Hawaii National Guardsmen deploy to Maui County to aid in search efforts.

As the death toll in Hawaii continues to rise, after a series of wildfires swept across the island of Maui, plenty of people in Oregon are feeling the effects. 

In a recent survey, we asked readers to share how the fires have impacted them. Whether they know family there, grew up there, or just love to visit, the fires have left a mark on people far away from the islands themselves. 

Here’s what readers had to say: 

Reader Michael Carpenter: My brother lives in Lahaina. He managed to (save) himself, his little dog, and his car. He lost everything else in the fire. He said driving away from the fire, he had pieces of burning roofs fall on the roof of his car, had to drive over downed power lines, smoke and flames all around him. He said it was really scary. He has nothing left except him and his dog. He didn’t get any warning and left everything to get away. He didn’t take any extra clothes, his medications, or anything else. There wasn’t time to do anything but grab the dog, jump in his car and get away from there.

Reader Gigi Merrill: We were in Maui in April, celebrating my husband’s 60th birthday. We stayed right near Lahaina town. Since our entire family was together for the first time in several years, we had family photos taken. Abigail Tamayo was our photographer and she did an amazing job. And she was a genuinely good person. I reached out when we first heard about the fires. Her home is gone. She and her partner are living in their keep. It was hard seeing pictures of beautiful and interesting places we had just been-it is heartbreaking to know someone who is dealing with it first hand. Her home destroyed. Her livelihood. She couldn’t get hold of all her family. We all need to help these folks.

Reader Melissa Duncan: While my friends themselves are safe, they all have family members, coworkers and clients who have been displaced. The devastation spreads far and wide. There are loved ones who are unaccounted for, pets who are missing and homes that have been completely lost. Maui just wasn’t equipped to handle a fire of this gravity. It spread so fast, there was no time to react and the emergency responders were off putting out fires elsewhere. I know Maui will come back from this. They are a strong community, they support each other and come together in times of crisis. They will recover from this but it will never be the same.

Reader Jodie Rossi: My Godmother lost her home in Lahaina. I watched the home I grew up burn down on the “Maui Now” reel… Danced hula at the Lahaina Wharf and Banyan Tree as a child. I am devastated. Worried for my family and friends there. Just don’t know how Lahaina will come back or how long it will take to recover.

Reader Jaymie (no last name given): We just got back last night and had to come home without our belongings. Couldn’t get back to our condo due to fire and downed power lines across the roads.

Reader (No name given): My son and daughter-in-law with two children just lost their house and all of there belongings. Terrible.

Reader (No name given): My family was there in the fire. There was no cell service and a stranger gave them a ride down to a location in the ocean where they could stand and text family to say they were okay. They escaped with a rental car trying to avoid falling trees, coconuts and maneuvering around the community with closed roads. They observed many deceased people. They made it to the airport where they missed their flight and spent approximately 48 hours. They slept on the floor on there clothing. They finally got home two days later.

Reader Connie Tuchman: I’m from Portland, and have a home there. Although, I am currently living in Oahu, Hawaii. Business associates created a go fund me, are collecting and distributing donations: Clothing, pet food, water, food, and various neccessities. Airlines are flying supplies over and people back to Oahu. Hawaii realtors sent out a notice that stated: If you HAVE a home, a room, or space available to house those in need please contact us. In Maui, news casters were still broadcasting hours before as if it was just another brush fire. No alerts were sounded — i.e. tsanami alarms were never activated, phone alerts were never done, etc. So sad, people were not given notice. The Lt. Governor of Hawaii stated on the news that the government was not prepared because they didn’t expect a hurricane force winds without rain to affect the islands as it did. Although, a resident of Maui lost her home to wild fires from hurricane force winds in 2018 and again this week.

Reader (No name given): My family have so many core memories of Maui and Lahaina particularly. My daughter moved there during her college years and while she is back in Oregon now, she maintains friendships she made there. A friend who lives in Lahaina has been unaccounted for so far. We are hoping and praying she and her family are safe.  Our hearts go out to the people who live and work there. I will definitely be making contributions toward the recovery once I identify a legitimate and effective organization doing work there. I hope we all take the opportunity presented to possibly right some wrongs that have been done to native Hawaiians and maybe target the restoration in that spirit.

Reader (No name given): My daughter was scheduled to go there for her 25th wedding anniversary the week of the 16th. She wasn’t too keen on the idea, as she literally said, “It’s an island, where do you go if there is a natural disaster?” We laughed at the time, no one is laughing now. We have all of the people in our hearts and prayers.

Reader Janis Heater: My oldest daughter lives in Kihei, works out of Lahaina on a catamaran. There are some amazing efforts going on over there, by the locals, collecting & delivering supplies by boat.