Finding Joy Amidst Tragedy: Stories of Solidarity in Post-Fire Hawaii

A week following the devastating fires in Hawaii and Maui, the island residents are coming together with great solidarity and resilience.

Despite the individual stories of loss, the community is finding solace in acts of cooking, singing, and rebuilding. Here are five scenes that showcase the spirit of unity:

In the Airplane

Volunteers onboard a flight sing “Hawaii Aloha” as a tribute to the fire victims. The song symbolizes love, mutual respect, and unity, which are all being greatly demonstrated during this crisis. Each person has their own unique experience of the catastrophe.

Noah Tomkinson

While standing neck-deep in the Pacific Ocean, Noah reassures his younger brother, Mylo, that they will get through this. They found themselves surrounded by flames on both sides when their attempt to escape the burning Lahaina town in their car resulted in getting trapped in traffic.

They made it to safety in the ocean, spending five hours there. Noah emphasizes the need for donations to assist those who have been left homeless.

Harry Donenfeld: Everything is gone, exclaims Harry. Although his house miraculously survived, the businesses of his friends were reduced to ash. Numerous galleries, including ones housing priceless artwork by Picasso and Chagall, have also been destroyed. Harry questions whether Lahaina should be rebuilt as a replica of its historic self or if it should be transformed into a modern city.

Lee Eng Wong and Sheldon Simeon

Formerly cooking for hotel guests in Lahaina, Lee and Sheldon have now taken on the responsibility of feeding the entire island. They collaborate with the Salvation Army to provide food to Red Cross emergency shelters. Lee describes the experience of working together as incredible but emotionally draining, as each day brings various challenges.

Sheldon mentions the overwhelming task of cooking large quantities of food and reaching out to other hotels on neighboring islands for support. Their mission is to rebuild Lahaina.

Arabelle Bottorff

As a German living on Maui for almost three decades, Arabelle emphasizes the unity and the proverbial Aloha spirit that prevails on the island. She plans weddings for couples, including those from Germany, and while some have canceled their ceremonies, she has had discussions with her local partners to ensure respect for the Hawaiian people’s emotions.

She highlights the importance of finding joy again and acknowledges that Hawaii heavily depends on tourism. The tourism board is encouraging visitors to avoid traveling to West Maui, the most affected area, to prevent tourists from unknowingly disrespecting the tragedy.

Hawaii is now divided into two worlds: the one the residents live in, deeply affected by the fires, and the one tourists explore, often oblivious to the extent of the devastation.