Ethan Meyers, right, carries crosses to put up to honor the victims killed in a recent wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. Two weeks after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century swept through the Maui community of Lahaina, authorities say anywhere between 500 and 1,000 people remain unaccounted for a staggering number for officials facing huge challenges to determine how many of those perished and how many may have made it to safety but haven't checked in.
The kanaka of Hawaii, the Native Hawaiians who inhabit the islands, value ’ohana, which extends beyond the familial ties of blood. It is a life nourished by kinship. In the days, and now weeks, after the deadliest wildfire in the United States in more than a century, families who lost homes and possessions continue to depend on the generosity of relatives, friends and even strangers. Shipments of food, clothes and everyday necessities keep arriving from the state's other islands, including Oahu, home to Honolulu.
Archie Kalepa, a surfing legend and revered member of Maui's Native Hawaiian community, urged his 'ohana to honor core values. “Love your family, take care of the land," he said, “and you’ll rebuild your community.”The community of 13,000 people included immigrants from many parts of the world. Here, they find common ground.
With so many dead or missing, a sentiment like that is ripe to resonate across a community coping with loss.