PNEC Conference Minister Bonnie Bates received the following email dated 8/12/23 from Rev. David Popham, Hawaii Conference Minister. This email was sent to all Conference Ministers. Bonnie wanted to share it with our churches and members.
Regarding monetary donations: Congregations may mail their donations toward the Maui Fires to the Conference Office (431 Delaware Ave, Palmerton, PA 18071) or mail them directly to the United Church of Christ at P.O. Box 71957, Cleveland, PA 44194.
The Hawaii Conference United Church of Christ
Once again, thank you all for your kind words, prayers, and holding us in the light of God. Many of you have been through disasters before and I appreciate your insights and hard-earned wisdom.
Lahaina:
Today the fire has become the worst natural disaster for the islands since becoming a state. The Hilo tsunami of 1960 killed 61 people, Hawaii’s deadliest disaster. The death toll for Lahaina is now 67.
Authorities are letting residents back in. But it’s over a dirt road that runs along cliffs. On top of that once you get in there is no electricity, water, or phone service. A few hearty folks are remaining in town. 80% of the town (1700 buildings) were destroyed or damaged.
Waiola Church – the campus did burn. The concrete walls of the sanctuary remain. Interestingly the front lawn and historic cemetery were not touched by the fire. Kahu Rosa’s house survived, but the next three houses (all family members) did not. All members of the church have been accounted for except for one couple. While we hope it’s just a matter of contacting them. We are preparing for bad news.
Other Maui Fires:
Four major fires erupted on Tuesday. All four are still burning, but at presently not a major threat. We had two ministers in evacuation zones and one prepared to get the order. A fourth minister, Kahu Kojima, reported a distant relative in Lahaina did not survive. The relative had a heart attack while evacuating.
All totaled four churches were under threat by the fires. Three fared well and one is attending to the needs of fire victims in the upcountry area of the island where the church is located.
What Happened:
Along with what’s being carried in the news, Maui regularly has brush fires this time of year. It is the midst of our dry season and August heat does not help. On Tuesday multiple brushfires broke out across Maui, the four large ones and I’ve heard about five small ones as well. Living on islands, we cannot call in the fire brigade from the next county over. The fire above Lahaina had been contained and was all but extinguished when the winds picked up – 60 to 80 miles-per-hour gusts. The fires broke out and thinly stretched personnel could not keep up with them.
Relief and Recovery Response:
The Conference adopted a two-pronged approach. An immediate release of funds for churches on Maui to distribute in the communities as they see fit. This was a bit hampered in Lahaina as there is no longer a post office to send a check too and there is no longer a bank to deposit the check in. We are thankful for wire transfers and bank branches.
The second prong is long-term recovery which our Conference Disaster Coordinator, Danny Tengan, is already involved in. He is former military and very good at telling us where to be, when to be there, and what to doing when we are there.
The Conference has opened up a 2023 Hawaii Fires Relief Fund. Donations will be split along our two-pronged approach as needs dictate. We are telling people the following:
For those who are in the wider UCC family please give through the National Offices Relief and Recovery Fund. We are working in partnership with them.
For those in the Hawaii Conference or not UCC to give through the Hawaii 2023 Fires Relief Fund.
Wailoa Church is requesting those wanting to donate to them specifically to give through the Conference. These gifts must be marked “Wailoa Church” or they will be assumed into the general fire fund which is being used for multiple locations and needs across Maui.
The Spiritual Pulse:
The magnitude and longevity of recovery is just now becoming a reality for our Maui clergy. The adrenaline rush is fading and grief and a sense of being overwhelmed is on the rise. Pacific Island culture is about pulling together and that is happening across the neighboring islands, but access to Maui is limited to essential workers and residents and much of “pulling together” means “presence” for our folks. I am not sure how this will play itself out.
I will be on Maui on Tuesday as part of an ecumenical prayer service. The Catholic Bishop got that declared an essential activity. Woot! Woot! Bisho Silva.
Mahalo for all the kind words and prayers.