The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 8, 2023.
Matthew Thayer/ | The Maui News | AP
Wildfires in Hawaii have devastated the historic city of Lahaina, the previous capital of the islands once they were an independent kingdom.
Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, who surveyed the damage, said town had been “reduced to ashes.” Although the blaze in Lahaina is 80% contained, there remains to be an lively fire. The town stays without power.
No less than 67 people have been killed by the fires as search, rescue and recovery operations proceed. Gov. Josh Green said tons of of homes have been destroyed, leaving hundreds without shelter.
Lahaina carries deep cultural significance to Hawaiians. King Kamehameha I established Lahaina as his royal residence within the early nineteenth century.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking. The recovery process will likely be long, but we’re committed to those families and communities,” Schatz said on social media.
Wildfire devastation is seen outside town of Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 10, 2023.
Rick Bowmer | AP
An aerial image taken Aug. 10, 2023, shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the bottom in Lahaina within the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images
An aerial image taken Aug. 10, 2023, shows an individual walking down Front Street past destroyed buildings burned to the bottom in Lahaina within the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii.
Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty Images
An aerial image taken Aug. 10, 2023, shows destroyed cars in Lahaina within the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images
An aerial image taken Aug. 10, 2023, shows destroyed homes and buildings on the waterfront burned to the bottom in Lahaina within the aftermath of the wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images
A burned boat is seen within the waters fronting Lahaina after wildfires driven by high winds burned across many of the town several days ago, Maui, Hawaii, Aug.10, 2023.
Marco Garcia | Reuters
An aerial image taken Aug. 10, 2023, shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the bottom in Lahaina within the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii.
Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty Images
An aerial image taken Aug. 10, 2023, shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the bottom in Lahaina within the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images
Wildfire wreckage is shown Aug. 10, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. The search of the wildfire wreckage on the Hawaiian island of Maui revealed a wasteland of burned-out homes and obliterated communities as firefighters battled the stubborn blaze, making it the deadliest within the U.S. lately.
Rick Bowmer | AP
Two Hawaii Army National Guard CH47 Chinook perform aerial water bucket drops on the island of Maui to fight the wildfires, Maui, Hawaii, Aug. 9, 2023.
Air Force Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson
An aerial view of Lahaina after wildfires burned through the town on the Hawaiian island of Maui, Aug. 10, 2023.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images
An aerial view shows the community of Lahaina after wildfires driven by high winds burned across many of the town several days ago in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 10, 2023.
Marco Garcia | Reuters
An aerial view shows the community of Lahaina after wildfires driven by high winds burned across many of the town several days ago, Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 10, 2023.
Marco Garcia | Reuters
Cars drive away from Lahaina after wildfires driven by high winds burned across many of the town several days ago, Maui, Hawaii, Aug. 10, 2023.
Marco Garcia | Reuters
Wildfire wreckage is shown in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 10, 2023.
Rick Bowmer | AP