An Iowa angle to the wild fires in Hawaii
…a note from Kathi Zimpleman, now in Kona
Editors note: Potluck subscribers Larry and Kathi Zimpleman of Cumming, are in Kona, Hawaii. I asked Kathi to write something about what is happening in their beloved adopted home away from home. Here is her take:
WILDFIRES AND THE ALOHA SPIRIT
By: Kathi Zimpleman
If you have been watching the news you are probably aware of the wildfires on Maui and the Big Island in Hawaii. Larry and I are currently in Kona on the west side of the island of Hawaii. The wildfires here were on the Kohala Coast and upcountry in Waimea. Those locations are north of our home and we are in no danger. Wildfires are not uncommon on the Big Island and happen in areas where there is a lot of vegetation and the land is dry because of the lack of rain.
The fires on Hawaii Island have been contained as of yesterday with minimal damage to homes and businesses. The firefighters and emergency personnel on the Island are brave, very professional, and quick to respond to any disaster. They are heroes to all of us.
The fires on Maui have destroyed Lahaina Town. Those fires have left 36 people dead and many more injured. What is happening is heartbreaking for everyone here. There are still fires raging in the upcountry areas of Maui.The firefighters are working to contain those fires with the assistance of the National Guard.
What happened in Lahaina was an absolute disaster. Emergency personnel on Maui train for a rapid response to hurricanes, tsunami events, and earthquakes; wildfires in an oceanfront area are very rare. The fire in Lahaina Town started with no warning and spread rapidly under very windy conditions. The fire has been described as an apocalypse. It must have felt that way to the people who were trying to outrun the fire in their cars while fire surrounded them. It must have felt that way to the people who looked out their windows to see the fire coming towards their home or their businesses. It must have felt that way to the people on Front Street as they were running into the ocean to try to escape the flames. Those people were rescued by Coast Guard personnel. The members of the Coast Guard are heroes every day in Hawaii.
What happened next is unimaginable. The fires raged in Lahaina, powered by the wind, and there is nothing left on Front Street and beyond. Front Street is on the National Registry of Historic Places because it tells the story of the time when Lahaina was the Capitol of Hawaii, the Royal Family lived in Lahaina, and it was a very active port and whaling village. The firefighters and rescue personnel acted with determination and bravery to save as many people, as many structures, as they could in the face of a raging fire. They are heroes.
There is nothing left standing on Front Street. The Pioneer Inn, which was home to many visitors since 1901, is gone. The Cheeseburger Cafe is gone; that was one of our favorites. Fleetwoods on Front is gone. Mick Fleetwood would pop into his restaurant from time to time and play a set for customers. The Paia Fish Market is gone. The ABC Store is gone. The Art Shops are gone. The Shave Ice shops are gone and on and on and on.
There was a place near Front Street called Banyan Park which was home to the largest Banyan tree in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world. It was planted in 1873 and provided 2/3 acres of shade for the townspeople and visitors. It was beautiful even though the years and the weight gave it a bit of a gnarly appearance. It is gone.
Maui will never be the same. Lahaina Town will never be the same. The old wooden structures are gone. The harbor is destroyed. People living on Maui will be frightened and angry for a long time, but they will come back to rebuild and begin their lives again.
The early settlers in the Hawaiian Islands were Polynesians and their legacy is one of respect for the beauty of nature as well as the power of nature. If you are a resident of Hawaii, you know that life can change in an instant because of the power and force of nature. If a volcano erupts, a hurricane touches land, or an earthquake strikes people in Hawaii rally around one another; they gather friends, family, and strangers into their arms. As I write this, donations of clothing, household goods, water, and more are being called for on Hawaii, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, and Kauai and people are responding with the spirit of Aloha. The goods will be delivered by container ships to one of the harbors on Maui. The Aloha Spirit is around all of us because, in this place, we are Ohana - we are all family.
Hawaiians know that life will return after the destruction because green shoots will appear, figuratively and literally. When a volcano erupts and destroys villages, homes, and hillsides green shoots will start to sprout on the lava rock when it has cooled; one of the more powerful signs of hope that Larry and I have seen anywhere. The people in Hawaii are told to look for the green shoots on the ground and among the people. Life is in a constant state of regeneration on these Islands and we will soon see the green shoots. Aloha will return.
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Excellent insights by an Iowan-on-the-scene of a major news event. In fact, I learned more from Kathi’s story from Hawaii than from all the network & wire service stories I’ve seen/heard.
Thanks for writing this, Kathi. Such a sad situation in Maui along a coast where so many have sought serenity. I’ve been in contact this week with a cousin in Kihei; he’s safe but knows many people who lost everything.