A Wildfire Changed My Life

The cloud was huge and black and boiling, like an angry monster rising in the sky.

Twelve-year-old Kini Varona first spotted it from her bedroom window in Lahaina, a town on the Hawaiian island of Maui (MOW-ee). It was the afternoon of August 8, 2023, the last day of summer vacation. Strong winds were howling outside, so Kini was curled up in bed, relaxing and playing games on her phone.

But the sight of the dark smoke in the distance yanked her attention away from the screen. As the daughter of two firefighters, Kini knew what it meant: wildfire. 

Kini’s mom, Aina, was already at work at the fire station, and her dad, Jonny, wanted to head over there to help. He told Kini and her twin brother, Kimo, to pack a bag so they could stay at the station overnight. The family’s two cats, Pumpkin and Pepper, were out roaming the neighborhood. But Kini wasn’t too worried—they were outdoor cats. They could take care of themselves for one night.

As the family drove away from their neighborhood, Kini watched the black smoke cloud in the sky growing larger. She didn’t realize it was about to swallow up her world.

The cloud was big and black and boiling. 

It looked like an angry monster rising in the sky. 

Twelve-year-old Kini Varona first saw it from her bedroom window in Lahaina. Lahaina is a town on the Hawaiian island of Maui (MOW-ee). It was the afternoon of August 8, 2023, the last day of summer vacation. Strong winds howled outside. And Kini was relaxing in her bed, playing games on her phone.

Kini saw the dark smoke in the distance. The sight pulled her attention away from her phone. Kini is the daughter of two firefighters, so she knew what the smoke meant: wildfire.

Kini’s mom, Aina, was already at work at the fire station. Her dad, Jonny, wanted to go there to help. He told Kini and her twin brother, Kimo, to pack bags. They were going to stay at the station overnight. The family’s two cats, Pumpkin and Pepper, were outside roaming around. But Kini wasn’t too worried. They were outdoor cats. They could take care of themselves for one night.

The family drove away from their home. And Kini watched the black smoke cloud in the sky growing larger. She didn’t realize it was about to swallow up her world.

Kini had always felt lucky to live in the beautiful town of Lahaina. Nestled on Maui’s west coast, the town is surrounded by lush green mountains and white-sand beaches. From her front porch, Kini could see the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. In her free time, she loved going surfing and skimming through the waves on her grandfather’s sailboat.

But in recent years, experts had been warning that Kini’s beloved island was in increasing danger from wildfires. In Hawaii, as in many other parts of the world, climate change has led to longer, hotter summers. Periods of little or no rain, known as droughts, have become more common. All this has dried out the tall grasses that cover much of Maui, creating perfect fuel for fire. One scientist described the situation as “a ticking time bomb.”

And on August 8, the bomb exploded. 

Early that morning, powerful winds from a nearby storm tore across the island. Fires broke out in several different places, including just east of Lahaina. Experts believe they may have been started by power lines that got knocked down by the wind, spitting sparks into the bone-dry grasses. 

At first, firefighters seemed to have gotten the Lahaina fire under control. But by midafternoon, the fierce winds breathed new life into the flames. Now a wall of fire was roaring toward the heart of the town.

Kini had always felt lucky to live in the beautiful town of Lahaina. The town is surrounded by lush mountains and white beaches. From her front porch, Kini could see the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. In her free time, she loved surfing and sailing on her grandfather’s boat.

But in recent years, experts have been warning about wildfires. Maui was in increasing danger. Climate change has led to longer, hotter summers in Hawaii—just as it has in many other parts of the world. Periods of little or no rain, known as droughts, have become more common. All this has dried out the tall grasses that cover much of Maui. And dry grasses are a perfect fuel for fire. One scientist called the situation “a ticking time bomb.”

And on August 8, the bomb exploded.

Early that morning, powerful winds from a nearby storm moved across the island. Fires broke out in several places. One of those places was just east of Lahaina. Experts believe they may have been started by power lines that got knocked down by the wind. The fallen power lines likely sent sparks into the dry grasses.

At first, firefighters seemed to have gotten the Lahaina fire under control. But during the afternoon, the fierce winds breathed new life into the flames. Now a wall of fire was roaring toward the center of the town.

Kini, Kimo, and their dad made it safely to the fire station that afternoon. While Jonny went to help at the nearby police station, Kini and her brother waited anxiously for news in the growing dark. Finally, at around 9 p.m., Kini’s mom returned for a break with other firefighters who had been battling the blaze. Tears streaked down the gray ash coating  their cheeks.

“Is our house going to be OK?” Kini asked her mom. 

“No, I don’t think so,” Aina answered sadly.

Kini thought of her cats, and her heart squeezed with fear. But before the news had even fully sunk in, her dad was rushing her and her brother back into the car. “We gotta get out of here,” he said. “The fire could get here.” 

Driven by the relentless wind, the fire had been growing bigger and more monstrous. And it was moving at up to 85 miles per hour—faster than a car racing down the highway. 

The roads out of town were choked with traffic as people scrambled to escape. Inching along in an endless line of cars, Kini looked out the window. Burning embers were swirling in the wind like fiery rain. “I could see a giant red smoke cloud devouring my neighborhood,” Kini remembers. 

At last, Kini and her family managed to make it to a nearby town, out of reach of the flames. There they met up with friends, who offered them a place to stay for the night. 

Yet Kini found it hard to sleep. “I was worried about my mom,” she says. “She was still fighting the fire.”

