Kuhinia Maui brings community together in three-year remembrance of 2023 Wildfires

Three years after the devastating wildfires that started on Aug. 8, 2023, the community came together in remembrance, reflection and aloha during Kuhinia Maui held on the grounds of Lahaina United Methodist Church.

The free gathering from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. marked the third anniversary of the wildfires with a full day of music, cultural activities, complimentary meals, storytelling and reflection. Hosted by the County of Maui, the day held a tribute to loved ones lost and provided support to a community continuing to recover from Hawaiʻi’s most devastating wildfire disaster.

Attendees were invited to create memorial shirts, decorate luminaries and ʻulu leaves, and explore the traditional Hawaiian place names of West Maui. Each activity offered a different way to remember — to put a name, a memory, a prayer or a message of hope into something that could be carried forward.

“Today is about creating space for our community to remember in the ways that feel meaningful to each of us,” Mayor Richard Bissen said. “Whether through music, art, prayer, sharing a meal or simply being together, every expression of remembrance helps keep the memory of those we lost close while reminding us of the aloha and connection that continue to carry our community forward.”

Performances and appearances by Akoni, Kuhaʻo Murray, Marvin Tevaga, Sean Moala, Sione Liti, Corey Lum and Lahaina’s Highway 30 along with an afternoon performance of “Lele Wale,” a two-hour Broadway-style production by Ikaika Mendez featuring an islandwide cast united in honoring the stories of Lahaina, were included. Among the performers were several Lahaina residents who personally experienced the 2023 Maui Wildfires.

The gathering culminated in an evening memorial program featuring a blessing by Kumu Kapono’ai Molitau, remarks from Mayor Bissen, West Maui Councilmember Tamara Paltin, and words of aloha by Pastor John Krewe, Rev. Ai Hironaka, Pastor Lucho Banto, Tonata Lolesio and Joseph Esser. A particularly meaningful moment came when students from Izumisano, Osaka, Japan, presented 1,000 origami cranes, a traditional symbol of peace, healing and hope.

Together, the community observed a moment of silence, shared a video montage and offered words of aloha before gathering for pule and dinner.

The evening concluded with music by Lahaina’s Highway 30, bringing the gathering to a close in the spirit of togetherness that has defined Kuhinia Maui from the beginning.

Community led, with support from the County of Maui, the annual gatherings began in 2024 to honor lost loved ones and celebrate the community’s resilience. Named after a line from a traditional Maui chant, Kuhinia Maui reflects the island’s beauty and spirit to rise from tragedy.