Join Thor and me as we finally escape for some delayed R&R on Maui, with sunshine and daily snorkeling. But first, a tribute to Lahaina after the terrible wildfire of 2023.
It’s been busy here since returning from our trip, and I’m still sorting Thor’s underwater photos with the promised images of snorkeling among sweet Honu turtles and more. Stay tuned for next week! Meanwhile, it seems right to honor the heritage of the historic town of Lahaina and its residents, who suffered terrible losses in the tragic wildfire of 2023 that swept through the town.
We had always enjoyed the charming colonial center of Lahaina on previous trips, so we took the drive along the northwest coast and through the lovely tunnel of trees, still green and thriving:
Lahaina was the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom from 1820 to 1845, and also a busy whaling port from the 1820s to the 1860s. Later, it became a center for the sugarcane industry, which contributed to damaging the natural watershed (along with mega-resort hotels and golf course sucking up a lot of water). A lot of mismanagement apparently contributed to the drought conditions primed for the wildfire.
I revisit here a few images from our 2017 trip, including this historic hotel:
Along with so many others, I grieve the losses of life and history, including the famous 150-year-old banyan tree that filled a park the size of a city block. Along with more of the historic center of town, it was burned in the fire that roared out of the drought-stricken hills with almost no warning. This growth was all from one 2-meter tall sapling:
We visited this 100-year-old Buddhist temple that was also destroyed in the fire. (see also top photo) Efforts are being made to restore the site.
The copper bell and Buddha statue were saved, along with a sacred wooden image of the Buddha.
We always enjoyed wandering the main street along the waterfront, which offered everything from high-end galleries and boutiques to shave-ice stands and native crafts like the offerings from this tiki carver.
The waterfront before the fire:
The waterfront this year. Much is still fenced off, waiting for rebuilding:
Many neighborhoods were destroyed.
Survivor Jesse Jaspal, whose entire neighborhood was wiped out, reported to CBS News on August 12, 2023:
“A lot of people evacuated with just the clothes on their backs, and they lost everything. Many people lost their homes, their animals, dogs, cats, some horses,” he said. “And there’s a lot of people that are still missing.”
This is another drought year, so we’re all hoping that those clouds over the hills will bring rain. Footings remain of this neighborhood:
Wishing the best and the blessings of Aloha to the people of Maui!
Next week: We return to the healing sea.
*****
You will find The Rambling Writer’s blog posts here every Saturday. Sara’s Caribbean suspense novel from Book View Café is ISLANDS, which draws on her experiences working as a scuba divemaster on various islands, and also her research into petroglyphs. Sign up for her quarterly email newsletter at www.sarastamey.com
