A dramatic first-hand account of a fire which destroyed a chapel in Hawaii has been given by its pastor as the recovery effort gets underway.
On Maui, the deadliest fire in Hawaii’s history claimed the lives of well over 100 people. Pastor Kawi Keahi, who lost his home and the King’s Chapel in Lahaina, said: ‘The traffic was congested. Everyone was trying to leave.’ As they did so, the sky behind them turned ‘dark black, like everything was just going up in flames. While the people should have evacuated, they were walking around.’
His wife, Shalia, said: ‘We are thankful to be part of a big church. We have many locations. And so our church in Kahului is helping in the efforts to get supplies together. And as soon as we get the green light to go in and get supplies to the homes in Kahana and Napoli we are going to do that. We are providing a place to stay for the people that are coming out.’
