In the wake of the destruction, the BYUH ohana came together to show support out of a desire to help those in need
The recent fire on Maui has wreaked havoc of unprecedented proportions sparing neither homes nor businesses in its path. The death toll as of today from the Lahaina wildfire stands at 11, according to KITV Island News on Aug. 17, but the number is expected to rise as first responders continue to search through Lahaina.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green warned in an interview on CNN that more people could be found dead following the Maui wildfires as search crews go through neighborhoods where the flames galloped as fast as a mile a minute and firefighters struggled to contain the inferno with what some officials said was a limited water supply.
Reuters reports the Lahaina fire is the fifth deadliest in U.S. history. The Church’s newsroom online also reported on Aug. 12 that five Latter-day Saints died in the fires — four of them from the same family.
According to a notice on the bulletin at BYU–Hawaii, the Church is currently discouraging gathering items to ship to Maui. Instead, Church leaders urged the BYUH ohana to support the Red Cross or other respectable organizations by making a donation. Although donations to the Church Humanitarian Aid Fund are not specifically designated for one particular cause, they said doing so is still an option. They added fasting and prayer are always welcome and expressed their gratitude to everyone who is looking for ways to help.
The Church Newsroom article also says, “Latter-day Saints in Maui are assisting charitable organizations in the recovery. Two meetinghouses in the Kahului and Kahului West Stakes are serving as temporary shelters with water, hot meals and other necessities — all available for anyone, regardless of religious affiliation. Church members are also delivering baby formula, canned food, propane, gasoline and other critical supplies to people in need.
“Latter-day Saint families are opening their homes to people displaced by the wildfires. In addition, Church leaders are actively working to secure alternate shelter options. Supplies from the bishops’ storehouse in Honolulu are en route to Maui. Additional support from Church headquarters will arrive in the coming days.”
Before the request to not ship donated items to Maui, the BYUH student Service Center sent out an invitation to the university ohana to come together by donating blankets, pillows, clothes, and hygiene products in the wake of the tragedy on Maui. Chutamas Tavivongpaiboon, a senior majoring in business finance from Thailand, said her manager, Melanie Kauvaka, saw the news about Maui and wanted to find a way to support and help. So they made an invitation for the BYUH ohana to donate.
According to Tavivongpaiboon, the Service Center regularly collects donations and partners with organizations like the Red Cross and other human rights groups to do so. She added the donations they have received will go toward aiding those impacted by the Maui fires. The Service Center is now no longer accepting donations, and it has dropped off the items that were donated on campus to the temporary collection center set up by local volunteers at the Laie Marriott hotel.
This is undoubtedly the school of God, according to Tavivongpaiboon. "Seeing students, faculty, and the BYUH ohana stop by and bring whatever they can to help feels amazing," she said.
Along with others, Shashita Augustin, a Malaysian student spouse, stopped by the Service Center to donate items. She said, “We simply have so much extra stuff in our home, so I figured, why not? It is always nice to assist those in need.” She continued, "After performing a good deed, I felt good.” She added, “There was a time when my family also needed donations because our house was flooded. I just thought, 'Why not pay it forward since there were so many people who came and helped us'," said Augustin.
Aingsley Aiono, an alumna from Las Vegas who majored in Pacific Studies, said, “I'm really glad the school has been making efforts to try and step up and try and help out the organizations going on over there to help.” She shared she has friends who live in Maui who were impacted by the situation and confirmed they are safe, but they are not doing well.
Aiono said, “It is our neighboring island…. Remember that this isn't just going to be something that just kind of pops up and goes away, even long after the shock value of it wears off. It's going to continue to be a problem, and people are going to continue to need help.” She encouraged people to donate to reputable organizations and help out as they can.