Jason Momoa is ‘devastated’ by the devastation of Maui’s wildfires and celebs share ways to help
Hawaii native Jason Momoa is one of many celebrities covering the devastation of the deadly Maui wildfires that destroyed the city of Lahaina, displaced more than 1,300 people and killed at least 55 people.
As Maui continues to grapple with the ongoing devastating wildfires that began Tuesday, Jason Momoa is one of many celebs speaking out on social media. The Hawaii native has shared links on ways people can help, as well as updates on the tragedy itself.
“We are devastated and heartbroken for our friends and ohana on Maui who have been affected by the recent wildfires,” he captioned a rerun of Āina Momona. The local organization collects donations for the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui County Strong Fund to support relief efforts.
The informative post includes video and still images of the fires themselves, as well as information on how they started. “On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, a terrible combination of drought and hurricane weather resulted in widespread wildfires on the island of Maui,” the organization wrote.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram media.
This was followed by another post comparing the same section of Lahaina before and after it was devastated by the wildfires.
At least 55 people have died Associated PressAs of Thursday, more than 1,300 people were displaced and nearly 11,000 still without power. More than a thousand buildings burned to the ground. President Biden has declared the affected area to be a major disaster area and thus released federal funds.
Authorities said the fires were spreading so quickly there was no time to sound the island’s emergency sirens, so residents couldn’t figure out what was going on until they saw fires or heard explosions. Many were forced into the sea to escape the fast-moving flames or fled on foot.
The disaster is the deadliest in the state since a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people on the Big Island. Gov. Josh Green conceded Thursday that this crisis could surpass this one as he expects the death toll to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
Several Hollywood stars are encouraging their fans and followers to donate to relief efforts and those whose lives have been upended by this natural disaster.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram media.
residents of Maui Carlos and Alex PenaVega assured their fans of this Instagram stories that they weren’t in Hawaii when the disaster struck, but they had “so many friends and family who lost their homes, family and friends who didn’t make it.”
They also said that from what they’ve heard from local family members in Maui, “what you see in photos and images doesn’t compare to what is happening.”
The couple admitted they don’t even know if their home is still standing or damaged, “but honestly, it doesn’t matter either. I’m so focused on the people of Maui and especially the people of Lahaina because it’s gone.”
Hawaii News Now reported that Oprah Winfrey has been on the ground in Maui, where it is one of the largest private landowners on the island with more than 1,000 acres of land in Kula and Hana. She was seen with victims at an emergency shelter, where she promised to buy supplies for them.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram media.
Kelly Hu, who was Miss Hawaii USA in 1993, shared a link to Fast response to Maui for donations recommended to her by a Maui journalist friend. She also shared some of her memories of the two years she spent growing up on the island with her grandparents.
“If you’ve ever been lucky enough to witness the splendor of this island, dare you to donate to help those who will be affected by this fire for years to come,” she said in the caption.
Mick Fleetwood said his restaurant, Fleetwood’s on Front St., was among the buildings destroyed by the fire. “Maui and the Lahaina community have been my home for several decades. This is a devastating moment for Maui and many are suffering unimaginable losses,” he said Instagram.
“Fleetwood’s on Front Street has been lost and while we are heartbroken, our main priority is the safety of our dear employees and team members,” he continued. “On behalf of myself and my family, I share my heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the people of Maui. We are committed to supporting the community and those affected by this disaster in the months and years to come.”
“Strange Al” Yankovic lives with his wife Suzanne on the east side of the island. Reassuring fans that they are safe, Suzanne shared on Instagram that residents “are coming together on the east side of Maui to donate clothing, food, shelter and other donations to those affected on this beautiful island.”
As the situation is still volatile and ongoing, local resorts, including the where white lotus was filmed urging travelers not to come to Maui so their facilities can be used to help displaced residents. There are many other ways to support relief efforts, as detailed above.
