Jeff Bezos, Maui’s richest resident, and his partner Lauren Sanchez have announced they will donate $100 million to help victims of Maui’s wildfires.
In a statement from Sanchez, she said, “Jeff and I are heartbroken by what is happening in Maui.” Our thoughts are with all the families who have lost so much and a community that is devastated.
“The immediate needs are important, as is the longer-term recovery that must take place even though much of the attention has waned.”
“Jeff, I am creating a Maui fund and making $100 million available to help Maui get back on its feet now and for years to come as the ongoing need shows.”
Bezos owns properties on the islands alongside stars like Oprah, Larry Ellison, Clint Eastwood and Steven Tyler.
In a statement, the billionaire couple announced they would set up a fund to help get the island back on its feet after the disaster and pledged $100 million
An aerial photo taken August 10 shows destroyed cars in Lahaina after wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii
The hall of Lahaina’s historic Waiola Church and the nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission along Wainee Street are on fire
Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez posted on Instagram that the fires “broke her heart” before they were announced.
The 59-year-old Amazon CEO owns a three-building estate in La Perouse Bay on Maui’s Valley Isle valued at an estimated $78 million.
With a net worth of $162 billion, he is the third richest man in the world.
Oprah, worth $2.5 billion, owns nearly 5,000 acres of land on Maui and has lived there part-time for the past 15 years. It is unclear if any part of their land was damaged.
She bought the most recent property – 860 acres – in March of this year for $6.6 million. Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler also has a home on the island, as does Owen Wilson and Clint Eastwood.
The Maui fire is the worst natural disaster to hit Hawaii since a tsunami killed 61 in 1960. If the death toll continues to climb as expected, it will surpass that dismal record and become the deadliest disaster.
It is also on track to become the deadliest wildfire in recent US history. The camp fire in California alone claimed 68 fatalities in the last 100 years, more than previously counted.
After the fire disaster on Tuesday, in which 55 people have died so far, a thousand people are still missing in Maui. The death toll is expected to rise as search parties search homes or their remains in search of victims.
When the fire burned Lahaina, a town on the island, cell towers were burned along with all other structures.
This means the city remains without a phone line, internet, water or electricity, and more importantly, rescue teams are unable to step in to help.
“We, as a local nonprofit, don’t even have access to anything west of Maalaea.” West Maui is completely cut off from communications and electricity. It’s very fluid, but that’s about what we’re seeing at the hyperlocal level,” Maui Rescue Mission’s Lauren Henrie told CNN.
In this image obtained by the U.S. Department of Defense, vehicles and personnel from the Honolulu Fire Department attach to a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, Hawaii, August 10, 2023
Debris from a wildfire is shown on Thursday, August 10, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii. Records from Hawaii’s emergency management show no evidence that warning sirens sounded before people ran for their lives from the Maui wildfires that devastated a historic town
Maui’s part-time residents include Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bezos, Steven Tyler, Owen Wilson and more. Larry Ellison owns almost all of the island of Lanai, which is near the town of Lahaina
An aerial view shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground around the harbor and Front Street in the historic town of Lahaina
Today it was announced that West Maui residents who can provide proof of residency will have access to Lahaina later today.
Measures have been taken to secure the severely affected area of the historic city.
These measures include, but are not limited to, a ban on unauthorized public entry beyond cordoned-off areas and a daily curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in historic Lahaina City and affected areas.
The curfew serves to protect homes and property
Michael Havoc Thomas, a military veteran who owns and operates HAVOC, a private rescue and training company in Hawaii, gave a harrowing description of the reality of the devastation.
“The news won’t be able to show you the real survivors, nor the real casualties.” It’s strongly reminiscent of WWII flamethrowers and Vietnam napalm. That’s no exaggeration.’
Lahaina was almost “erased from the map” after 271 buildings burned to the ground in violent wildfires
Late Wednesday, August 9, 2023, a forest fire burns in Kihei, south Maui. Thousands of residents fled as flames swept across the island in one of the deadliest wildfires in the United States in recent years
Barack Obama, who grew up in Honolulu and has a home on the Big Island, also released a statement last night with a link to a local community fundraiser.
“It’s difficult to see some of the images from Hawaii – a place that is so special to so many of us.”
“Michelle and I think of everyone who has lost a loved one or whose life has been turned upside down. “If you want to help, you can do so here,” he said.
Honolulu native Jason Momoa also appealed for help for the islanders.
“We are devastated and heartbroken for our friends and ohana on Maui who have been impacted by the recent wildfires.”
Momoa has repeatedly shared links to the fundraisers.
Bette Midler, who also has a home in Hawaii, tweeted about the ongoing disaster relief efforts.
And Pierce Brosnan and his wife, Keely Shaye Brosnan, who have a home on Kauai, have reached out for support.
“My sincerest and heartfelt prayers for Maui, the Hawaiian community, residents, families and animals affected by these unprecedented wildfires,” Keely posted on Instagram.
“If you are able, please consider making a donation to the Hawaii/Maui Community Foundation to help those in need.”