Maui fires

[southpaw72]

Any locals in here? Hopefully everyone’s safe and ok. Spent a lot of time in that area of Lahaina this past spring it’s a real shame with the loss of everything going on. Will be headed back in early September not worried about my trip but can’t help but feel awful about all the local business and people affected. 

[ESOX ZO]

Came here to say the same thing, from local FB pages I follow and seems that Lahaina is almost a complete loss. I really hope that isn't the case, I've made lifelong memories there and recovering from this seems like a long winding road. 

[southpaw72]

40 minutes ago, ESOX ZO said:

Came here to say the same thing, from local FB pages I follow and seems that Lahaina is almost a complete loss. I really hope that isn't the case, I've made lifelong memories there and recovering from this seems like a long winding road. 

Can’t imagine the rebuilding process on the island like that. We got engaged on Maui and had one of the best meals ever at Lahaina grill and the best part of our trip (aside from the golf of course) was spent at the shops and restaurants in Lahaina . Was hoping to head back to Lahaina grill for our honeymoon trip and make it a tradition but I imagine it won’t look anything like how I remember. Of course none of this is what matters it more about the locals and business owners. 

[southpaw72]

The banyan tree is reported gone. This is one of the pics I took when I visited. Wish I had better ones 

Edited August 9, 2023 by southpaw72

[ESOX ZO]

26 minutes ago, southpaw72 said:

The banyan tree is reported gone. 

devasting, we were there this April for the 150th year celebration. You just know how much it means to the locals. 

[southpaw72]

4 minutes ago, ESOX ZO said:

devasting, we were there this April for the 150th year celebration. You just know how much it means to the locals. 

Can’t help but wonder with all those years of root structure it very well could spring signs of life and be the positivity they’ll need going forward. That would be amazing 

[ESOX ZO]

8 minutes ago, southpaw72 said:

Can’t help but wonder with all those years of root structure it very well could spring signs of life and be the positivity they’ll need going forward. That would be amazing 

That is a good point. 

[Triple Lindy]

4 hours ago, southpaw72 said:

Hopefully everyone’s safe and ok.

Ditto

 

1 hour ago, southpaw72 said:

one of the best meals ever at Lahaina grill

 Double ditto. By far our favorite restaurant on the island. And Lahaina is such a cool harbor town. Absolutely devastating. Terrible news about the banyan tree. That was the first thing my wife asked about when I told her about the fires.

[Pepperturbo]

We have friends that live on Maui and have a condo there.  Our phones have been blowing up from friends about the fires.  Make sure you check your sources, media has been exaggerating effects.  We're heading over soon. 

[southpaw72]

1 hour ago, Pepperturbo said:

We have friends that live on Maui and have a condo there.  Our phones have been blowing up from friends about the fires.  Make sure you check your sources, media has been exaggerating effects.  We're heading over soon. 

The videos don’t look too promising. It’s being reported as a complete loss of the  harbor area 

[southpaw72]

[Pepperturbo]

22 minutes ago, southpaw72 said:

IMO swirling smoke from the hurricane Dora down south, makes it appear worse than it is. 

[ESOX ZO]

Man just saw the picture, Front Street is GONE. So incredibly sad to see.

 

[southpaw72]

12 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

IMO swirling smoke from the hurricane Dora down south, makes it appear worse than it is. 

Idk man it doesn’t appear very open to opinion… it’s reported by officials and the news as a complete loss. Front street is gone 

[tatertot]

23 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

IMO swirling smoke from the hurricane Dora down south, makes it appear worse than it is. 

There is literally 1 freaking house left standing.

[southpaw72]

11 minutes ago, tatertot said:

There is literally 1 freaking house left standing.

It must be reflecting off his tin foil hat and appearing as many.

 

All jokes aside the fatalities are starting to be reported. I’m not sure how you can say this is being dramatized. Extra bold (and wrong) take… 

 

cell service down, 911 down, hospitals overflowing and unable to help all burn victims but leave it to ol pepper to tell us it’s all overplayed. I’ve seen numerous reports from people on. Maui saying the opposite. It’s a literal hell and being under reported so far. It’s too bad to even get to the bottom of the destruction so far. 

Edited August 9, 2023 by southpaw72

[cubuffs]

My Wife and I were married in Wailea - have been to Maui with both of my boys (one who we are sending off to play golf in college next week) multiple times.  To hear Front street is gone, we have had so many dining experiences there, to hear boats in the harbor burned and the harbor is lost, we have gone surfing, whale whatching, and fishing from there.  These are family memories from multiple decades - but as painful as that is - more concerned that the people that call that area home and a place of business are alive, and managing.  That is a special place and lots of thoughts and prayers to those from/living there.   

[tatertot]

3 minutes ago, cubuffs said:

My Wife and I were married in Wailea - have been to Maui with both of my boys (one who we are sending off to play golf in college next week) multiple times.  To hear Front street is gone, we have had so many dining experiences there, to hear boats in the harbor burned and the harbor is lost, we have gone surfing, whale whatching, and fishing from there.  These are family memories from multiple decades - but as painful as that is - more concerned that the people that call that area home and a place of business are alive, and managing.  That is a special place and lots of thoughts and prayers to those from/living there.   

