority of my trail maintanence is just cutting it back so we can get through. "California grass" sucks.
@Lelandjt
Do you know a local, older dude, there named Fish? He makes hats?
Well there was an interview video with him. And he was walking out of town when the fires were coming and noticed a line of cars trying to leave but weren't moving. Turns out there was a police man blocking traffic. So basically all these people trying to flee in their cars, couldn't. When Fish asked the officer, the officer said he was just doing what he was told (I think he says by FEMA). Fish was like, you realize the fire is coming this way? Doesn't make sense.
Found the vid. I usually don't do tiktok. So I suck
Salty Boomer (@mrainokea) | TikTok
Do you know a local, older dude, there named Fish? He makes hats?
Well there was an interview video with him. And he was walking out of town when the fires were coming and noticed a line of cars trying to leave but weren't moving. Turns out there was a police man blocking traffic. So basically all these people trying to flee in their cars, couldn't. When Fish asked the officer, the officer said he was just doing what he was told (I think he says by FEMA). Fish was like, you realize the fire is coming this way? Doesn't make sense.
Found the vid. I usually don't do tiktok. So I suck
Salty Boomer (@mrainokea) | TikTok
No, don't know him but I've heard similar stories. Anything involving government on Maui has always been laughably incompetent. It' kinda like America, but also kinda like a third world country. We always accepted that as part of its charm while groaning and dealing with the government's stupidity.
Tough call there. Some families might need to leave to make life work for the next few years and they need to sell their land to free up the money to buy a house somewhere else. Can't prevent these people from doing that, and I bet they'll take it case by case.
Amid devastating Maui wildfires, a vacationing Denver pilot steps in to fly hundreds home
As wildfire burned through Maui, Captain Vince Eckelkamp, who was vacationing on the island, stepped in to help 300+ passengers evacuate.
www.usatoday.com
Hawaii wildfires: The red Lahaina house that survived Maui fires
The 100-year-old wood structure was recently renovated but not fireproofed, say owners.
www.bbc.com