Lahaina Rebuilds

A year ago, wildfires swept through the town of Lahaina. That’s on the Hawaiian island of Maui. More than 100 people died. The fires destroyed 1,400 homes and 200,000 trees.

Today, some residents displaced by the fires still need homes. Maui’s mayor is working to pass laws to help people get easier access to new housing. And local groups are working to rebuild.

More than half of Maui’s money typically comes from tourism. But because of the fires, the island had to close to tourists. It reopened in November. When it did, it advertised a new type of trip.

When people travel to Maui now, they’re asked to help. Tourists are given a chance to volunteer, to support locally owned businesses, and to leave the island in better shape.

JOIN IN At a Lahaina beach, on August 8, people join a paddleboarding event to mark the one-year anniversary of the fires.

Maui Cultural Lands (MCL) is a nonprofit based in Lahaina. It’s one of the groups offering visitors ways to give back to the island. Group director Ekolu Lindsey’s house was destroyed in the fires. He has welcomed hundreds of volunteers since November. “Everybody loves Maui,” he says.

On volunteer days, MCL invites visitors to pull weeds and plant trees across the island. “We are going to work,” Lindsey says. “And it’s fun.”

Lindsey also teaches volunteers about Hawaiian culture. “We help people think of Hawaii as home,” Lindsey says. “Not your home, but someone’s home.”

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