‘Bittersweet’: Lahaina wildfire anniversary, start of new school year stirs mixed emotions
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Thursday marks a full year since the deadly fire that broke out in Lahaina, claiming more than 100 lives and almost completely destroying the town.
Public school students in Lahaina have been given that day off to reflect on what they have been through and mourn together.
Wednesday morning, many of them returned to class for the first day of the 2024-2025 school year.
Courtney Lazo has two boys in 9th grade at Lahainaluna High School. Her sons didn’t want to be interviewed but tell their mother that overall, they are ready to go back and be with their classmates.
”It’s really bittersweet. We’re excited that the kids get to go to school and to be among their peers. I feel like it’s really healing to be in community, especially since now all the kids are, for the most part, out of the hotels and in different points of the island,” said Lazo, a vocal member of the Lahaina Strong group.
“At the same time, it’s also sad because it’s a reminder of our reality that we all do have to commute from different points of the island, and we’re driving past our town that had burned down.”
MAUI WILDFIRES DISASTER ONE YEAR LATER
Transportation will be an issue for many west Maui families who aren’t able to live in Lahaina and are forced to shuttle their students to class from places like Kihei, central Maui and upcountry where Lazo is currently living.
”I feel really frustrated with the DOE. Roberts Hawaii got the contract for the Lahainaluna and we had a bus that got pulled as of yesterday. So yesterday was freshman’s first day the bus showed up to pick them up and drop them off and the DOE said, no, we’re not going to do that route,” added Lazo referring to a recent announcement from Hawaii’s Department of Education stating the bus driver shortage could impact families across the state.
Below the three public schools on the hill above town, there are signs of progress and hope. You can see the framing coming up on a property below which for many is a positive sign that recovery is happening. But there is also remnants of the devastation that occurred one year ago.
”The kids have to see this every day when they’re at school but I think it’s mostly positive,” said Lazo.
Parents HNN spoke to with older students told us their children were also not ready to be interviewed but expressed mixed emotions with the thought of summer ending and class resuming.
”My daughter is 17-years-old, she’s a senior in high school. This is going to be her last year and also my last she’s my baby going to school and going to be graduating. I think the emotions are kind of high. It’s up, down and all around today,” said Shannon I’i who lost her home last year as well.
Some teachers are eager to return to class and find some sense of normalcy as many of Lahaina’s public educators also had their homes destroyed in the fires on Aug. 8, 2023.
Nate Kahaialii teaches at Lahaina Intermediate School and says he is ready to see his students.
”I want to stress to them the Importance of community and to be there for each other. To understand that everyone is going through this at their own at their own pace and some people are, you know, mentally, emotionally ready and some people aren’t,” said Kahaialii.
This 32-year-old has an inspiring story. After losing everything he owns except for a pair of running shoes, he has been ale to find strength through running.
It’s something that’s been important to him and his mental health. It has also been a means to raise money for his community.
”I ran the New York City Marathon two years ago, and I saw a lot of people, you know, having great causes to run for. With the unfortunate news of the wildfires happening last year, I thought, I can make that my cause and raise money for the community. So, I did that at the Chicago Marathon, at the Honolulu Marathon, and I’ll be doing that again at this coming New York City Marathon as well,” said Kahaialii.
To learn more about Nate’s journey and to support him in his efforts, follow @runforlahaina on Instagram.
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