15 Comments

Our Wyoming landlords live just outside of Lahaina. Their house is safe. Their son, Josh Bogle (well-known Paralympics surfer) is there on the ground doing hands-on supply runs for people. We’ve donated to his Venmo, which I can offer to others through my email (dgarner@deborahgarner.com.) He can be found on Instagram at @joshybogle (Ever see a quadriplegic surf? He’s amazing!) We like knowing that someone we know personally is taking the donation and immediately using it to give help - no red tape or delays. Their family also highly recommends Maui Food Bank and Maui Humane Society. Thank you to all who are helping. The town is devastated, and the people are heartbroken.

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Oh, thank you Debbie! That's great info!

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Thank you!

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I like you have been to Maui more times than I can count. It has always been such a spiritual place for me. I feel it as soon as I leave the airport. Mel and I always stayed in Kaanapali. One year when we were there there was a large fire near the Aquarium and due to the one way road no traffic was allowed in our out of the area. We were on a tour when the fire broke out and our tour guide found all of us a room at a small hotel owned by her cousin. She took us to the mall so we could buy night clothes, toothpaste and a toothbrush. Some people chose to spend the night in the mall as hundreds of people were stranded. The next morning our guide came back to pick us all up and return us back to our hotels. Talks about Ohana. Lahaina will rose from the ashes like a Phoenix. She will never be the same but she will be back.

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Oh, I agree Lynn, she will be back. And I for one will look forward to visiting again, hopefully helping to bring revenue to the island. Thank you for sharing your story. 💜

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Thank you so much, Sue, for sharing these touching thoughts about Maui. I have never been, only to Oahu and Kauai, but my heart goes out to all those affected!

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Thank you Luisa for your heartfelt comments. 💜

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I have only been to Maui twice, once when my husband and I first began dating and in 2019, where on February 20th we dined at Cheeseburger in Paradise in Lahaina, then visited the Banyan Tree. That evening, at sunset he proposed.

The people of the island are some of the most pure and beautiful souls of the world. I too feel like I am home when I am there.

I have been fortunate enough to be on the Big Island twice; once in Kona and once at Havi. The history and active presence of Pele there was where I truly felt home. They also have experienced fires.

I am reminding myself to send love, not worry. Also to clean and clear, helping in any way possible with Ho’oponopono.

I’m sorry

Please forgive me

Thank you

I love you

I would appreciate knowing where we can contribute to that is legitimate and going to help those who have lost everything.

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I remember a post you wrote about the islands. I felt connected to you after reading that. And thank you for teaching me a new word, Ho’oponopono. I love that. I just added one thought to my post, not sure which version you read, the original or the now updated. But I will be mindful to also not send worry because what we love about this islands, no fire can destroy. We love the ocean and the 'ohana. I'm feeling the same way, I'd like to find an avenue to contribute that is legitimate. Perhaps I will post this on notes to see if people have suggestions. 💜

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I shared my comment about the best avenue to contribute on Notes as well as here. I lived on Maui for ten years (one vacation there was all it took for my husband and I to sell our house and quit our jobs in PA, drive across the country so our car could be shipped, and move to Maui) and still have many good friends there. It’s even worse than what the videos show. And every resident, even if their home or workplace wasn’t destroyed, will suffer financially because Maui’s economy revolves around tourism. It will take years for the many tourist accommodations that burned to be rebuilt or replaced with new ones, so the number of tourists will drop significantly for quite some time.

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And Lahaina’s many historic sites and the historic items in the courthouse museum that burned are irreplaceable, as are the people who died. This is one of very few times I’ve been glad I no longer live on Maui. One of my friends was quoted in an AP news story about what she witnessed, which was so horrible I won’t mention it here.

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Thank you Wendi for reading and sharing your thoughts. I agree with you that it will take years to recover. It will be a slow process. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the island for so many years, such a gift. And thank you for sharing on Notes. We are putting together a nice list of possible organizations to provide assistance. I will add a final note listing all the choices people have offered. 💜

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Patricia, See my note. Those are solid places to donate without worries.

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In addition to others’ suggestions for legit organizations, I offer this one from my Maui friend Lisa Paulson who is currently working at the County Emergency Operations Center: https://hawaiicommunityfoundaton.org

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I lived on Maui for ten years and have many good friends there. One of them, Lisa Paulson, shared that the best place to send funds for disaster recovery efforts is the Maui Strong Fund at https://hawaiicommunityfoundation.org

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