Prelude
For a locale surrounded by water, Lahaina is one of the driest places in Hawai’i. The topography of the island of Maui influences both rain and wind to inflict severe conditions on its northwest coast.
In 1867, a Hawaiian newspaper described the effects of this natural calamity:
This wind, the Kauaʻula, blows from directly above Kauaʻula Valley…The roaring is heard from above like the crashing of the sea against the base of a cliff. When it blows, it is something truly terrifying — houses topple, coconut trees snap, all the breadfruit trees are hewn into pieces, and banana stalks are all pushed down by this angry wind.
Nature is not the only culprit though.
Mismanagement by landowners, water extraction for agriculture and poor powerline maintenance all contributed to fuel the wildfire that consumed the Lahaina landscape and killed nearly 100 people.
Dedicated To
The Lahaina community
Disasters usually bring communities together to regroup and reassess priorities in life. When your whole world is burned down and left in ashes, it takes a strong spirit and tough resolve to rebuild and carry on.
The Lahaina community is trying to both reestablish their lives and their heritage. Maui has a rich legacy of indigenous and immigrant peoples. It also has a distinctive ecological history to protect.
Support
Please check out the following organizations that offer services to affected communities. I have no affiliation with either group, so this is not an endorsement. I always try to support those on the ground doing the daily work needed to recover.
Postscript
All Scobiphonic lyric videos premier on Substack first before appearing on other media platforms, including Twitter and YouTube.
Image Credits
Main Photo: Wtp22 CC4.0
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