Frightened loved ones are asking for information about missing loved ones as fires continue to rage across Hawaii and thousands of tourists desperately try to flee the stricken island.
Authorities confirmed that at least 36 people were killed in the wildfires. Locals fear the death toll will continue to rise and warn it is a “mass casualty event”.
Firefighters and emergency services on Maui are stunned by the scale of the fire in the historic town of Lahaina – where 800 acres of land and 271 buildings were “decimated.”
Hundreds of people were missing and their loved ones were desperate for signs that they could be rescued or found shelter after they fled.
Horrifying footage from a plane landing on Maui shows the extent of the fires that continue to ravage the tiny island.
The fires have devastated the tiny island, missing hundreds of residents and tourists. Pictured: Victoria-Eugene and Eric Recolizado with their missing son Justin
Horrifying footage from a plane landing on Maui shows the extent of the fires that continue to ravage the tiny island
Locals have created a document for loved ones to list the last place their loved ones were seen. However, authorities have not yet established an official way to report someone missing.
Dustin Kaleiopu, a Maui resident, said he is looking for his extended family and “so many people” are still missing.
Speaking to CNN, he added, “So many people have disappeared.” I have to say that it is an unspoken fact that the death toll is well over 36.
“And we’re just hoping that it turns out, like I said, that number isn’t too much above that number.” But this week, a mass casualty accident happened.
“I wasn’t home when the fire broke out. “I stayed at my brother’s house about a mile or two from home and live with my dad and grandpa,” he said.
“My dad called me and said, ‘Hey, I heard there’s a fire, I can’t reach your grandpa.’ “Go see him.”
“In the end, my brother comes to us and we fall asleep because we had nothing else to do. “Everything was closed – no electricity”,
“We had to wait until everything was on fire because we couldn’t really know how much of it was really going on,”
The Hawaii Department of Transportation confirmed that Maui’s Kahului Airport is open and thousands are stranded there trying to flee the island
State officials are working with hotels and airlines to try to evacuate thousands of tourists to another island
Dustin Kaleiopu, a Maui resident, said he is looking for his extended family and “so many people” are still missing
Maui’s airports are still operating “efficiently,” and officials confirm that Oahu and Kauai remain open for flight operations despite evacuation efforts
Kaleiopu’s father drove past his brother less than an hour later after seeing him in traffic evacuating the small town.
“When my father realized it was my brother, he lost his composure,” Kaleiopu said. “Because he assumed everyone had died in the fire based solely on the drastic events when he got there after being at work all day.”
Hundreds of people are still missing on the island. Concerned relatives are posting on social media trying to track her down.
Family members have been urged to contact the Red Cross and local hospitals to determine the whereabouts of their loved ones after communication lines were cut due to the extent of the destruction from the fire.
State officials are working with hotels and airlines to try to evacuate thousands of tourists to another island.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation confirmed that Maui’s Kahului Airport is open and thousands are stranded there trying to flee the island.
Blake and Linda Matsui are among those who have disappeared, and their families are desperate to help find them
74-year-old Bill Seidl (left) is also missing in the forest fires. His daughter contacted the Red Cross to locate him
The hall of Lahaina’s historic Waiola Church and the nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission along Wainee Street are on fire
Officials struggled to evacuate the thousands of visitors to the island and are preparing to move those unable to return to their homes to the Hawaii Convention Center along with displaced Maui residents
Maui’s airports are still operating “efficiently,” and officials confirm that Oahu and Kauai remain open to air travel despite evacuation efforts
Ed Sniffen, director of the Hawaii State Department of Transportation, confirmed that non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged.
He estimated around 2,000 people stayed at the airport and another 4,000 visitors attempted to exit the island from the west side.
Maui’s airports are still operating “efficiently,” and officials confirm that Oahu and Kauai remain open to air travel despite evacuation efforts.
Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines all offer travel waivers for trips to Maui, allowing passengers to change plans without penalty.
A spokeswoman for American Airlines said the airline plans to operate all scheduled flights to and from Maui’s Kahului Airport on Thursday.
A spokeswoman said the airline “today added an additional flight and upgraded one aircraft to ensure customers evacuating OGG are able to do so.”
The Hawaii Tourism Authority said in a statement that West Maui is the area travelers should avoid, adding, “Visitors with travel plans to stay in other parts of Maui and the Kohala Coast of the island of Hawaii are asked to contact to contact them.” Hotels for up-to-date information and possible implications for their travel plans.”
Officials struggled to evacuate the thousands of visitors to the island and are preparing to move those unable to return to their homes to the Hawaii Convention Center along with displaced Maui residents.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority worked with the American Red Cross to set up the relief center, where shuttle buses will pick up stranded people from the Honolulu airport every 20 minutes.
To help people get out of Maui as quickly as possible, Hawaiian Airlines says it is offering additional flights and offering low main cabin airfares of $19.
“We are doing what we can to provide resources to care for our employees and we are doing what we can to care for our guests,” said Peter Ingram, CEO of Hawaiian Air.