LAHAINA, Hawaii—A main bypass road into Lahaina in West Maui, Hawaii, reopened on Aug. 16, more than a week after a wildfire destroyed homes and businesses and took more than 100 lives.
Travel along Route 30 into Lahaina was steady but sporadic at about noon on Aug. 16, although heavily damaged areas remained closed under guard.
At Ohana Fuels in Lahaina, a line of cars waited to fill up with gasoline in short supply because of power outages that shut down local fuel stations. And that’s not to mention food, water, and other supplies.
“We’re just getting everybody gassed up,” West Maui resident Sarah Turner said while filling up plastic gas containers in the bed of a pickup truck as fast as she could pump.
The gas wasn’t only for her family’s use but also for others who needed it.
“Everyone has been very generous, taking it upon themselves to drive through with supplies when possible. They started going through the neighborhoods dropping off stuff,” Ms. Turner said.
She said the fuel will go to power emergency generators until the situation stabilizes since many areas of Lahaina are still without power.
“Without [gas], we couldn’t keep our house or food cold. They’re helping us out so we can help others,” Ms. Turner told The Epoch Times.
“We’re trying to keep our friends in good spirits because they lost everything. The next step for them is they’re homeless now.”
Ms. Turner said the ranks of the homeless, a social problem in West Maui, will only grow worse with the increasing number of displaced Lahaina residents.
Gas for a Good Cause
Best of all, the customers waiting for gas didn’t pay a dime.Chimo Shipp, who grew up in Lahaina, and other volunteers swiped gas cards so motorists could receive free fuel.
He said his company, Fresh Fish Maui, raised $10,000 from more than 4,000 customers to purchase gas for the volunteer relief effort in Lahaina.
As donations kept pouring in, Mr. Shipp said he managed to purchase 1,800 gallons of gas and transport it to Lahaina on his boat.
“We went and bought every gas can left on the island—everything we could get to. I have a picture,” he said.
“It was hundreds and hundreds of gallons. We almost sank my boat getting it over there. But we made it.”
Firefighters Struggling
“The firefighters are getting it rough. They’re risking their lives in the rubble. Their health—it’s an old town. So cancer is a serious concern,” Mr. Shipp told The Epoch Times.“Anyway, we got all this going. We don’t have to bring the gas over anymore. The gas stations are open. Now, we’re just swiping gas cards, talking to people, making sure they’re OK, and seeing if they have other needs besides gas.”
He said he’s also helping set up a “Fresh Help Maui” nonprofit to support the relief effort.
“For the most part, people are OK. They’re in pain emotionally,” Mr. Shipp said.
“You know the difference between the ones in Lahaina and up north. You can see it in their eyes. They’re just sad—sad. Their emotions come out in different ways.”
Daniel Skousen, a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints member in Lahaina and a father of four, said the wildfire plowed through the town, destroying some homes but not others.
The fire destroyed his neighbor’s house, but his home received only minimal damage.
“My structure sustained damage from the heat. About 20 feet in front of me, my neighbor burned completely to the ground. His was the last house in the south end of the fire to burn,” Mr. Skousen told The Epoch Times.
“My house had some windows broken out—smoke and ash inside. Melted doors. Melted air conditioner. I was able to get in there and get most of my kids’ things.
“I was stuck in traffic about a mile outside while it was burning. I was finishing work and headed home. So I was in the fire zone in the southernmost part of the fire.”
Mr. Skousen said he feels that the government could have done a better job of minimizing the disaster’s effects since wildfires aren’t uncommon in West Maui on the island’s drier west side.
“There were a lot of things done poorly. That’s my belief,” he said.
“I’ve been here 13 years on this side of the island. I’ve seen a lot of fires here. We knew [Lahaina] was a tinder box ready to go up. I told my brother last week: ‘Man, this place is ripe. It’s ready to burn. It’s dangerous.’
“We’ve had hurricanes come up before, and fires come up during hurricanes. So it’s not the first [time].”
However, Mr. Skousen said it’s “easy to feel the anger and jump to criticism.”
POTUS Visit
On Aug. 21, President Joe Biden will travel to West Maui to visit with survivors.The fire’s death toll had reached 111 as of Aug. 17, with more than 1,000 people still unaccounted for. Many victims died sitting in gridlocked traffic on Lahaina’s Front Street trying to flee the rapidly advancing wildfire.
One local mortician told The Epoch Times in a text message that the company is preparing for a potential mass of funerals.
“The company I work for has manpower available for the influx of possible funerals and cremations that can be here in a day when the time comes,” the mortician said, noting that the company has counselors available.
“Emotionally, I’m used to dealing with decedents—it’s usually the stories that bring sorrow and empathy, but I can’t attach myself to it all, just support who needs it and do my job to bring some closure to families.”
