The recent Maui fires have caused a storm, not just in the local West Maui communities, but also in Palo Alto communities.
Mary Sano, a history teacher at Palo Alto High School who lived in Hawaii for 10 years, explained one way students in Hawaii have taken a hit.
“Many of the public schools in Lahaina are just completely gone,” Sano said. “Busing them across the island to the next possible place they [students] could be, it’s not an easy fix — [Hawaii is] an island society.”
Much of the aid received by affected families has been through fundraisers and local and community efforts.
“My cousin is in West Maui and they are getting help from their homeowners association,” Sano said. “It sounds like the community’s pulling together as far as just keeping watch over whether properties are still in danger or what people need. And that’s typical Hawaii, you know, that a lot of just the community is rising up to help each other out.”
Freshman Leilani Chen, who knows of people affected, believes that there should be priority given to some in terms of aid allocation.
“I think the most important thing is that every person that doesn’t have a place to live, a place to eat, a place to use the bathroom, a place to cook their food — those are the people that need placements first,” Chen said.
As the damage from the fires continues to be felt and have a steady grasp on the future of the Hawaiian island, Chen urges those who can help to make a contribution.
“I think the most important thing is that if you were in their place, think about how much you would appreciate this type of help, and it’s just the littlest things.” Chen said. “It’s $5. It’s a package of diapers, it’s two cans of beans. Those are the little things that are going to determine whether or not somebody is able to get by for now.”