Wildfires in Maui Hawaii forcing evacuations

[SkateSand]

Up until the last year, I've lived in wildfire country for the last forty years, and unless you've been through a few evacuations in this kind of country, you really just can't imagine how fast flames can move during high winds - and even if you put 3,000 fire personnel on it, they are completely helpless. And it's always, always, always high winds. I still remember a small fire thirty miles away, thinking it's no problem for us, and then being evacuated because the fire had moved to within a mile of our town. Just. Like. That. And the only thing that saved our town was not the 3,000 firefighters, but that the wind shifted direction and sent the flames back over the 64,000 acres they had just incinerated and the fire had nothing left to burn.

 

[once_upon]

CNN article about how to donate, avoid scams, etc.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/10/business/charity-real-donation-money-going/index.html

I slways do relief donations through the UMCOR -United Methodist Relief as all donations go directly to relief efforts. All churches pay appointments-which pays for all of the administrative costs, so every penny goes to relief efforts. You cam designate where you want your donations to go to.

 

[MacMadame]

Local rescues are starting to take in animals flown in from Maui. So donating to your local animal shelter/rescue and/or helping out is another way to help Maui.

 

[Cachoo]

Basketball is big here and the Kansas Jayhawks and University of Illinois Illini have scheduled a fund raising game in October. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to Maui. Just think if someone did this with football.

 

[once_upon]

Isn't October when a pre-season NCAA basketball tournament usually played in Hawaii?

It makes some sense that the Jayhawks would want to do something.

 

[Cachoo]

Isn't October when a pre-season NCAA basketball tournament usually played in Hawaii?

It makes some sense that the Jayhawks would want to do something.

The Maui Invitational happens around Thanksgiving. I know Kansas, Gonzaga, UCLA and Purdue are among those scheduled this year. But I have doubts that it happens this year. The Lahaina Civic Center did not burn down but everything around it is gone. They could move the tournament but that has to be a low priority compared to all of their challenges. It was a great tournament though. KU goes every four or five years. The fans are happy to follow them to Maui.

 

[BittyBug]

I don’t think the government has a plan for the what the response would be in event of a super Cat 5 hurricane hitting a city like Miami or New Orleans.

I wonder what the response is going to be for the potential torrential rainfall event in the southwest this weekend?

It is state disaster management that is supposed to have plans in place since so much depends on geography. The Feds are not intended to be first responders. They're good at supplying $$, but not so much in terms of surging supplies.

Part of the reason why things go awry in the U.S. in moments of crisis is because there is no central government. There's city / town, state and federal, and responsibilities for many things, such as safety services, are for the most part the province of local government. Then add in the fact that different areas may privatize certain functions, and things are further complicated.

Maui, the Western part of the U.S. (including Alaska (!)), Canada, the Canary Islands, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Algeria, Tunisia - the world is ablaze, largely due to human activity, and it's only going to get worse.

 

[PRlady]

Those of us who live in humid, lush places with tons of water around find it hard to appreciate dry climates that even normally go months without rain. When I drive outside Jerusalem in the Judean hills at this time of year, I’m terrified of the fire risk.

 

[TOADS]

It was fine that President Biden went to Maui.

What they should have done was to fly some of the survivors of the Paradise fire to Lahaina to talk with the survivors.

The Paradise survivors know exactly what the Lahaina folks are going through and would be the best to offer comfort and hope.

 

[TOADS]

The fire is fading from the news but I am going to keep up with the story for the next foreseeable future.

I just have this nagging fear that developers are going to have a land grab so they can put up those “bougie” millionaire mansions.

Lahaina was once the capital of Hawaii and while the original is gone, it can be rebuilt in similar fashion since there are a million pictures of what the town looked like. They need to preserve as much of the original Hawaiian heritage as possible plus the small shops and restaurants attract tourists and tourists provide jobs to the lower income folks who live in the region. Millionaire mansions bring only arrogance and perceived privilege. Save that shit for Martha’s Vineyard, not Lahaina.

 

[Cachoo]

The fire is fading from the news but I am going to keep up with the story for the next foreseeable future.

I just have this nagging fear that developers are going to have a land grab so they can put up those “bougie” millionaire mansions.

Lahaina was once the capital of Hawaii and while the original is gone, it can be rebuilt in similar fashion since there are a million pictures of what the town looked like. They need to preserve as much of the original Hawaiian heritage as possible plus the small shops and restaurants attract tourists and tourists provide jobs to the lower income folks who live in the region. Millionaire mansions bring only arrogance and perceived privilege. Save that shit for Martha’s Vineyard, not Lahaina.

