Aloha! We are the ‘ohana Swangel my wife Michelle and our three daughters were born and raised in Lahaina (Kelawea Mauka). Due to the high winds that tore our roof tiles off in the early morning, we stayed home from work. Earlier in the morning, we seen our friend post there was a fire up Lahainaluna and within a couple hours it had been contained. At around 3:15pm, I got a call from my sister-in-law who lives next to the park on Lahainaluna Road, there’s another fire and it’s burning at the park. The winds were even stronger than ever. Within a few seconds all we could see was black smoke. The fire was now burning everything in its path. We tried to evacuate, but our street now in gridlock as everyone was trying to escape. Only one exit out down to Kahena Street to Komo Mai Street as the fire ravaged through our neighborhood. When we finally noticed the street was clear, I wondered if we were too late. Driving down Komo Mai, homes on both sides of the street burning and gas tanks exploding. Visibility was no more than a couple feet; I prayed no one was stopped ahead of me. We are fortunate to have made it out safe. We are devastated to what has happened to our beloved hometown. We are unable to return home as our neighborhood is inhabitable and we are in the burn zone. There is toxic substances in the air and water is still not safe. Red Cross has temporarily put us in a hotel and have no idea where we’ll be next. We can only pick up what is left and try to find a way to move forward, but right now we are grieving for our friends and the hometown in which we lived and worked all our lives.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any help you may provide to assist us as we are currently not working due to no tourism on the westside.

Together we will get through this!

Mahalo Nui!

Jeremy, Michelle, Jenna & Camryn Swangel