You know, I hate doing these type of posts. But the scope of the tragedy is horrific. And, I'm not sure that you know this, but my Mom was born and raised on Maui. She was born in Lahaina and graduated from Lahainaluna High School. My Grandfather, from Fukushima Japan first set foot on American soil in Lahaina. My Grandmother, a picture bride arrived sometime after. They both lived their entire lives on Maui, they never left. They were the last of my maternal side of the family living there.
Just reading about the loss of life and destruction has been heart wrenching. Reading about the Hongwanji that my Mom belonged to and would always tell me about attending the Bon Dances there burning down……looking on the maps and seeing the last apartment my Jichan lived in when my Ba-ba was taken to Kula Sanitarium had burned to the ground. And of course there's the Banyan Tree, a place my Mom would always take me when we visited. I still have photos……from film cameras….some in black and white of me playing around the tree.
Here's a photo from when the Missus and I last visited.
This hits close to home for me.
I don't have family remaining on the Valley Isle, but I've heard from FOY RonR who is ok. And also a couple of other folks I know. Thankfully, they are also fine, if a bit shaken.
As for that Banyan Tree, well at last check it was scorched but still standing. My hopes are that the devastation and destruction is soon totally resolved and that the people of Maui can start rebuilding. I am so sad at the loss of life, even wondering in this day and age how this could have happened so suddenly.
I wasn't sure that I'd be able to express the true heart wrenching sadness I feel and I realize that I am not up to that. So thanks for accommodating the ramblings of an ineloquent, inarticulate, straight talking, Sansei from Hawaii.
I think FOY BarbaraP who contacted me asking about family and such "back home" wrote it best: