Thank you for sharing this wonderful place - and I hope with you that it will be rebuilt in a way that honours its indigenous people and their history. I mourn with the people of Maui and Hawa'ii.
It will be a long road to recovery, but I'm sure the people of Lahina will pull together, along with their worldwide ohana, and rebuild that special place.
Aug 11, 2023·edited Aug 11, 2023Liked by Toby Neal
Thank you for this. Through your eyes, I have seen what was, though I have never been to the Islands. I live vicariously through you and other writers who use what they know. I am very saddened by this tragic event affecting Maui and have great hope that from the ash, the Hawaiian people can rebuild something amazing that honours their culture.
Thank you, Toby, for again sparking my desire to learn more and imagination with your elegant letter.
Toby, my hanai granddaughter is close to John the parrot man, and she says he managed to escape with his birds but lost everything else. And I also have wondered if this tragedy might result in an opportunity to restore Moku’ula and other Lahaina wetlands. If the sugar plantation had been required to restore the streams (as much as possible with all the development), Lahaina might have been wet enough to resist the fire.
When confronted with the fiery scene I knew was triggered by the dry conditions and Dora passing by, I thought about your move- to be less affected by climate change. When I was asked if I’d just leave the island because of the fires and come back later, I thought, no place is going to be completely safe from the ravages of climate change. I’m here in Maui. We will stand together to help one another. Sugar cane was replaced by sunflowers, and more than 2 million trees. It’s being nurtured where it can be. It’s a step in the right direction.
Love your island stories, makes me feel my island home and my beautiful youth as a young woman “ kickin it” and my VW van at 19 years old. I’m an old lady wahine now, but still have a VW van here in Southern Utah. Hawaii has always been my home with many fun memories and getting rained on a lot in Hilo! I lived on the big island inKamuelaAs Don Ho’scaretaker and sometimes I feel like I’m still there my memory is so strong the Greeen Waimea Hills and Hāpuna Beach. Again thank you Toby your writings keep my heart alive and in love with my home in Hawaii. much hugs and loves from another local Haouli girl,Did I spell Haouli Right?, Ha ha
Mahalo nui Loa,, I miss so much hallway sunrises and sunsets smell of the ocean I feel the same between my Jones the pounding of the server driving headfirst into a wave chasing crabs at Beach 69 before anybody else knew about it it’s not about it. I am so blessed I have that time i’m Hawaii!!
Hi So Left my heart there, and I must go back to retrieve it before I get too old I still wanna kick my heels up and jump in to the wave headfirst I miss you so much my heart aches basically my Hawaii love. OK well Mahalo for listening, I barely ever have opportunityisland talk to anyone and even though I didn’t share much anyone has been therknows how my heart feels . Hawaii nokaoi!
Definitely a hybrid word Mahalo Mahalo Mahalo for Replying it helps me so much in my homebound bed now but I have my kitty by my side purring all the time and loving me
It is funny what a few words of love and encouragement mean to me now I am old wahine able to move about gingerly and don’t drive my VW van much anymore I’m hoping to get better and feel more youthful like I always have young at heart I am always happy local Haole girl loving to that and feeling joy in life!
I am on Oahu and when I woke up Wed morning to the news of the terrible fire and destruction of Lahaina, I immediately thought about your recent writings on being a climate change refugee. The loss of life, the terror people experienced, the destruction of historic Lahaina with its homes and local businesses is so incredibly sad. My heart is with all the people of Maui. Suddenly I feel less safe here on the north shore of Oahu too. One road in and out squished between the beautiful sea and mountains. It would clog with traffic. The vulnerability of Island life also feels more real. I experienced Santa Barbara fires and the Montecito mudslide. We had amazing firefighters with equipment rolling in from all over the state and even out of state to help us. That is not possible here in Hawaii due to its remote location. But I love it here. Maui will need a lot of support to rebuild. I hope it is done with careful intent for sustainability and attention to local culture. We all also must learn and be prepared as best as possible for natural disasters. I hope your Maui friends are all safe and supporting each other through their grief.
