Hawaii's historical structures destroyed in Maui fires

Lahaina's Front Street looking north

The wildfire that destroyed Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui has claimed 93 lives, making it the most destructive fire in the US in over a century. The death toll is expected to rise as workers comb the charred ruins.

As I scan the video footage and photos of what is left of Lahaina, I search for familiar stores and gathering spots. Only the waves lapping against the sea wall remains the same.

The rest of the Lahaina Town is reduced to ashes and rubble by the fire that ripped through the community  beginning Tuesday, Aug. 8.

President Biden declared Maui fires a national disaster Thursday (Aug. 10), ordering all federal agencies, including the military, to assist firefighting and recovery efforts.

Lahaina is prominent in the history of Hawaii. King Kamehameha I made Lahaina the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1802. 

Much of Hawaii's heritage has been reduced to ashes, including:

• The 200-year-old Waiola Church, Hawaii's first Christian church where some of Hawaii's royalty are buried.

• Lahaina Jodo Mission, which was established in a private house in 1912 to propagate Buddhism in Lahaina. The temple moved to its present location in 1931.

• Na Aikana Cultural Center, which occupies a building that once served as a soup kitchen for plantation workers during an ILWU strike against the Pioneer Mill.

• Pioneer Inn, built in 1901 by George Alan Freeland.

• The Baldwin Home Museum, the oldest home on the island, built between 1834 and 1835 for missionaries Dwight Baldwin and Charlotte Fowler Baldwin.

• The Wo HIng Museum and Cookhouse, The current structure was restored in 1912, but the original building was built in the early 19th century.

• The Old Lahaina Courthouse, which opened in 1860 as a customs house for whaling and trade ships as well as a center for government offices and court functions during the monarchy period.

Miraculously, Maria Lanakila Catholic Church and its rectory are still standing. The church school suffered minor damage. Maria Lanakila, which means Our Lady of Victory, was established in 1846, according to the church’s website. 

Originally consisting of an adobe building with grass hut chapels, the modern stone structure was finished in 1873. The buildings next door to the church were burned down completely.

ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIANS

About 40% of Lahaina's year-round population of 13,000 are of Asian descent and 5% was Native Hawaiian. Whites made up about 35% and the next largest group were of mixed racial heritage. 

Filipino Americans make up the largest Asian subgroup in Maui. According to Kit Zulueta Furukawa, director of the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce, hundreds of Filipinos are among the 1,000 people still unaccounted for, said Furukawa.

"Filipinos are a significant number of Lahaina’s population. We lost quite a few people, and a lot of our fellow Filipinos lost everything or a considerable amount of their housing and possessions," said Filipino American state Senator Gilbert Keith Agaran.

As of this morning, 89 people have perished in the multiple Maui blazes. Most of the fatalities were found in the three-mile stretch that defined what was downtown Lahaina. 

The number of dead is expected to rise as workers comb through the rubble that was once the home of Hawaiian royalty and has become a bustling tourist hub. 

A curfew will be in place from 10 pm-6 am daily in Historic Lahaina Town and affected areas.

The 150-year old banyan tree is charred (it’s said that if the roots are healthy, it will likely grow back, but it looks burned yet standing).

CURRENT CONDITIONS

The following news updates are courtesy of the Maui Information Guide.

• The road towards Lahaina: Honoapiilani Hwy (30) is closed again.
• The new fire in Ka’anapali is contained. The smaller fire in Haiku is out.
• 80 fatalities – We expect this number to rise dramatically with more search and rescue. So far, it’s the deadliest wildfire in the US since 2018 in California, but it’ll likely exceed it now that we have residents and crews returning to assess damages.
• Hospitals are NOT Overwhelmed – Rumors are circulating that Maui Memorial, Kula Hospital, and Lanai Community Hospital are overwhelmed, which is untrue.  They responded that they have ample capacity.  Do not avoid the ER.
• 100’s of pet fatalities – The fires came so quickly, it’s still unknown how many pets were lost.
• 1,418 people at 6 shelters – Many more have been displaced but are staying with friends and family.
• At least 2,207 structures were affected or completely destroyed. – These numbers will go up as we get a proper count.
• 10’s of thousands have left Maui – Both visitors and residents are leaving for Oahu and the mainland.
• 100’s of businesses burned – And 1000’s will be majorly affected or closed permanently.
• Most schools are still closed – And many businesses across the island have closed in an effort to have employees assist in aid.

Maui and the Big Island have had some terrible fires since Tuesday evening. Even though Lahaina has been the most devastating, keep in mind there are many major fires across Maui (not just the west side). 

 

Lahaina is said to be 85% contained, but remember that it was said to be 100% contained hours before it flared up and destroyed the entire town.

 

Pūlehu/Kihei is said to be 70% contained. 

 Kula containment is at 50% though new flare-ups have been reported, and it seems to be in 2 different areas. 

Both Ka’anapali and Haiku fires are contained/out.  Winds have died down a bit, so helicopters are able to assist with water drops and delivering supplies.

How you can help Maui, click here.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the  blog Views From the Edge.