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53 people have died from the Maui wildfires, governor says, and historic Lahaina has burned down
LAHAINA — A search of the wildfire devastation on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of obliterated neighborhoods and landmarks charred beyond recognition, as the death toll rose to at least 53 and survivors told harrowing tales of narrow escapes with only the clothes on their backs.
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Kaua‘i to assist with Maui relief efforts
LIHU‘E — Members of the public and officials with the County of Kaua‘i are organizing to provide relief for people and businesses affected by the catastrophic Maui wildfires that have claimed at least 53 lives and sent hundreds of first responders searching for survivors.
Biden declares federal disaster on Maui, Hawai‘i Island
LIHU‘E — President Joe Biden approved on Thursday morning Governor Josh Green’s request for a federal disaster declaration in Hawai‘i, ordering federal aid to assist recovery efforts on Maui and opening funds to individuals affected by the recent wildfires that have killed at least 53 people
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Death toll climbs to 53 in Maui wildfires
LAHAINA, Hawaii — County of Maui officials said the death toll has climbed to 53 in the Lahaina, Pulehu and Upcountry Maui fires, as of 1:10 p.m. on Thursday.
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Maui surveys the wreckage caused by deadly wildfire
LAHAINA — A search of the wildfire devastation on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of obliterated neighborhoods and landmarks charred beyond recognition, as the death toll reached at least 36 and survivors told harrowing tales of narrow escapes with only the clothes on their backs.
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Drought, winds, hurricane, climate change fuel Maui’s devastating fires
Hawaii went from lush to bone dry and thus more fire-prone in a matter of just a few weeks — a key factor in a dangerous mix of conditions appear to have combined to make the wildfires blazing a path of destruction in Hawaii particularly damaging.
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Experts: People should assess before donating to Maui fire recovery
Follow live updates about wildfires racing across part of Maui in Hawaii, destroying sections of a historic town and forcing evacuations, including from the popular tourist spot of Lahaina. The National Weather Service says Hurricane Dora, which is passing south of the island chain at a safe distance, was partly to blame for strong winds that initially drove the flames, knocking out power and grounding firefighting helicopters.
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Lahaina town’s majestic banyan tree chronicles 150 years of history
For generations, the banyan tree along Lahaina town’s historic Front Street served as a gathering place, its leafy branches unfurling majestically to give shade from the Hawaiian sun. By most accounts, the sprawling tree was the heart of the oceanside community — towering more than 60 feet (18 meters) and anchored by multiple trunks that span nearly an acre.
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Maui surveys the burned wreckage caused by deadliest U.S. wildfire in years
WAILUKU, Hawai‘i — The search of the wildfire wreckage on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of burned out homes and obliterated communities as firefighters battled the stubborn blaze that has already claimed 36 lives, making it the deadliest in the U.S. in five years.
Brandon Lin swims to gold in Idaho
LIHU‘E — Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics swimmer Brandon Lin, 14, was the sole SKA swimmer to find gold at the Western Zones Championships that wrapped up on Saturday in Boise, Idaho.
Keeping Kaua‘i fire-free — wildfire expert urges residents take fire precautions
LIHU‘E — As the deadliest wildfires in Hawai‘i’s recorded history ravage Maui and Hawai‘i Island, the Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) is urging Kaua‘i residents to prepare now to protect the Garden Isle from the threat of inferno.
At least 36 people have died in Lahaina fires
WAILUKU — At least 36 people have died in the Lahaina fire in Hawaii, Maui County wrote in a statement posted to the county website Wednesday evening.
Wildfires take Maui by surprise, burning through a historic town
WAILUKU — The sky was dark from smoke and flames were racing through the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina when Kamuela Kawaakoa got back to his apartment after a quick dash to the supermarket for water. He, his girlfriend Iiulia Yasso, and their 6-year-old son grabbed a change of clothes and ran as the bushes around them caught fire.
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Wildfire on Maui kills at least 6 as it sweeps through historic town
KAHULUI — A wildfire tore through the heart of the Hawaiian island of Maui in darkness on Wednesday, reducing much of a historic town to ash and forcing people to jump into the ocean to flee the flames. At least six people died, dozens were wounded and 271 structures were damaged or destroyed.
Kaua‘i officials react to Hawai‘i wildfires
LIHU‘E — County of Kaua‘i officials reacted to the large wildfires that tore through Maui and Hawaii Island on Wednesday, with the chief of the Kaua‘i Fire Department asking the public to remain vigilant to help avoid a similar situation on the island.
Biden sends military to help with Hawai‘i wildfires
President Joe Biden said in a statement on Wednesday evening that he has ordered “all available Federal assets” to help combat wildfires that have devastated parts of the Hawaiian island of Maui, killing at least six people.
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What’s driving wildfires in Maui, and how climate change is fueling those conditions
A dangerous mix of conditions appear to have combined to make the wildfires blazing a path of destruction in Hawaii particularly damaging, including high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation.
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Six people killed, dozens injured, in Maui wildfire
KAHULUI, Hawaii — A wildfire tore through the heart of Maui on Wednesday with alarming speed and ferocity, destroying dozens of homes and businesses in a historic tourist town, killing at least six people and injuring at least two dozen others, and forcing panicked residents to jump into the ocean to flee the flames.
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People in Hawai‘i flee into ocean to escape wildfire destroying historic Maui tourist town
KAHULUI, Hawai‘i — A wildfire tore through the heart of Maui on Wednesday with alarming speed and ferocity, destroying homes and businesses in a historic tourist town and forcing panicked residents to jump into the ocean to flee the flames.
Multiple fires continue to burn on Big Island coastline
Multiple brushfires are continuing to burn along the South Kohala coastline.
Hawai‘i wildfires burn homes and force evacuations
HONOLULU — Wildfires in Hawai‘i fanned by strong winds burned multiple structures, forced evacuations and caused power outages in several communities late Tuesday as firefighters struggled to reach some areas that were cut off by downed trees and power lines.
Visitor spending tops $250 million in June on Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — Visitor spending topped the one-quarter billion dollar mark in the first full month of summer, as tourism dollars continued to flow into Kaua‘i at an eye-popping rate.
Tourists spend big for hotel rooms on Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — Hotels on the island of Kaua‘i reeled in some lofty room rates in June, doing more than their part to boost visitor spending in the 30-day period.
Roux, Graham find gold at HSJGA Po‘ipu Bay Classic
PO‘IPU — Roux Ridings of Lihu‘e and Graham Morgan of Kilauea were the two Kaua‘i winners following the 36-hole Hawai‘i State Junior Golf Association/First Tee Po‘ipu Bay Junior Classic that wrapped up on Sunday at Po‘ipu Bay Golf Course.
Happy Camper for Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Cheryl Shintani, president of the Kiwanis Club of Kaua‘i, said kudos are in order for Ruth Douthitt for winning the state Kiwanis Kupuna Spelling Bee after the first runner-up in the Kaua‘i preliminaries correctly spelled “tamari (Justin George of the Alzheimer’s Association said it’s a sushi term)” in the 11th round.