In the wake of the deadly fires that ravaged the Hawaiian town of Lahaina, local volunteers have stepped up to provide support and aid to their community. These self-organized groups have been instrumental in delivering supplies, offering assistance to evacuees, and aiding in the rebuilding process. While official government agencies and NGOs have since mobilized their efforts, the work of grassroots volunteers has proven invaluable, particularly in circumventing bureaucratic delays.
One such volunteer, Auntie Lehua Kekahuna, took immediate action along with her friend, Duke Sparks, in the aftermath of the fire. They shut down their business and called in staff to provide hot meals for shelters and emergency responders. They also collected donations for evacuees and quickly organized a team of truck drivers to transport aid to Lahaina despite official routes being closed. This impromptu team became part of a larger network of support established by locals outside of formal government channels.
The group’s headquarters are now located at Shaka Detailing, an auto detailing company owned by Kekahuna’s son. Donations are meticulously organized in neat piles, ranging from nappies and food to water and batteries. The somber atmosphere is overshadowed only by Kekahuna’s authoritative presence, as her low voice commands the attention of the room. With connections to local police, the volunteers have managed to bypass checkpoints and deliver supplies directly to those in need.
For men like Casey Smythe, a Lahaina resident, participating in these efforts has been an emotional journey. The devastation he witnessed on his first trip to West Maui left him in disbelief and brought him to tears. He described the scene as resembling an apocalyptic movie, with downed streetlights and military personnel dominating the nightscape. Smythe also revealed the alarming issue of looting, both of vacant homes and even the bodies of the deceased. Stories of violence fueled by anger and frustration paint a disturbing picture of the challenges faced by the community.
Despite these challenges, the grassroots volunteers have become a vital lifeline for Lahaina. They have established impromptu distribution centers called Kanaka Costcos, where supplies are deposited for locals to collect. The lack of immediate assistance from FEMA and the Red Cross has further highlighted the significance of these volunteer efforts. While FEMA has provided $2.3 million in aid and dispatched search and rescue teams, its assistance is contingent on a disaster declaration from the president, which was delayed in this case.
The accounts from Lahaina underscore the immense value of these volunteer groups as they fill the void left by official response efforts. Auntie Kekahuna rightly questions whether outside aid organizations would be able to handle the specific challenges faced by the community, such as cleaning up debris or removing cars. Many West Maui residents have expressed gratitude towards these grassroots volunteers, believing that they have received more help from unofficial supply chains than from their own government.
The strained relationship between locals and the government has only deepened due to a perceived downplaying of the scale of the destruction. Hawaii’s governor recently stated that the death toll is expected to significantly increase as the search progresses. Locals, living near the forensic facility, claim to have witnessed the arrival of refrigerated trucks to hold the remains of victims, highlighting the harrowing reality they face. This perceived lack of acknowledgment has further fueled the alienation between the community and their government.
Through the dedication and tenacity of these grassroots volunteers, Lahaina continues to rebuild and recover. Their relentless efforts have served as a powerful reminder that in times of crisis, it is often the strength and compassion of ordinary citizens that make the most impact. While official aid organizations play a vital role, it is the collective determination of communities like Lahaina that truly drives the recovery process forward.
