From Tragedy to Tribute

Maui Community Marks Two Years of Resilience

On the evening of August 8, 2025, hundreds gathered at the Lahaina Civic Center for a deeply moving tribute — the final event of the 2025 Kuhinia Maui gatherings marking the second anniversary of the devastating Maui wildfires. What unfolded was not just a memorial to the 102 lives lost, but a powerful reflection of Maui’s unbreakable spirit, a community grounded in aloha, and a unified step forward in healing.

The evening began with a pule (prayer) by Kumu Kapono‘ai Molitau, County of Maui ʻŌiwi Resources Director, setting the tone for a night of remembrance, resilience, and renewal. From heartfelt speeches to multicultural performances, the community came together to honor the past while embracing a shared future rooted in strength and compassion.

“The Light of Our Loved Ones Is Never Truly Gone”

In his opening remarks, Mayor Richard Bissen spoke directly to the heart of the gathering.

“In Lahaina, the wind carries more than salt and sea — it carries the voices of those we’ve lost, urging us to keep going. And we will. For them. For our keiki. And for our future,” he said.

Acknowledging the ongoing challenges, Mayor Bissen reminded the crowd that their story is not defined by tragedy alone.

“The legacy of this time will not be only about loss. It will be a story of resilience — grounded in our shared commitment to preserve this place and its history through the eyes, minds and hearts of its people.”

Messages of Healing Across Generations and Cultures

Rev. Ai Hironaka of Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, who lost both his family home and temple to the flames, delivered a keynote that focused on healing and new beginnings.

“Building must never replace the healing of hearts,” he said gently. “The aloha, diversity and compassion that Lahaina taught us must continue to grow. We learn to carry Lahaina within us.”

That spirit of inclusion was echoed by community speakers who offered reflections in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Samoan, Tongan, Vietnamese, and English — a true reflection of the island’s diverse community standing united in grief and hope.

Music, Memory, and a Shared Vision for the Future

The program featured poignant musical tributes, including performances by the Maria Lanakila Church Choir and the Honolua and Lahaina United Methodist Church Choir. A moving video memorial honored the lives lost and the two individuals still unaccounted for from the 2023 wildfires.

Children from Maui Music Mission lifted spirits with an inspiring rendition of “O Kou Aloha,” followed by youth speakers Noe De Leon Gonzalez, Boys and Girls Club of Lahaina Jr. Youth of the Year, and recent Lahainaluna graduate Sophia Topinio, who shared messages of hope, family, and the future they envision for Lahaina.

The evening closed in unity as attendees joined hands for a heartfelt performance of “Hawaiʻi Aloha,” while the Kūikawā trio bookended the event with their signature harmonies, honoring Hawaiian musical traditions and the strength of ohana.

Kuhinia Maui: A Community's Promise

The 2025 Kuhinia Maui events — a sunrise Paddle Out at Hanakaʻōʻō, a Midday Gathering in Central Maui, and this final Evening Tribute — were organized by the community with support from the County of Maui. “Kuhinia,” drawn from a traditional Maui chant, symbolizes the island’s beauty and the collective spirit to rise from adversity.

This gathering was not only a memorial — it was a reaffirmation. Maui’s story continues, woven together by memory, action, and aloha. From the ashes, the community is building not just homes, but renewed bonds and a stronger future.

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