Through the grief and uncertainty stemming from the deadly wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are feeling “a time of profound unity.”
Kahului Hawaii West Stake President Benjamin J. Hanks said they feel that unity not only in the stake but across the island and throughout Hawaii since the devastating wildfires began on Aug. 8.
“We are united in our faith in Jesus Christ and our understanding that He has promised to not leave us comfortless,” President Hanks said. “We can feel the support, strength and prayers of individuals in and out of our faith from around the world. We express a sincere mahalo [thank you] to each of you in our corner during this difficult time.”
The death toll as of Wednesday, Aug. 30, remained at 115 as search and recovery teams had nearly completed their house-by-house probe. Hundreds of people are still listed as missing and may be presumed dead.
Now authorities need to remove hazardous materials, toxic debris and ash — but there is no timeline for when residents can return to their destroyed properties.
The fires claimed five members of the Church and burned 80 homes belonging to people in the Lahaina 1st and 2nd wards. Those members are now in temporary housing with the support of Church members, family, the Red Cross and others as they navigate the next phase of recovery.
President Hanks said the Lahaina Latter-day Saints and so many others in the community “have been remarkable examples of grace and resilience.”
Representatives from the Church’s Family Services and mental health professionals from additional organizations have been on Maui to help with the emotional challenges of the experience.
“The Lahaina area has been decimated, and we recognize that a great deal of work, patience and adversities are ahead of us,” President Hanks said. “We believe, however, that the island community is built to overcome this with our faith intact and stronger on the other side of it.”
Trying to help Lahaina youth feel hope and normalcy
The two Church meetinghouses did not burn, but members of the Lahaina 1st and 2nd wards have not been able to go inside yet.
Alexis Merrill, the Kahului West Stake Young Women president and Lahaina 1st Ward seminary teacher, said she is trying to help the youth feel some hope and some normalcy, despite their high school being closed and the chapel being closed. She is now teaching the 20 seminary students in her home, which was spared from the fire.
“The path is unknown, because we don’t know what rebuilding will look like,” Merrill said. People don’t know where they will spend Christmas or how long they will feel so unsettled.
But she said they can feel the prayers of people from around the world. They have three missionaries serving from their ward and four college students who are all being supported in one way or another.
After Merrill dropped off her own daughter at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, this week, she was headed to the Distribution Center to buy new temple clothing so Lahaina members could still take their planned trip to the Kona Hawaii Temple next month.
When fellow stake member Lindsay Hughes returned to Maui on Aug. 16, she brought with her 32 pieces of checked luggage containing supplies, including new temple garments for those who had lost everything.
Many others around the country have led fundraising efforts and sent donations to Maui, while local charitable organizations have been working nonstop to help the community.
‘I know that He will never fail us’
President Hanks said that, as people might expect, this is not a short-term rebuild. And the far-reaching effects across the entire island have included some challenges not readily seen in news coverage.
For example, Hawaii’s economy leans heavily on tourism. But the number of visitors to Maui has dropped dramatically. Many residents have felt the need to reassure people that while they should not and cannot access Lahaina, the rest of the island remains open.
“We hope the material support and prayers continue in the years of recovery we have ahead of us,” President Hanks said.
And people around the world are putting into practice the Savior’s counsel to love one another.
“This charity — this pure love of Christ — is promised to never fail us. I know that He will never fail us,” he said.
