The Conversation: Sharing and preserving memories of Lāhainā

By Catherine Cruz

Published September 8, 2023 at 2:25 PM HST

Volunteers helping those who lost homes in Lahaina stop to pray on a hillside. The town is surrounded by dry, invasive grasses which are highly flammable. — Volunteers helping those who lost homes in Lāhainā stop to pray on a hillside. The town is surrounded by dry, invasive grasses which are highly flammable.

It has officially been one month since the devastating wildfires swept through parts of Maui, taking the lives of 115 and displacing thousands.

Whether it was the whale watching, the historical landmarks, or the cultural spaces, Lāhainā gave many residents and visitors lasting memories. In today's live call-in show, we took stories from those who had been touched by Lāhainā's beauty and talked to cultural historians about the future of the town.

The live call-in show's panel included:

Desoto Brown: Bishop Museum’s Historian Collections Manager
Theo Morrison: Executive Director of the Lāhainā Restoration Foundation

Contribute to The Conversation: Leave your questions, comments and feedback on our talkback line at 808-792-8217 or email talkback@hawaiipublicradio.org.