Lahainaluna High to host historic football game uniting two communities devastated by wildfires

Lahainaluna High School will host Paradise High School of California for a historic “Unity Bowl” under the theme “Two Towns, One Spirit.”

The Unity Bowl brings together two communities forever linked by tragedy and transformed by resilience. In 2018, Paradise, California was devastated by the Camp Fire—the deadliest wildfire in California history. Five years later, in Aug. 2023, Lahaina suffered the deadliest US wildfire in over a century. Both towns experienced profound loss, but both refused to be defined by adversity.

Born from a vision shared between Paradise Athletic Director Jerry Cleek, Doug Bennett (longtime Punahou Athletic Director and coach) and Lahainaluna Athletic Director Jonathan Conrad, the Unity Bowl uses high school football as a bridge for mutual healing, honor and hope.

The game will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Sue D. Cooley Stadium at Lahainaluna High School (980 Lahainaluna Rd,).