I’d call them vultures except that is an insult to vultures. I read that they started trying to contact owners less than 24 hrs after the fire. They didn’t even know if they were alive or dead. Someone with some authority needs to put some barriers in place. People need space to recover both physically and mentally.

 

[TOADS]

Latest news from Lahaina indicate that the Banyan tree is showing some signs of life.

There is a team of arborists who are watering and fertilizing the tree and are monitoring it on a continual basis.

 

[Cachoo]

Tourists Were Told to Avoid Maui. Many Workers Want Them Back.

A plunge in tourism after a disastrous fire has already crippled the economy in Maui. Now, some locals who wanted visitors to stay away are urging them back.

www.nytimes.com

 

[TOADS]

Latest reports from a day ago continue to indicate that the root system of the Banyan tree continues to show growth so at least the trunk system of the tree seems to be recovering. Nothing yet about any new leaves sprouting.

 

[TOADS]

Latest on the Banyan tree In Lahaina is there are a few shoots coming out.

The trunks probably did not suffer much burn damage because most of the fire went over the top of the canopy. Underneath, the heat was not as intense. In fact most of the wooden benches under the tree weren’t event scorched.

Estimates are that maybe 10% of the tree limbs may have to be removed that show no signs of growth.

Good news.

 

[TOADS]

Our local TV station just showed video of the Lahaina Banyan tree with shoots with green leaves sprouting from the trunk.

A very good sign.

 

[Vash01]

Artists' auction to help the devastated Artist community in Lahaina. Some artists have donated their works. Among them my painting teacher and her daughter who also teaches painting workshops.

https://artistslahaina.betterworld.org/auctions/gallery-2/items/dappled-jennifer-diehl?fbclid=IwAR28-8J51aLIZWBYEG1ZolMkv2mFkZrRJY-pR15rSgeBnttrBiRXkDGHn34

There are some $1000 plus paintings but there are some in the low $100s. It's a worthy cause and you get a painting. I may buy one.

ETA- I just realized this is an auction, so the price you see is the current max bid for the painting. I may not be able to afford after all.

I may donate one of mine - a Maui sunset painting- and see if anyone bids on it. Not sure if the paintings are by invitation only. Will check.

 

[TOADS]

After two months, the Bayan tree is recovering. A third of the tree has lots of green and showing great recovery. Another third is showing some growth but recovery is slow. The last third shows no recovery at all.

At least the tree will survive.

 

[TOADS]

Latest from Lahaina is that 65% of the Banyan tree has green growth. About 30% of the tree will have to be cut down since it is definitely dead. At least most of it is growing back!

 

[TOADS]

This week they are going to cut down about a third of the banyan tree that is definitely dead. Most of the tree being cut down are the trunks that formed as the branches spread from the main tree. The main tree is definitely healthy with lots of green growth. The area of the tree will shrink as the cutting proceeds but hopefully in a few years the branches will begin to extend outwards and send down new trunks.

 

[TOADS]

Just watched a walking tour video made literally hours ago of the Banyan Tree.

There is a lot of new growth and they are cutting away the portions that have died.

Lahaina Banyan Tree - Maui Fire ð¥ Update Walking Tour, Ground Video 3/28/2024

Consider Supporting Citizen Reporting of the Truth on MauiVisit http://www.TruthMaui.comBrokered by Real Broker LLCMerch http://www.EricWestMaui.com maui haw...

www.youtube.com

 

[TOADS]

Here is the first video I have seen that shows the fire damage at ground level.

It truly is very sobering.......

LAHAINA, Maui - FRONT SREEET Driving TOUR - 8 Months after the FIRE

Lahaina Driving Tour Updating the progress that has been made with clean up on Front Street after the Lahaina Fire. This video was shot on 3/30/2024 almost 8...

www.youtube.com

 

[Vash01]

Here is the first video I have seen that shows the fire damage at ground level.

It truly is very sobering.......

LAHAINA, Maui - FRONT SREEET Driving TOUR - 8 Months after the FIRE

Lahaina Driving Tour Updating the progress that has been made with clean up on Front Street after the Lahaina Fire. This video was shot on 3/30/2024 almost 8...

www.youtube.com

Great video. It brought up many memories and some sadness.