Never Forget What Happened In Maui

On August 8, 2025, Maui solemnly commemorated the two year anniversary of the catastrophic wildfires that ravaged Lahaina and parts of Upcountry Maui on August 8, 2023, claiming 102 lives and destroying over 2,200 structures. The day, marked by the "Kuhinia Maui" events, included a paddle out at Hanaka‘ō‘ō Beach Park with around 1,000 participants, a midday gathering at the Kalana O Maui County Building, and a private memorial at Lahaina Civic Center, honoring victims and fostering community healing. After two years, 280 homes are under construction, 50 have been completed, and 465 building permits issued, though many survivors remain displaced, with 46% still not returned to their homes in Lahaina. In beautiful Maui, nearly half of residents are reporting depressive symptoms and 30% facing moderate to severe anxiety. We must never forget what occurred in Lahaina. Because it is a pattern echoing across the United States. Whether it is merely the cozy assumption that Lahaina and its residents perished due to incompetent local government hijinks or the onslaught of world government smart city devastation still remains to be fully investigated.