#LahainaStrong

[lets-talk-spirituality]

How are things in Hawaii? I keep reading sad news and I'm praying for everyone there.

Thank you so much for asking! While the Maui wildfires did not impact me personally, I think it has impacted everyone in some way. Watching all the local businesses hustle to get shipping containers filled to send to ‘ohana on Maui, watching the ways the Maui community has rallied together, it’s brought me to tears countless times the past week.

There is a lot going on, people are still missing and may never be identified, there are legitimate concerns around land grabs (meaning rich people or the state coming in and seizing or purchasing land—there is a huge history of land grabs throughout the islands, making this an extra big slap in the face), there are tourists who are taking pictures of the devastation to commemorate it I guess (literally fucking cruel like how dare you, this is not disaster porn, these are HUMAN BEINGS who lost everything and are still fighting daily to fucking survive and it is NOT A PHOTOP for clout).

As someone who worked in local government, my heart goes out to everyone who I know is working around the clock, communications people who are constantly getting state and department updates, firefighters who watched their fucking houses burn down in front of their eyes still fighting fires, first responders searching through remains of people they knew. It’s not just the loss of property. The stories these people share, the horrors they witnessed still brings me to tears, even writing this.

Knowing this is directly related to water diversion and so much of this could’ve been mitigated by creating a plan for wildfires. They’ve been diverting water from West Maui for fucking decades. This area was a wetland and is now so dry that it set ablaze.

If there is anything I want people to take away from this, it’s that indigenous knowledge is the only way we can save our planet and it’s time that we get stewardship back to the ones who manage it the best. I am not native Hawaiian and would never pretend to speak for them, but I relate and empathize in many ways.

Instagram accounts I recommend for helping those in Maui and also for you to learn more about Hawai’i.

Support the Lahaina families directly

Activist who speaks about the water diversion and climate change aspects of what happened with Maui fires

Kākoʻo Haleakalā

ʻĀina Momona

Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action

Kānaka Autonomy

IllumiNative — focuses on all Natives

Son of Oʻahu

Kanaeokana

Kū Project

Please learn about the indigenous communities that existed where you’re from and where you are. Listen and learn from them. And please, if you can, help educate others around you. I’m not ashamed to admit I didn’t know shit about Hawai’i before I moved. It wasn’t something that was really taught where I grew up. So coming here and learning about the illegal overthrow and occupation of this nation, experiencing firsthand and witnessing how hard it is for people to stay here, and seeing the way they have pride in their heritage and how they kept their culture alive in the face of assimilation, it all has impacted me so much.

I’m so grateful to Hawai’i, and especially the island I live on that called me here, and to everyone who has completely opened up their hearts and soul to me. I can never repay what I’ve been given, but at the bare minimum, it’s my kuleana (responsibility) to tell others what I’ve learned and experienced here.

[freehawaii]

SUPPORT LAHAINA STRONG IN HONOLULU TOMORROW

[roxaslash]

Official link to the donations page that provides financial resources for community needs of the local residents who lost everything due to the devastating wildfires in Maui. Entire families are without a home.

[paradisebaddie]

#PrayForMaui #LahainaStrong

[xanadontit]

A couple of people have reached out asking if our family in Hawaii is safe (thank you!) and luckily the answer is yes. Everyone is on Oahu and the big island. But obviously it’s still heartbreaking.

E stopped me from going the fuck OFF on social media after seeing three posts in a row from rich kids I grew up with posting about how sad they are and how they just love vacationing in Maui and #lahainastrong. He didn’t think writing “Listen up, white devils” followed by a rant was helpful. Maybe not but I’d feel better. For a minute.

Anyway, I’ve shared these before but if you're able or so inclined here are some ways to help:

maui food bank: https://mauifoodbank.org/

maui humane society: https://www.mauihumanesociety.org/

center for native hawaiian advancement: https://www.memberplanet.com/campaign/cnhamembers/kakoomaui

hawai'i red cross: https://www.redcross.org/local/hawaii/ways-to-donate.html

[clearperspective]

Bringing perspective into the view from the devastation on Maui.