Kini, Kimo, and their dad made it safely to the fire station that afternoon. Jonny went to help at the nearby police station.  

Kini and her brother waited anxiously for news. Finally, at around 9 p.m., Kini’s mom returned for a break. She was with other firefighters who had been fighting the blaze. Tears streaked down the gray ash that covered their cheeks.

“Is our house going to be OK?” Kini asked her mom.

“No, I don’t think so,” Aina answered sadly.

Kini thought of her cats. Her heart filled with fear. The news about their house was still sinking in. But her dad was rushing her and her brother back into the car. “We gotta get out of here,” he said. “The fire could get here.”

The relentless wind had caused the fire to grow bigger and more monstrous. And it was moving at up to 85 miles per hour. That’s faster than a car racing down the highway. 

The roads out of town were filled with traffic as people hurried to escape. Kini looked out the window as their car inched along in an endless line of cars. Burning embers were swirling in the wind like fiery rain. “I could see a giant red smoke cloud devouring my neighborhood,” Kini remembers.

At last, Kini and her family made it to a nearby town. They were out of reach of the flames. They met up with friends who lived there. The friends offered them a place to stay for the night. Yet Kini found it hard to sleep. “I was worried about my mom,” she says. “She was still fighting the fire.”

By the next morning, the heavy winds had died down. The worst of the fire was over. After an endless, anxious night, Kini was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief: Her mom arrived at their friends’ house, exhausted but safe.

But Kini’s gratitude for her family’s safety was mixed with heartache over the destruction in Lahaina. The fire had turned the beautiful oceanside town into a gray, ash-covered wasteland. More than 2,000 buildings and houses had been damaged or destroyed. And tragically, more than 100 people had been killed. It was the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than 100 years.

About two weeks after the fire, the Varona family was finally able to visit what remained of their home. Kini was stunned to see their house flattened, their car a tangle of melted metal. But as the family picked through the ruins, they suddenly spotted a flash of orange.

It was Pumpkin! The cat’s fur was covered in ash, and she smelled strongly of smoke—but she was alive. A few weeks after that, Kini’s mom found their other cat, Pepper. “I was shocked and very happy that they had survived,” Kini says.

By the next morning, the heavy winds had died down. The worst of the fire was over. Kini’s mom arrived at their friends’ house. She was exhausted but safe. After Kini’s long, anxious night, she was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.  

Kini felt gratitude for her family’s safety. But it was mixed with heartache over the destruction in Lahaina. The fire had turned the beautiful town into an ash-covered wasteland. More than 2,000 buildings and houses had been damaged or destroyed. And sadly, more than 100 people had been killed. It was the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than 100 years.

About two weeks after the fire, the Varona family was able to visit what was left of their home. Kini was shocked to see their flattened house and the melted metal of their car. The family picked through the ruins. Suddenly, they spotted a flash of orange.

It was Pumpkin! The cat’s fur was covered in ash, and she smelled of smoke. But she was alive. A few weeks after that, Kini’s mom found their other cat, Pepper. “I was shocked and very happy that they had survived,” Kini says.

Today Kini is 13 and living with her family in a temporary home just south of Lahaina. Like many who were displaced by the fire, the Varonas hope to one day return to the town. Experts say that rebuilding may take years.

In the meantime, the family has been finding strength in the support of their community. Immediately after the fire, people across Maui were already leaping into action to help. Volunteers started collecting and handing out food, water, clothing, and other necessities. Families opened their doors to others who had lost their homes. Local chefs teamed up to cook meals for thousands. 

And community members have come together to help each other heal. Exactly one month after the fires, Kini took part in a paddle out, a traditional Hawaiian ceremony to remember people who have died. Among hundreds of friends and neighbors, she paddled out into the ocean on her surfboard. Everyone made a circle and chanted together. 

“I’ve never experienced anything like that,” Kini said. “It made me so grateful that Lahaina is not being forgotten.”

Today Kini is 13. She’s living for now with her family in a home just south of Lahaina. Like many who were displaced by the fire, the Varonas hope to one day return to the town. Experts say that rebuilding may take years.

In the meantime, the family has been finding strength from their community’s support. After the fire, people across Maui immediately acted to help. Volunteers started collecting and handing out food, water, clothing, and other necessities. Families opened their doors to others who had lost their homes. Local chefs cooked meals for thousands.

And community members have come together to help each other heal. Exactly one month after the fires, Kini took part in a paddle out. A paddle out is a traditional Hawaiian ceremony to remember people who have died. Kini paddled out into the ocean on her surfboard, joining hundreds of friends and neighbors. Everyone made a circle and chanted together.

“I’ve never experienced anything like that,” Kini said. “It made me so grateful that Lahaina is not being forgotten.”

The Lahaina community has always been close. But in the year since the wildfire, people from the town—and across Maui—have come together like never before to help each other. Here are a few kids who have been helping to lead these incredible efforts. Will you join them?

The Lahaina community has always been close. But in the year since the wildfire, people from the town—and across Maui—have come together like never before to help each other. Here are a few kids who have been helping to lead these incredible efforts. Will you join them?

Survivors still need support to help rebuild their homes, their town, and their lives. You can organize a fundraiser—like a bake sale or a lemonade stand—to raise money. The website mauinuistrong.info has a list of places to donate the earnings. 

Survivors still need support to help rebuild their homes, their town, and their lives. You can organize a fundraiser—like a bake sale or a lemonade stand—to raise money. The website mauinuistrong.info has a list of places to donate the money you raise.