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Aiwohi Firefighters and spouses in front of fire engine in Maui.

Courtesy Gideon Aiwohi

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A wildfire burns in Kihei, Hawaii late Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Thousands of residents raced to escape homes on Maui as blazes swept across the island, destroying parts of a centuries-old town in one of the deadliest U.S. wildfires in recent years.

Ty O'Neil, Associated Press

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People gather at an LDS Church in Maui where shelter and food are being provided.

Courtesy Gideon Aiwohi

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A man walks through wildfire wreckage Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Rick Bowmer, Associated Press

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Gideon Aiwohi, a senior at Brigham Young University, is totally focused on his last week of finals — he is hoping to enter medical school, after all. Most of his family, meanwhile, is in Maui on the front lines of three fires and massive devastation on the island.

Aiwohi’s father, brother, grandfather and brother in-law are all fighting the three fires currently raging on the island. His mother is the LDS Stake Relief Society President coordinating food and shelter for displaced members and their neighbors.

“I kind of wish I was home so I could help,” Aiwohi said. “My family is okay but other homes around them have been destroyed and the worst is in Lahaina. My classmate and my cousin lost their homes.”

Aiwohi said he has been through hurricanes and tsunamis, but nothing as bad as these fires. They are even worse in person, according to his family. Hawaii officials on Friday increased the death toll from the fires to 67. The fires are now the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii in over 60 years.

“It’s really dangerous,” Aiwohi said. “Lots of tourists are stranded with ruined vacations, but what’s worse is it feels like a war zone, according to my dad. There were bodies in the street and still many people missing.”

Aiwohi’s father said they drove through the streets telling people to drop and get out, but some stayed and waited. There is one main road on the island to get out and waiting put many people in peril as the road was jammed

Lahaina is completely unrecognizable, Aiwohi was told. The coast is completely charred. He said brush fires are not uncommon, but with high winds you have a perfect storm for wildfires.

“My dad and brother in-law are working around the clock,” Aiwohi said.

A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aiwohi said the church members are helping where ever they can. Some accounts say that as many as 500 LDS church members have been displaced.

In a press release on Friday the church noted it is providing basic needs and temporary shelter to people who are impacted by the wildfires still burning on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

As part of this emergency response, the church has provided two meetinghouses as temporary shelters. Two other meetinghouses, located in the fire zones in Lahaina, are undamaged. Water and other basic needs are being provided to evacuees in these areas. The church will continue to respond as needed based on coordination with civil authorities and community relief organizations, they said.

Limited cell towers and phone lines are making it a challenge for church leaders to contact many congregational members. All missionaries in these areas are safely accounted for, and many are expected to provide assistance with relief efforts. Aiwohi noted that most supplies are having to be brought in by boat.

Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, the release stated. A new church message on Saturday said five Latter-day Saints have died in the fires, including four members of the same family.

Congregational leaders will distribute much-needed supplies to Latter-day Saints and their neighbors, regardless of religious affiliation. Wards, families and individuals are encouraged to participate in local relief projects where practical.

Several GoFundMe accounts have been set up to help, but readers are asked to be cautious when donating.

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