VIDEO: The Maui community gathered for a paddle out to honor the 102 lives lost in the Lahaina fires two years ago. Hundreds of surfers and paddlers went out into the ocean at Hanakaโลโล Beach Park in honor and memory of the victims of the wildfires on Aug. 8, 2023. It was a chance for the community once again to come together, remember and reflect on how far they’ve come. โWe could be easily one of those people on top of that hill on a cross being our name, so to be here to celebrate with my family, my friends, the people that I met after the fire, to reconnect with them is so special to me,โ shared Lahaina fire survivor Warner Duldulao-Kahaialii.
Hope is a great word that you use because you know when people see buildings coming up, they see homes, they can see themselves in those places and of course we want to help them get there as much as possible,โ said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen. On the drive to the paddle out, there were 400 homes that have been permitted, so there is definitely, not just, hope but more homes on the horizon. Mayor Bissen said there will be a major announcement regarding homes and the settlement on Monday, Aug. 11. The tone of the 2nd anniversary is different from last year โ last year, heavy hearts, this year, still heavy hearts, but yet with a sense of healing and hope from where we were one year ago