[boxedfitness]

Moon festival 2018 Moon cake for $ale and see all of the cool arts. □ □ □ #tradition #traditional #Tao #kungfu #Taichi #TAOGA #taoistwarrior #alwaysastudent #taoistway #kungfukids #chinesekungfu #keepmotivated #keepfit #meditate #exercise #lahaina #lahainastrong https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn_dd2YFrgF/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1f3kuje1do6vu

[tvdfishing-blog]

Jammin to Jordan T at the Lahaina Strong Kokua Festival. Good vibes and show support. #lahainastrong #maui #Lahaina #hawaii #goodvibes #support #each #other #help #others #JordanT #awesome #fun #happy #love #community #picoftheday #instalike #instagood #instamoment #music #Aloha (at Lahaina, Hawaii) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnfhphrHcFA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1e36fmtkfh9ss

[lahainagalleries]

West Maui before and after hurricane lane, the fires were the most destructive. #lahainastrong #maui #hurricanelane #lahainagalleries (at Lahaina, Hawaii)

[puredigitalmaui]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aldo Tassara Bermeo ♈️♎️ #MyLifeBeLike (@puredigitalmedia)

#dropknee #boog 🌊💦🌋 @jason_and_uilani 😉🤙🏽💦#bodyboard #hurricanelane 💨🔥🏠prayers for those who lost homes in #lahainafire 🙏🏽😒🤙🏽#lahainastrong #mauistrong 💪🏽😉 #dk #bodyboarding #bodyboarder @bbrmag @the_foam_co @we.bodyboard @surgebodyboardingmag @surgebb @riptidemag (at Secret Spot)

[freehawaii]

FREE HAWAI`I TV THE FREE HAWAI`I BROADCASTING NETWORK   "ARE MAUI RESIDENTS ABOUT TO BE SACRIFICED?"

Will Hawai`i Fake State Politicians Keep Their Promises? With Skyrocketing Rents, Will Mauiʻs People End Up Homeless & Forgotten? Or Will There Be A Much Needed Fundamental Shift In Priorities? Watch This To Discover What Needs To Come First & Why.

[suzanneangeles-blog]

Come join us for a nice evening out at the @pourhousemaui in Kapalua, Hawaii. #kapalua #hurricanelane #mauihawaii #lahaina #kaanapali #kapaluabay #lahainahawaii ##lahainastrong #pourhousekapalua #italianfood #italianrestaurant #mediterranean (at The Pour House, Restaurant and Bar)

[souilife]

We hope that you love your kimonos as much as we do! Tag us in your photos @so.ui.designs #souidesigns ❣ • • • • 📸: @so.ui.designs mc: @mommastine #souikimonos #polynesian #kimonos #monstera #monsteraprint #tropical #paradise #blackandwhite #clothing #apparel #hawaii #maui #madeonmaui #madeinhawaii #handmade #handsewn #entrepreneur #bosswoman #busybee #thankful #lahainastrong #giveback #partialproceeds #love #supportlocal #wishyouwerehere #fashion #jewelry (at Hana, Hawaii) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnuJs4elmqD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1kthe35clw5wx

[808rhythm]

It’s been a terrifying, even apocalyptic, past few days. I’m grateful for my community, from @malikadudley who updated us on the weather system every three hours while on vacation, to @summerstarrphotos and @kainoagram who stressed the importance of being prepared for the worst, to @whitelotusmaui and other neighbors who got my attention while the inferno was making its way down towards us. Thank you to @____yisong____ for giving us shelter during the commotion and while power was being restored, and to @jojovasquez for being a solid partner in emergency food prep, as always. So much gratitude to the firefighters who protected our neighborhoods as best they can away from their own families in the middle of a Category 4 hurricane. And now that the worst has passed, I’m overwhelmed with the generosity and kindness of the entire community to pull together and help those who have lost their homes and farms to the fire. I’ll do my best to be of service wherever possible. Thank you, Lahaina, for your strength, perseverance and aloha. #LahainaStrong.