Maui Fires – update – August 13, 2023
Want to contribute $$s where the impact will do the most good?
HSTA – Hawaii State Teachers’ Association at <https://www.hsta.org> has set up a special fund for Lahaina teachers who have lost everything. Checks can be sent to HSTA 1200 Ala Kappa St, Honolulu, HI 96789. The money will be given directly to the teachers. Help our teachers – they help our students become the people they can be.
Yesterday, HSTA had a fundraiser/ beginning of school gathering at Sugar Beach Resort Events. Among the teachers there, I met Alynthia Penn, a new teacher who had been assigned to Lahaina and was awaiting her placement. She said, “This is my 14th year as a licensed educator. I believe a commitment to lifelong learning is the most valuable thing teachers can bring to the table. That has caused this career to take me from Atlanta to Alaska and Christian mission to Peace Corps service. From studying Urban Education with the Memphis Teacher Residency to teaching computer literacy and digital citizenship in West Java, I have learned so much about culture and humanity through my time with various people groups around the world. In spite of our various languages and customs, it’s amazing how similar people are from one place to the next. Unfortunately, natural disasters have been a constant during my career so the wildfires during my first year here in Maui are not my first emergency and evacuation. [She experienced Katrina too]. It’s just a shame to witness so much loss of life and legacy. If anyone can preserve history through oral tradition and art, it’s the Hawaiian people! Hopefully, Hawaii will continue to lead by example and show other states and countries how to heal our world and repair what we’ve damaged.” She is great example of a teacher who will have positive impact on our children here in Hawaii.
Alynthia Penn
Needs on Maui – A Red Cross friend, Sue shared that three groups displaced from Lahaina still need homes:
1) An extended Samoan family of 14 who what to stay together.
2) An extended Mexican/American family of 7 and a dog who what to stay together.
3) A single male
If you can house any of these people, let the Red Cross know.
Also, Kekoa Enomoto sent this list: Displaced residents can pick up hot food at Hawaiian Canoe Club (HCC) today/daily or have it delivered to Lahaina people in need. Text Lahaina addresses to Ka‘uhane Lu‘uwai for delivery.
HCC also is staffing a drop-off tent in the parking lot for supplies, such as food, women’s/men’s underwear, medical/first-aid items and Sterno burners.
And finally – caught doing good:
Maui is resilient! Aloha, Renée
"Where in the world are Barry and Renee?" 
I’ve only learnt of fires in Hawai’i today, very devastating news for me, I only kept thinking of yours safety as well as impact on Native Hawaiians, small-scale farmers and wildlife, which are disproportionally affected by such situation. This is due to their symbiotic, powerful mutualistic relations to the land, and having it consumed by fire, as well as losing loved ones and being displaced, is very tough and traumatizing situation.
I can only wonder what future has for us, with all of those wildfires and scary changes due to climate change – I prefer this term over global warming, since some parts of the globe are actually getting colder and rainier then others – being more and more frequent.
Plus, another sad news: my oldest dog, Cleo, passed away in the 6th of August, at just 11 yrs, due to internal hemorrhage and CKF (Chronic Kidneys Failure). She was a true warrior, now I’m only with London, which is a black and white male yorkie mix.
Maybe, just maybe, Cleo’s greeting those poor, scared people (death toll exceeded 100, according to media) in Heaven. Imagine losing all you have in those fires? I can’t even picture how painful is that, but one thing I know for sure: Cleo is probably welcoming those who died in this tragedy in the other realm, nurturing their souls, since she’s always been a caring little thing with such a big heart full of kindness. As this planet is a fragile one, we must rethink the way we use resources, natural or industrialized, more often only once, on such an insanely industrial scale, since everything and everyone is interconnected, no matter how far-fetched this sounds.
It’s why I do my best to recycle and buy papers of reforested source only. I know it’s not much, but it’s all I can do. Please take care of yourself and the community as well, now y’all need each other more than never. And I believe in the power of unity in diversity, so I’m sure that, despite differences, we all can do a little to help environment and people rise stronger and bolder and more aware of the signals Mother Nature is sending us about climate change, in Hawai’i and elsewhere.
Stay safe,
Coconut.
Thank you, Coconut: We must all do what we can do to bring kindness and care into the world where there is so much suffering. Do you know the book “Dog Heaven” by Cynthia Rylant? You will love it. Cleo is there. We are so isolated from everywhere, but even Maui has evidence of Global Warming. Be well. Be safe. Be kind wherever you are, Thanks for your comments. Aloha, Renée
Wow glad there is organizing around recovery going on. I will send a check to the teachers group!
Thank you, Joanne: Teachers are at the frontline. We need them to be able to help our children. Your money will have great impact. Mahalo, Renée