‘Intense as hell’: Hawaii fire survivors recount the tragedy

Ekolu Brayden Hoapili and his girlfriend escaped the flames in Hawaiibut they cannot shake from their memory the images of destruction in the rear-view mirror of their car, nor the sadness of seeing their town go up in flames.

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“everything was redjust dust and wind, intense as hell”, told AFP Hoapili who fled from lahainathe small tourist community charred by the flames on the island of Maui.

Sitting in the trunk of the car where they have slept since they escaped from the fire that has already claimed more than 50 deaths, hoapili narrated the dramatic flight of the coastal community when it was already surrounded by thick walls of smoke.

“I look over at the gas station next to our lot and it was on fire. I only saw smoke, ashes falling from the sky, everything burning. And I said ‘we have to go’”.

“i thought i would die”, said the 18-year-old, who is torn between the joy of having survived thanks to the quick escape and the regret of not having stayed to help people.

Ekolu Brayden Hoapili talks about his experience fleeing Lahaina as he prepares to spend the night sleeping in his car after fleeing a Lahaina wildfire outside a shelter at War Memorial Stadium after the West Maui wildfires in Wailuku, Hawaii. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (PATRICK T. FALLON /)

“I felt powerless and defenseless (…) Looking back, I left so much behind, so many people. But I couldn’t risk it anymore, because if I did, I wouldn’t be here.”

By his side, his girlfriend, Sharmaiynne Buduanremembers the bitter hours he lived without hearing from his relatives until they were found this Thursday in a shelter.

“my world fell apartthe 20-year-old said.

“The town is where I grew up. The memories I had there, every step I took in lahaina (…) There are many memories and seeing all those photos and videos of my hometown devastated breaks my heart. It’s devastating”.

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“We lost everything!”

“We lost everything!”he added, looking at the trunk of the car in which they have their only belongings: hygiene products, donated duvets and pillows, and a ukulele.

lahainawith about 12,000 inhabitants, was one of the favorite tourist destinations for the millions of people who visit Maui to each year.

Its souvenir shops, restaurants, bars and historic buildings were reduced to ashes by the flames, as well as a large part of the picturesque boardwalk where thousands of people walked, they watched sunsets and took selfies.

“It’s a strange feeling. We still can’t believe it.”commented Sarai Cruz28 years old, who worked in one of the most popular restaurants in the Front Street.

“It’s very, very sad”said Cruz, who fled with her parents, sister and three children with just what she was wearing.

“There is nothing left, everything is gone. [Lahaina] It’s a ghost town”.

Jose Victoria (R) and his wife Jennifer Herrera (L) pose for a portrait outside a shelter at War Memorial Stadium after fleeing their home near Lahaina after the West Maui wildfires in Wailuku, Hawaii. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (PATRICK T. FALLON /)

Parked next to him, in one of the shelters that the authorities opened to house the thousands of people displaced by the raging flames, Jose Victoria He was trying with his family to process what he had experienced.

“this was my house”, he said showing on his cell phone the images of a construction charred to the foundations.

“I had only seen one scene like this in movies, but to see it in real life, it was crazy.”said the 35-year-old Mexican, who returned to town the day after fleeing because his mother is still in one of the few areas of lahaina that were not devastated by the flames, but that remain without electricity or telephone connection.

Victory He was employed at a restaurant facing the marina. “I can’t believe I was there working on Monday”he commented, still looking at images of the devastation on his cell phone.

“I said goodbye to my colleagues that afternoon. ‘See you tomorrow!’but tomorrow didn’t come”.

Source: Elcomercio