Lāhainā Paddle Out: A one-year commemoration of lives lost in wildfire disaster

Several hundred people paddled surfboards and canoes, and hundreds more watched from shore at Hanaka‘ō‘ō Beach Park on Thursday morning in a Lāhainā Paddle Out event to commemorate lives lost and changed forever by the Lahaina wildfire disaster a year ago.

The Aug. 8, 2023, blaze destroyed the working-class neighborhood mauka of the landmark Pioneer Mill smokestack, including the 18-year Paeohi Street home of Jack and Jennifer Starr. At the Paddle Out on Thursday, Jack made his way to shore with a longboard under one arm and a stand-up paddle in another.

“It’s one year,” and “it’s really not a celebration; it’s a gathering of camaraderie and memorialism of the loss of our town,” he said. And, there’s hope.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has worked with the local community, and the cleanup of fire ash and debris is “way ahead of schedule,” said Starr, who plans to rebuild. “So there’s promise. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m super-stoked to be involved.”

Still, the past year has been difficult, he said. “One door closes. Another one opens, but it’s hell in the hallway. We’ve been in the hallway.”

Mayor Richard Bissen said that foremost in his mind on the wildfire anniversary was the families of the 102 people who lost their lives, and two who remain unaccounted for. He also expressed gratitude for first responders — including police and firefighters who risked their lives battling the blaze and evacuating residents. Seventy-nine Maui County employees, many of them first responders, lost their homes, he said.

The Paddle Out event was an opportunity for “the community to come together in a show of strength and to support these families,” he said.

Gov. Josh Green came to show his support as well, walking among people and talking privately with some.

“They’re sharing that they have survived, and they’re sharing warmth,” he said. “It’s been completely positive… I spent a lot of time about half a year ago with Lāhainā Strong, and they stood up for something important and prevailed.”

“As I walk about I just think many people are acknowledging the loss and that they are healing,” Green said.

The governor also noted that to survive the raging firestorm, many people jumped into the ocean to escape the flames. “As people go into the water today, it has the kind of feeling of symmetry a year later in a very different way. Today, they go out to heal.”

One canoe paddler said the event was “sad, but great,” because the community was gathering together.

Kahului resident Peer Johnson, who also lives part-time in San Luis Obispo, Calif., propped his bandaged left ankle on a chair while waiting for the event to begin. “I am going out,” he said. “I’ve got my surfboard over there.”

Despite his injury, Johnson said he felt compelled to participate in the Lāhainā Paddle Out “to honor the people that have fallen; the people that have fought; the people that live here and wanna maintain their lives here.”

And, he said, “I want to learn from them how to be respectful. I love the respect aspect of the aloha and the culture here… I want to continue to learn how I can be a positive impact on the island.”

Compared with the howling winds that fueled fast-moving flames a year earlier, mostly sunny skies made for a picture-perfect day, turning the ocean into a sparkling playground for hundreds who came with surfboards, swim fins or went offshore in outrigger canoes. Light breezes helped cool onlookers on shore from a sweltering Lāhainā sun. The Lāhainā Paddle Out was organized by Kuhinia Maui, led by the communities of Lahaina and Kula with the support of Maui County.

Parking was limited at the beach park, so a shuttle bus service was provided from the Lāhainā Civic Center.

Hawaiian music helped entertain everyone who gathered for the event while mental health counselors were on hand to talk with anyone who was having difficulty coping on the anniversary of the disaster. For those who continue to struggle with stress, anxiety and trauma from the fires, mental health support is available via the www.mauirecovers.org website, or by calling the Hawai‘i Support Line at 808-446-6676.

At 5 p.m. Thursday, a private community gathering was scheduled at the civic center in reverence of loved ones who died Aug. 8.

The Paddle Out and community gathering were the first of several upcoming commemorations of the Lahaina and Upcountry wildfires. Subject to change, an event schedule follows:

Friday, Aug. 9

• Aloha for Kūpuna of Lāhainā
  • Kūpuna are a cherished anchor of the community. The gathering brings kūpuna of Lahaina together to enjoy camaraderie and time to talk story. Sign-up required for participation; please visit https://www.KuhiniaMaui.org for more information.
  • 9 a.m. – Lahaina Civic Center
• Puana Aloha No Lāhainā
  • Paying tribute through music, this event brings together entertainers including Lahaina musicians to perform traditional and contemporary songs of Lahaina.
  • 6 p.m. – Lahaina Civic Center

Saturday, Aug. 10

• Kamehameha Schools, Kapālama student performance of Ka Malu ‘Ulu o Lele
  • Kamehameha School Kapālama students return to Maui in an encore performance of their live stage production of Ka Malu `Ulu o Lele: The Shaded Breadfruit Grove of Lele. Over 100 sixth-graders traveling from the school’s Oʻahu campus will perform in the student-led show that tells the history of Lahaina’s legacy from revered ali‘i to modern-day aloha ‘āina champions. 
  • 1 p.m. – Baldwin High School, Auditorium
• Lahaina Obon Festival
  • To give the community the annual tradition of Obon despite the loss of their temples, Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, Lāhainā Jodo Mission and Lahaina Shingon Mission have combined efforts to host a special Obon Festival event that honors ancestors through traditional Japanese dance and music.
  • 5 p.m. – To be announced

Sunday, Aug. 11

• A Day of Hope and Prayer:
  • Led by faith leaders of churches and temples that were lost in the fire, this interfaith gathering brings forward hope as recovery efforts continue. A worldwide moment of silence will be held at noon.
  • 10 a.m. – Lāhainā Civic Center
• Upcountry Aloha
  • To give aid to farm and ranch animals in danger of the wildfire, Oskie Rice Arena opened its grounds to give safe shelter amid the crisis impacting Upcountry Maui. This special event will welcome Upcountry residents to gather and share in an evening that honors community resilience and spirit. 
  • 5 p.m. – Oskie Rice Arena, Makawao

For more information, email coordinator Daryl Fujiwara at aloha@kuhiniamaui.org.