Fires In Maui...Idyllic Lahaina In Ash Gray...

 

By EDUARDO PAZ-MARTINEZ

McALLEN, Texas | We've stayed up with the news coming out of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands, but have waited for additional and better info that is coming, but is coming slowly. As of today, officials at the scene say 93 residents of the tiny island have died in those hellish runaway fires.

The lovely tourist town of Lahaina, popularized in "The Last Resort" by The Eagles, is no more. Photos of the coastal town show a cremated landscape in ash gray.

Maui is the island located between Oahu (Honolulu) and the larger island of Hawaii.

According to 2020 statistical data on Wikipedia, Maui's population was 165,386. Like many islands, it lives by way of tourism, its population ballooning during the summer vacation months. Indeed, many of those believed dead are people being reported as missing or unaccounted-for by relatives in the U.S. Mainland.

The fires began early last week in the hillsides overlooking Maui, the spread coming steadily and slowly toward the populated area. Large acreage of trees and brush overgrowth fueled the unabated spread. Police officials reported finding charred bodies inside burned-out vehicles along the road leading into and out of Lahaina.

The mayor of Lahaina was quoted as saying the death toll given to the press is of people found outside local buildings. Evidence of bodies burned to a crisp (cremated, really) is expected to be found once experts can enter the still smoldering area.

The disaster is being described as the worst in decades.

President Joe Biden today said the full force of disaster aid for Hawaii is forthcoming. He has not said whether he will go to the island anytime soon, although it may be too early in the recovery process. News reports had it TV star Oprah Winfrey was in Maui to help with financial aid. She is said to own property on the island. Actor Jason Momoa also was on the scene.

Amazon zillionaire Jeff Bezos has pledged $100 million to aid in the rebuilding.

Meanwhile, search and recovery teams are using cadaver dogs to help find those missing and the increasing possibility of more deceased victims.

So far, crews have not searched inside buildings, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said Friday. The deaths in Lahaina confirmed as of Friday afternoon likely happened outdoors as people were trying to escape flames, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told reporters.

"Without a doubt, there will be more fatalities. We do not know, ultimately, how many will have occurred," said Green, noting that officials should have a better idea of that within days. An early estimate of the cost for rebuilding is being given as $5.52 billion.

We looked for but could find no words for Lahaina or Maui from any of the Republican Party's candidates for president.

Life is for the living, is what they'd probably say...

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