As always, a lovely, heartfelt tribute to a magical place. I was only able to visit twice ~ we stayed in Lahaina both times ~ but now it will be very different when we return ~
Such a poignant piece of wonderful memories, deep sadness, and yet hope for a future that can be brighter if much love and forethought goes into planning and building Lahaina's rebirth. We have visited Maui, truly loved our time there, and now mourn the losses, especially of lives.
Thank you so much Mahalo my dear friend. I love your writing and I love my island. It is heartwarming to have your passages to read it makes me feel my home in Hawaii again, Mahalo Nui Loa toby.
Sincerely, Jacquelyn WhittLocal wahine island girl.
I am old wahine now in bed with my kitty able to amble around my home thank God I have TV and a purr kitty by my side. I am blessed in so many ways and even have a thisphone to communicate to the outside world helpful!
Loved this! Mahalo nui loa for sharing! One thing is puzzling me. You say you left Maui because of climate change! Can you please explain that?! I know many who left Maui, including myself, who left for varying reasons, but climate change was never one of them! Most commonly it is economics, to be closer to family or for kids to get a better education. Mahalo!
I don’t think there is really any escaping from climate change, although perhaps some places are less extreme and perhaps safer than others! The Phoenix area where I live is certainly not any place I would recommend to anyone. 🥵🔥🔥🥵. However, economics and my health keep me tied here. 😢 I wish you much happiness in your new home! A lovely location! 💞
This is a beautiful and heartfelt tribute. Thank you for sharing. It made me weep.
Let's grieve together <3
Thank you for sharing this wonderful place - and I hope with you that it will be rebuilt in a way that honours its indigenous people and their history. I mourn with the people of Maui and Hawa'ii.
thanks so much for sharing your <3
It will be a long road to recovery, but I'm sure the people of Lahina will pull together, along with their worldwide ohana, and rebuild that special place.
Thank you for this. Through your eyes, I have seen what was, though I have never been to the Islands. I live vicariously through you and other writers who use what they know. I am very saddened by this tragic event affecting Maui and have great hope that from the ash, the Hawaiian people can rebuild something amazing that honours their culture.
Thank you, Toby, for again sparking my desire to learn more and imagination with your elegant letter.
Toby, my hanai granddaughter is close to John the parrot man, and she says he managed to escape with his birds but lost everything else. And I also have wondered if this tragedy might result in an opportunity to restore Moku’ula and other Lahaina wetlands. If the sugar plantation had been required to restore the streams (as much as possible with all the development), Lahaina might have been wet enough to resist the fire.
Yes, Jill! This. 🙏🏻🌈🙏🏻
When confronted with the fiery scene I knew was triggered by the dry conditions and Dora passing by, I thought about your move- to be less affected by climate change. When I was asked if I’d just leave the island because of the fires and come back later, I thought, no place is going to be completely safe from the ravages of climate change. I’m here in Maui. We will stand together to help one another. Sugar cane was replaced by sunflowers, and more than 2 million trees. It’s being nurtured where it can be. It’s a step in the right direction.
Yes, we must all make those difficult choices! I'm glad you're okay and will be leaning into your commitment to Maui. You're a force for good!
Love your island stories, makes me feel my island home and my beautiful youth as a young woman “ kickin it” and my VW van at 19 years old. I’m an old lady wahine now, but still have a VW van here in Southern Utah. Hawaii has always been my home with many fun memories and getting rained on a lot in Hilo! I lived on the big island inKamuelaAs Don Ho’scaretaker and sometimes I feel like I’m still there my memory is so strong the Greeen Waimea Hills and Hāpuna Beach. Again thank you Toby your writings keep my heart alive and in love with my home in Hawaii. much hugs and loves from another local Haouli girl,Did I spell Haouli Right?, Ha ha
Haole if you mean foreigner, but Hau’oli if you mean happy, so maybe a hybrid word!
