Rebuilding Lahaina: Two Years After the Wildfires
The Hawaiian town of Lahaina, located on the island of Maui, continues to grapple with the aftermath of devastating wildfires that occurred two years ago. These fires claimed the lives of over 100 individuals and obliterated more than 2,000 homes and buildings. In the wake of this tragedy, residents like Debbie Arellano have been striving to rebuild their community and lives.
Back in 2021, shortly after the fires, NPR spoke with Arellano, who was then residing in temporary housing with her husband and young son. “I’m living out of tote bags. I’m living day by day, and I haven’t been able to bring myself to unpack because I don’t know if we’re leaving,” she expressed during that time.
The Current Mood in Lahaina
Two years later, the atmosphere in Lahaina is described as “very solemn,” according to Arellano. While some residents have begun the rebuilding process, others have yet to start. “Our town is gone. Our home is gone,” she reflected, highlighting the mixture of progress and the challenges that lie ahead.
When asked about her personal way of remembering the fires, Arellano shared that she prefers to stay at home with family, a tradition she continues this year. As a coping mechanism, she organized friends and started a nonprofit called Kaibigan ng Lahaina, which translates from Tagalog as “friends of Lahaina.” This organization, formed with friends from school, aims to support the community in the rebuilding process.
Challenges and Community Efforts
Arellano has observed that many families have relocated due to the high cost of living and lack of affordable housing post-disaster. “Lahaina’s been in trouble for a long time, and so I guess this is the breaking point,” she previously mentioned, acknowledging the economic challenges exacerbated by the fires.
Despite these difficulties, the fires have sparked a wave of activism among local residents, particularly the younger generation, leading to the creation of several Lahaina-based nonprofits. Arellano, who works at Lahainaluna High School, notes the ongoing impact of the fires on education and mental health, emphasizing the school’s historical significance as a beacon of learning and resilience.
The Road to Recovery
As Lahaina continues to rebuild, Arellano underscores the community’s resilience and the deep-rooted love for their hometown. “We’re not just rebuilding our homes… But this is a place we love. This is what’s made us,” she said. The dedication of Lahaina’s residents to their town and each other remains unwavering, as echoed by the birds in the backdrop of their conversation.
For more information, visit NPR’s original article here.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
