August 11, 2023
 Dear Friends and Neighbors,
On Tuesday, August 8th, a combination of draught conditions and offshore hurricane weather led to the widespread wildfires across the island of Maui and to some extent on the big island of Hawaii. The flames have led to the loss of dozens of lives, mass destruction of hundreds of homes, businesses, and historical and cultural structures, and the decimation of much of the region’s natural beauty, landscape, and resources. Painfully, this includes the heartbreaking loss of the historic town of Lahaina. As the blaze continues, the death toll continues to climb. And while we witness this tragic event from the mainland, it may seem difficult to know how to help. There are several organizations and businesses both in Hawaii and Seattle which have provided avenues for you to support communities affected – find out more from The Seattle Times, Good Morning America, and Honolulu Civil Beat.
As Maui and Hawaii continue to endure this destruction, both native Hawaiians and authorities urge visitors not to book a stay in Maui. Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines have lowered flight prices so that victims may evacuate safely from the island and several hotels are offering low prices to provide shelter. Please do not book an inexpensive flight or hotel for a vacation and leave available tickets and rooms for those affected. Maui needs time to heal itself and grieve the loss of its land and community, as the devastation from these fires will have lasting effects on its resources. During this time and for much of the time to come, the fewer visitors utilizing critical resources, the better.
Additionally, please beware of scammers. During these times of crisis, there are many individuals who are quick to exploit the goodwill of donators. If you do choose to donate, be sure to:
- Donate to trusted, well-known charities.
- Verify that the charity is legitimate. Hawaii charities must be registered with the Department of the Attorney General, and their status can be verified here.
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Be mindful of popular scammer’s tactics:
- Rushing you into donating.
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Asking you to donate using cash or gift
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Using names that sound similar to names of real
Our hearts are with the victims during this terrible time, and we mourn these losses with them.
All my best,
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