This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on August 8, 2024.
Aloha e University of Hawaiʻi ʻOhana
It was one year ago that deadly wildfires raged through Maui, forever changing the island and our state. The pain and trauma remain from the loss of more than 100 lives, thousands of homes, schools and businesses, and the destruction of the heart of Lahaina. And let us also remember the fearsome wildfires in Kula that same day. It was truly a day of horror.
We honor those who lost their lives and mourn with their ʻohana. And we stand in solidarity with the survivors who are on a long road to recovery and rebuilding. The strength and resilience of the Maui community in the face of unimaginable loss have been truly inspiring. This includes many of our own UH employees and students, who lost family, homes, cars and jobs. We remain committed to doing all we can to help.
A year ago, our community instantly rose in support. UH Maui College students, faculty, and staff, in partnership with many volunteers, started cooking meals for survivors less than 24 hours after the fire. The college served as a food hub for fire relief efforts for months and ultimately produced some 200,000 meals. FEMA found its first home on the island at Maui College as well.
Our campuses reached out immediately to affected students, offering not just one-time assistance, but a promise of ongoing support to help them continue their educational plans. Financial aid, supplies, laptops, counseling, and academic advising were just the beginning. This support continued through the spring semester and will continue this fall, ensuring our students know they will be cared for. We know that higher education is the most important investment students and families can make in their futures and are committed to do what we can to help from having their dreams derailed.
Members of the UH community from Maui and other islands immediately engaged in a wide range of support activities, providing direct health support on the ground, testing air and water quality, assessing the impacts on coastal areas and reefs, and addressing public health impact and remediation strategies. Our Pacific Disaster Center was a trusted partner in the emergency operations center and UH expertise is helping harden disaster planning and community evacuation resilience.
UH researchers acted rapidly to secure federal funding for projects too numerous to fully repeat here. A sample of the work includes using AI to develop a new wildfire forecast system, gauging the feasibility of replacing fire-prone non-native vegetation with native plants, providing educational support for displaced children through trauma-informed STEM education, and leading a comprehensive health study that will track impacted Maui residents for at least a decade.
Our hearts especially went out to the Lahainaluna High School seniors. In addition to their personal losses, their school was damaged and they couldnʻt begin classes as planned. This is a group who began school during the COVID-19 pandemic and were looking forward to ending their high school careers with a “normal” year. Instead, they faced anything but. Our team and a generous donor made it possible for us to offer every member of that class a full tuition scholarship to the UH campus of their choice. At last count, we expect to welcome about 120 Class of ʻ24 Lunas to our campuses this fall, the most in history.
None of this can compensate for the enormous loss suffered that day, but I couldnʻt be prouder of the way all of UH rose to help, doing what was needed and asking questions later. Mahalo to all of you who supported those in need with your actions, large and small.
On this day of remembrance, please take a moment to reflect on those who were lost, those who lost loved ones, and those still suffering. Let us all reaffirm our dedication to supporting the ongoing recovery of Maui and its people, and to honoring the spirit of those affected by the horrific tragedy one year ago.
E mālama pono,
David Lassner
