08/16/2023
We are saddened and heartbroken for the residents and tourists that went through the Lahaina fire. It is surreal, I'm just stunned at the loss of life. Praising God for keeping my family and grandkids safe. It hasn't really hit us yet how close we came.
The winds were horrendous when we woke up last Tuesday. Power poles snapped in two as far as the eye could see on Front street and hwy 30. Trees ripped from the ground or huge branches snapping off large trees. The devastation from the winds alone was appalling.
My husband was up when we lost power. He decided to head out to get me some coffee. He found a way to get to the bakery. They had lost power at 4am. He grabbed what was left from what they made prior to the outage. He was shocked to see huge downed trees ripped out at the roots or snapped in pieces.
We had rented a larger place in south Lahaina in the Puamana complex.
Since the power was out. So my son in law suggested we go to the aquarium and Paia.
So off we went without packing.
I'm so thankful we did.
We had thought we would go back for our things but the roads were completely filled with cars trying to get to the west side. Thousands.
You couldn't rent another place because they were all taken. Planes kept coming in with thousands of people and nowhere to go if they had had places to stay on the Westside. That's when we decided to sleep in the car the first place we set up camp, we were just watching the fires in upcountry just burning so fast because of the winds and the gusts of up to 85 or 100 mph I think. Then we got kicked out of that parking lot and went to the Walmart parking lot with all the other evacuees from up country.
It's so very sad. We talked to people that had left Lahaina driving through the fires. They said no one evacuated them. No warnings.
We are so blessed by our guests and their messages! I am asking guests and friends to still go to Maui. To come and spend money so that the residents who lost their homes and everything in them , so that they don't lose their income too. Kaanapali has power back on since Saturday. Then roads opened to all this morning.
I canceled all guests in August because of the power issues and road closures. September is looking to be a go for my guests, though our Mahana AOAO is updating us daily.
Maui will rebuild Lahaina but it will take time.
Our very own dear friend and her husband, Karen and Tommy Kondo, lost everything in the fire. She has also been my cleaning person since we owned our unit in Kaanapali. (Our place is fine)
If you want to send my cleaning girl help you can certainly do that. Anything helps!!
She is on Facebook too if you want to see the photos of her losses and reach out to her.
Karen Kondo
3911 Maaleae Bay Place
Wailuku HI 96793
She is staying with her husband (who barely escaped) in one of her owners places until October or so.
Still having to pay on a mortgage that's no longer there.
Thank you! We are all trying to do what we can!