Thanks for putting this in perspective ... lots of us have built memories there, but we're talking about peoples homes, businesses, traditions ... and very lives. We should be sending our prayers.

[callawayjay]

3 dozen people dead, front street wiped out. People jumping in the ocean to escape. There’s not much to interpret. 

[southpaw72]

3 hours ago, callawayjay said:

3 dozen people dead, front street wiped out. People jumping in the ocean to escape. There’s not much to interpret. 

That’s good old pepper though. Locals say death toll is being underreported. Also lots of Airbnb and rental owners not offering refunds, I know that as I’m going through it now. The greed of people is unreal. 

[ESOX ZO]

Overleveraged Investors 

[coreyhr]

22 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

IMO swirling smoke from the hurricane Dora down south, makes it appear worse than it is. 

There's always one of these guys in every thread on WRX these days it seems. 

[aloha b.]

We have friends and relatives on Hawaii Island and Maui. A friend on Hawaii Island told us that their son in-laws family lost their home and everything else in Lahaina, it's devastating and my wife and I are so sad. I heard that the Banyon tree is burned but is still standing. The Lahaina Harbor is gone as well as the Baldwin House, Halo Pa'ahao, Kimo's Restaurant, Pioneer Inn too. Also saw that Fleetwoods On Front Street is gone too, this was Mick Fleetwoods from Fleetwood Mac's restaurant. We are sending our prayers to the people of Hawaii.

Edited August 10, 2023 by aloha b.

[2bGood]

On 8/9/2023 at 11:46 AM, Pepperturbo said:

We have friends that live on Maui and have a condo there.  Our phones have been blowing up from friends about the fires.  Make sure you check your sources, media has been exaggerating effects.  We're heading over soon. 

This is not going to age well. More than 50 dead, an entire town wiped out. local officials asking tourist not to come. This was bad, very bad. 

Edited August 11, 2023 by 2bGood

[tatertot]

6 hours ago, coreyhr said:

There's always one of these guys in every thread on WRX these days it seems. 

It's often the same guy.

[Pepperturbo]

17 hours ago, 2bGood said:

This is not going to age well. More than 50 dead, an entire town wiped out. local officials asking tourist not to come. This was bad, very bad. 

Yep, it's a travesty, especially for all the people now homeless and Hawaiian history.  By the time we head over, conditions will have settled.  Our place is south, as are the homes of friends.  Least the upper highway is open if we decided to play The Bay or Plantation.

[tw422]

On 8/11/2023 at 12:27 PM, Pepperturbo said:

Yep, it's a travesty, especially for all the people now homeless and Hawaiian history.  By the time we head over, conditions will have settled.  Our place is south, as are the homes of friends.  Least the upper highway is open if we decided to play The Bay or Plantation.

dude, you can't be serious with this thread?!?  they are literally still pulling bodies out of the harbor and trying to collect human remains in the rubble and yet, you are so sure that things will be settled enough for you to go to maui and play golf next month? just SMH.  where has human decency gone? 

[Pepperturbo]

36 minutes ago, tw422 said:

dude, you can't be serious with this thread?!?  they are literally still pulling bodies out of the harbor and trying to collect human remains in the rubble and yet, you are so sure that things will be settled enough for you to go to maui and play golf next month? just SMH.  where has human decency gone? 

I hear what you're saying, but that is NOT a reason for visitors to not come to other parts of the island.  The vast majority of Maui, as well as other island economy is tourist-based; abruptly stopping tourist travel harms the rest of the island.  I won't tell you how much money I've funneled to support efforts, plus we are likey to help the cause while there.  What are you doing to help, apart from human decency innuendo?

 

I have friends who live there, and I own a place in the south.  The island now has supply routes established to and from the north, and to the island itself.  But the north is still closed to tourists, as it should be.  A friend who owns a Rental & Real Estate firm keeps us advised.  Another friend who owns a high-end restaurant has been a supply organizer and delivering supplies to the north area.  He says the rest of the island needs the revenue because many places haven't recovered from effects of Covid.  Even the Governor and Mayor announced visitors should come after 9/1 and stay in middle to south part of the island.

 

 

Edited August 15, 2023 by Pepperturbo

[southpaw72]

I will say after talking to local buisness owners, the Wailea golf courses, the public on social media etc.  (take that for what it’s worth) they’re all encouraging travel to south Maui and want normalcy and employment. They are afraid of what is happening with all the cancellations. Layoffs have started. Everyone I’ve spoken with from people with inherent bias (rental owners) to the hourly employees answering the phone want respectful guests and not in 6 months, now. The phrase that’s been used is Maui is open west Maui isn’t. We still don’t know what to do with our trip but the sentiment has changed to a positive encouraging one. 

[ESOX ZO]

Very difficult situation no doubt, my personally would feel guilty traveling to close to this major disaster. South Maui may be open, but allocating most of their resources to supply for Lahaina. So I'm not sure what I would do knowing that, but also knowing that they want normalcy and their tourist income to keep everything going.