Authored by Leland Jaffehttps://lelandjaffedpm.com/about/ on December 30, 2023
Arriving in Maui on August 8th, 2023
We arrived in Maui on August 8th, 2023 a little after noon on what appeared to be a picturesque day. It was a very bumpy and turbulent flight, but no one seemed concerned, and so we didn’t think anything of it. The Maui airport is located in Kahului and is located on the northern/central part of the island. When we landed and left the airport, we first noticed that it was windier than normal, but otherwise, it was a beautiful day in Maui. We had no idea that Hurricane Dora had been churning in the South Pacific causing 70+ MPH winds across the island, and that our peaceful vacation would soon turn into a harrowing escape from the Maui wildfires. As I write this, the vivid memories of that day are etched into my mind, serving as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature and fragility of life.
It all began innocently enough. My family and I were taking in the scenes as we traveled via rental car (which ended up saving us) from the Kahului Airport to Lahaina, which is on the western part of the Island. As the day progressed, the winds started to pick up, carrying with them an ominous sense of unease as we got closer to Lahaina. Once again, we had no idea that there was a hurricane moving across the South Pacific.
The initial cause for concern
As we descended to our hotel, we again felt uneasy as many people were leaving the Lahaina area, as there was no power and the cell service was interrupted. The car ride was very difficult with 70-80 MPH wind gusts but we eventually made it to the hotel and figured that the town would restore power soon enough once the wind died down. So we checked into the hotel, unpacked some of our bags, and hung out at the pool with some of the other guests (there was no pool furniture out because of the high winds).
The escape begins…
Everyone seemed happy-go-lucky without a worry in the world until we started to see plumes of smoke from just the other side of our hotel, billowing ominously against the once-clear blue sky. Not knowing what to do, we talked to other guests as well as the front desk, who reassured us that everything was okay and that they didn’t have any indications from authorities that we should evacuate. As you probably heard, there was never any warning sent out from the officials on Maui. They stated they would notify us if we needed to evacuate. The smoke soon became thicker and we realized that we needed to take matters into our own hands. I then went to the rooftop of the hotel (see picture below) and once again saw thick billowing smoke from the building next door and wildfires rapidly spreading. Panic set in as we quickly realized that Lahaina was under threat from a rapidly spreading wildfire. Fear gripped our hearts as we gathered our belongings and rushed to the car, joining a stream of evacuating residents and tourists alike.
Stuck and nowhere to go…
The drive through the narrow coastal roads was tense, with the flames and smoke at the edges of the highway. There was significant traffic and the constant concern that a power line or tree branch would land on our car. As we crept along the highway at a snail’s pace, there were downed power lines and tree branches, that we continuously needed to move (with the assistance of others) from the highway to clear the path.
Communication was challenging as cell service faltered under the strain of the emergency. Once we made it back around the south part of the West Maui mountains, our cell phone and internet finally returned and we realized the severity of the situation. Nervously checking updates on social media and local news, we learned that the wildfire was rapidly spreading, consuming acres of land, and threatening residential areas. The once idyllic vacation spot had transformed into a scene from a disaster movie.
At this point, we realized we weren’t returning to Lahaina that evening, so we began attempting to find a vacancy at any hotel, Airbnb, Hostels, or any other lodging, to no avail. We stopped at a gas station where there were hundreds of cars parked. This is when we learned that there were at least 2 other wildfires on the island, one in Kihei and the other in upcountry (Kula). We honestly felt trapped without knowing where to go for safety. We had only been on the island for about 3 hours, so we didn’t know how to navigate the island yet and cell service remained spotty.
Our medical minds kicked into gear and we headed for the Maui hospital. As we were driving towards the hospital, we could see the wildfire flames in the distance, which was an uneasy feeling. Finally, we made it to the hospital and spent the night in our car in the parking lot. Nobody got any sleep in our rental car, but we were certainly grateful to be safe for the moment. Once the sun rose the following morning, we were able to get a flight out of Maui for the following day. We were also lucky to find an Airbnb for the next evening (our last night in Maui), as we couldn’t imagine another night sleeping in our rental car with our family of four. Once we reached the Airbnb and saw the news, we realized how lucky we were, as many people (100+) lost their lives, their homes, and their businesses, and many spent the night in the ocean to escape the fires.
Reflecting on that traumatic experience, I am reminded of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. The Lahaina wildfire serves as a poignant reminder that, in the face of adversity, the human spirit has the strength to endure and rebuild.
As I write down these words, I carry the weight of those memories, forever grateful for the escape from the Lahaina wildfire and the valuable lesson it imparted – the unpredictable twists of life can turn a vacation into a survival story. We lost a vacation, but many others lost so much more. I’m grateful to be able to share this story with you, that my family is safe, and I hope Lahaina comes back stronger. I’m proud of my two daughters, as they were incredibly resilient and persevered through uncertain and traumatic times throughout this experience.
Wow – you truly retold your story in the most profound and powerful manner. Thank goodness everyone was ultimately safe….an experience that you will carry with you forever.
Thanks, it was interesting reflecting on that experience 4 months later!