Yes thank you
Mahalo nui Loa,, I miss so much hallway sunrises and sunsets smell of the ocean I feel the same between my Jones the pounding of the server driving headfirst into a wave chasing crabs at Beach 69 before anybody else knew about it it’s not about it. I am so blessed I have that time i’m Hawaii!!
Hi So Left my heart there, and I must go back to retrieve it before I get too old I still wanna kick my heels up and jump in to the wave headfirst I miss you so much my heart aches basically my Hawaii love. OK well Mahalo for listening, I barely ever have opportunityisland talk to anyone and even though I didn’t share much anyone has been therknows how my heart feels . Hawaii nokaoi!
Definitely a hybrid word Mahalo Mahalo Mahalo for Replying it helps me so much in my homebound bed now but I have my kitty by my side purring all the time and loving me
It is funny what a few words of love and encouragement mean to me now I am old wahine able to move about gingerly and don’t drive my VW van much anymore I’m hoping to get better and feel more youthful like I always have young at heart I am always happy local Haole girl loving to that and feeling joy in life!
Hawaii sunsets! Is what it should say, Fooey!
So much for replying! This little communication device is the world to me now so really, thank you
I am on Oahu and when I woke up Wed morning to the news of the terrible fire and destruction of Lahaina, I immediately thought about your recent writings on being a climate change refugee. The loss of life, the terror people experienced, the destruction of historic Lahaina with its homes and local businesses is so incredibly sad. My heart is with all the people of Maui. Suddenly I feel less safe here on the north shore of Oahu too. One road in and out squished between the beautiful sea and mountains. It would clog with traffic. The vulnerability of Island life also feels more real. I experienced Santa Barbara fires and the Montecito mudslide. We had amazing firefighters with equipment rolling in from all over the state and even out of state to help us. That is not possible here in Hawaii due to its remote location. But I love it here. Maui will need a lot of support to rebuild. I hope it is done with careful intent for sustainability and attention to local culture. We all also must learn and be prepared as best as possible for natural disasters. I hope your Maui friends are all safe and supporting each other through their grief.
Thank you, Krista. Be safe and be aware, and let's be a part of raising awareness! mahalos!
As always, a lovely, heartfelt tribute to a magical place. I was only able to visit twice ~ we stayed in Lahaina both times ~ but now it will be very different when we return ~
Thank you for sharing this with us.
My love of Hawaii, geez so many misspelled words
You do bring Hawaii living to life again and this land around wahine I can picture the island in my mind show leisurely with your words
Mahalo!
Such a poignant piece of wonderful memories, deep sadness, and yet hope for a future that can be brighter if much love and forethought goes into planning and building Lahaina's rebirth. We have visited Maui, truly loved our time there, and now mourn the losses, especially of lives.
Yes, thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you so much Mahalo my dear friend. I love your writing and I love my island. It is heartwarming to have your passages to read it makes me feel my home in Hawaii again, Mahalo Nui Loa toby.
Sincerely, Jacquelyn WhittLocal wahine island girl.
I love hearing from you, dear lady!
Mahalo
But I look forward to your writings Toby thanks again that makes my heart feel light
Please keep writing!!
I am old wahine now in bed with my kitty able to amble around my home thank God I have TV and a purr kitty by my side. I am blessed in so many ways and even have a thisphone to communicate to the outside world helpful!
Loved this! Mahalo nui loa for sharing! One thing is puzzling me. You say you left Maui because of climate change! Can you please explain that?! I know many who left Maui, including myself, who left for varying reasons, but climate change was never one of them! Most commonly it is economics, to be closer to family or for kids to get a better education. Mahalo!
The answer is complicated and I shared it in my essay about being a climate refugee. It was not the only reason we moved away, certainly.
I don’t think there is really any escaping from climate change, although perhaps some places are less extreme and perhaps safer than others! The Phoenix area where I live is certainly not any place I would recommend to anyone. 🥵🔥🔥🥵. However, economics and my health keep me tied here. 😢 I wish you much happiness in your new home! A lovely location! 💞
Thank you dear lady!