“….fast-spreading wildfires, which caused devastation on the island of Maui and destroyed most of the historic town of Lahaina.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said the fires were the “largest natural disaster in Hawaii state history” and that 80% of the beach-front town had “gone” – satellite images gave an immediate sense of the scale of the damage.” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66465570
And so we came
MAUI, HI, 2023
We came together – the 8 of us – not to cure children who had experienced the horrors of a terrible fire storm. Not to try and remedy what had just happened but to nurture children – helping them cope with their new reality – giving them a chance to just be children.
We came from six different states around the US arriving in Maui August 4 – 5 with 2 suitcases filled with games to set up a children’s play center promoting imaginative play and opportunities for expression, opportunities to relax, and opportunities to laugh and play, to have fun.
We came because we knew the sooner children can live a more normal life free from fear and anxiety the more they will be able to cope with whatever their life was going to be.
The historic city of Lahaina had almost been wiped out by the roaring flames with 40 mile an hour wind driving them. As one young boy described it, “it was like a dragon roaring down the street with its tongue out devouring everything in its path.” It was devastating! And the people standing in line to enter the Red Cross established Family Assistance Center looked drawn, downcast, defeated.
Our play center was established partly to help parents and caregivers have a place that would be safe and fun for their kids to stay as those adults worked at putting their lives back together – finding the services they needed, making contacts for later, discovering new resources.
We had very few children at the play center at first but as the days wore on more and more children came, more and more parents and guardians trusted us with their most cherished parts of their lives – their children. And more and more of the people standing in line looked more relaxed, more affable, greeting others with hugs, smiles, and conversation. It looked like the atmosphere was changing from resignation and sadness to the spirit of recovery.
As one newspaper article stated, “…..from the ashes of the disaster, the traditional spirit of Aloha has given rise to a new spirit.” People are gathering together to help their neighbors, form groups to assist others…….restoring their traditional Aloha ideas and actions. Even Lahaina’s beloved colossal 150-year old banyan tree is showing signs of new growth………. Lahaina is on the rise!
~ Beryl Cheal
Following are 2 expressions from a couple of the children’s play center volunteer team.
Some Thoughts from Working with Kids After the Fire on Maui
A quiet little girl checked into our Children’s Disaster Services playcenter. She had survived the fire that devastated Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii in August 2023. Her parents were in the Red Cross Family Assistance Center applying for help. She was unsure of which play station she wanted to join. There were other children playing with cars, play dough, painting, and a rousing game of Uno, but none of them seemed to interest her. I gently asked if she would like to play cooking with me. This is a very popular play station with several children already busy washing dishes and preparing meals. She touched my hand and said, “I want to play family.” Over our three-week deployment, this play station was where I met the culture of Hawaii.
Child’s play often reveals more than their delight in using their imagination; when you watch and listen to their kitchen conversations, you do find a ‘family’. In our Maui CDS kitchen, the children washed dishes slowly, seeming to enjoy letting the water flow in and out of the containers and wiping all sides and handles of pans. Boys flipped pancakes in skillets with accuracy and pride. Girls wanted their meals served with a full set of silverware. They expected you to eat slowly and talk in detail about spices. They mentioned that their father was a chef, or their grandma made banana pancakes. When the crowd of children cooked, there was harmony and encouragement about preparing a fine combination of play foods. Often, there was a quiet melodic song being hummed while they cooked. It was not a song I recognized; it sounded as traditional as a lullaby with an islander melody.
The CDS playcenter allows children to pause and express themselves with other children using toys and games. Sometimes they will talk about their trauma, but mostly we play. Volunteers intentionally watch and listen while the children are engrossed in their pretend world. We are not trained or expected to treat the trauma, but love and compassion we have in abundance. And always, in my experience, we are humbled to learn from the children.
~ Tina Burkholder
McPherson, KS
September 9, 2023
MEGA BLOKS Church
Blue, Red, Yellow, Orange, Green, fingers touch.
Black curls dance in the wind.
Eyes mirror the fire,
Hands steadily work.
Sleep, wake, run to the church.
Safe harbor engulfed in yellow, red, and orange,
Black billowing smoke.
Mommies echoing sounds, Run!
Big feet one step, small feet two,
My hand in hers.
Daddy, appears with Auntie,
Church ahead on harbor, run!
Waves crashing in the distance,
Fight the growing smoke.
Black blanket surrounds us,
Choke, coughing, choke.
Wet feet, water, ocean
Giver of life.
No comfort, cough,
The fire, trying to kill me.
Muted voice, tear filled eyes,
Mirror the story embedded in grey matter.
Blue, Red, Yellow, Orange, Green,
I build a memory.
~ Kelly Kibirige
Volunteer, Children’s Disaster Services
Maui, Hawaii, 2023
