Star Advertiser:

The state of Hawaii will mark the one-year anniversary of the Lahaina wildfires on Maui with flags at half-staff to honor lives lost. […]

Gov. Josh Green has ordered that the U.S. and Hawaii state flags be flown at half-staff from sunrise on Thursday to sunset on Monday in honor of the 102 lives lost.

Maui State Senators Lynn DeCoite, Angus McKelvey, and Troy Hashimoto, reflecting on the anniversary:

Maui has always been a community of aloha, resilience, and hope and as we look back on the tragedies that occurred on Aug. 8, 2023, we see this reflected in the people of Maui. Each and every life lost and survived has a story and a memory. As we continue to heal and move towards rebuilding, we remain committed to each other and to our communities. Mahalo to the State, the County of Maui, community leaders, volunteers, and our neighbors for coming together in our time of need. While there is much to be done in our long journey to recovery, we see a road ahead full of hope and promise. With the foundation of the generations that came before us, we will rebuild for future generations, with hope, resilience, and aloha, for Maui Nui.

Maui is commemorating those lost with community events, and a 102-second moment of silence at 2:55 p.m.

Maui is one of my favorite places on Earth; we’ve visited just about annually for 15 years. It feels like a second home. My wife and I, our parents, and five friends were there during the fires. We had limited food, and were without power, hot water, and cell service for five days, but we were fortunate to have avoided the fires directly, to have a safe roof over our heads, and a hotel staff who went miles beyond. We didn’t realize exactly how devastating the fires were and how close we were to danger until we were leaving and driving through the destruction. It was so overwhelming I pulled over and broke down in tears. I’m getting emotional even now as I write this. It felt like I’d lost a part of my soul. It still does.

We were there again this past April, and will be going again next May. If I can sneak in a trip between now and then, I will. I love Maui, and I love the people of Maui.

Mahalo Nui Loa. Aʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia.