Journalist's note | Searching for the sentient beings in the ashes after yesterday's Maui Island disaster in Hawaii

According to official information released by Maui County, Hawaii on August 29th, the confirmed number of deaths in the fire is 115, with multiple people still missing. The official announcement is that the search and rescue of the land part has been completed, and the remaining search and rescue work is focused on the coastline.

Searching for Yesterday's New Daily on Maui Island in the Ashes

When the fire broke out, the outside world's attention was focused on this small island, and the media and politicians flocked to it. As time passed, the people of Maui were forced to coexist with a new daily routine. Have you found the family members who disappeared in the fire? Have all the disaster victims who have lost their homes found a place to settle down? Will the sharp decline in tourist traffic brew new disasters for this island that relies on tourism? CCTV reporter Liu Xiaoqian delved deep into the island of Maoi and used the lens in his hand to record the lives of all beings after the disaster on this island.

CCTV reporter Liu Xiaoqian: It has been over two weeks since the La Haina fire broke out. A few days ago, local law enforcement agencies removed the last road barrier leading to this area, which is the western part of Maui Island. This means that post disaster rescue has entered a new and longer stage.

At the entrance of many gas stations in La Haina, you can see these newly posted signs of missing people. There were both young men and elderly people who went missing in the fire, and their relatives provided as much clues as possible, including the cars they usually drive and their inseparable pets, but with little effect.

Maui Island is not large, but some of the victims spent their last moments with strangers.

Lahaina disaster victim Gary: Around 7:30 pm, I ran to the street and found that all the houses were burned. There was a person in his 50s who was burned from head to toe, and his skin had peeled off except for his face. I guess he wanted to evacuate, but the fire hit him from two directions and burned his entire body.

Gary and another young man insisted on sending him to a safe area, but eventually passed away in the hospital. A few days later, his relatives and friends learned about this news.

Gaili, a disaster victim in La Haina: Those ashes are not ordinary ashes, but rather ashes produced by incineration, unlike earthquake disasters where people can find the remains of the victims. It is difficult for people to identify the deceased through ashes because there is almost nothing left.

The life story of the deceased came to an abrupt end in the fire, while the life of the survivors will never go back to yesterday.

CCTV reporter Liu Xiaoqian met Frank at a rescue station ten minutes north of La Haina. He just celebrated his 75th birthday last month.

Frank, a disaster victim from La Haina: The fire was very fierce, everything turned into ashes, and the vehicles melted like wax.

CCTV reporter Liu Xiaoqian: Can you tell me what you lost in the big fire?

Frank, a disaster victim from La Haina: I have lost everything, like some important personal items, family photos, passports, important documents, cash, clothes, everything. My home is a one bedroom house, a plantation style house built a long time ago, and I have renovated it. I miss it very much, just like other residents who have lost their homes.

I can't imagine how a seventy year old person would face this disaster alone. He worked hard all his life just to find a place to stay, but overnight, he fell into the streets.

Frank, a disaster victim from La Haina: I don't have a place to go. I'm sitting on a bench outside the supermarket, avoiding the police because they don't allow anyone to stay there.

CCTV reporter Liu Xiaoqian: Did you just live on the street like this for two days?

Frank, a disaster victim from La Haina: It's like this. I can't sleep or eat because all the shops are closed and there's nothing to eat.

A few days ago, Frank finally moved into a temporary residence and told me that although the engine of his heart was slowly recovering, he would never be able to see the halo of La Haina again in his lifetime.

Lahaina disaster victim Frank: I have lived in Maui for 45 years. I have experienced hurricanes, tsunamis, and the sudden arrival of the COVID-19 epidemic. I have cried before, I can't believe the loss is so devastating, it's too heartbreaking.

The fire burned down everything, and they were waiting on the beach for a promise

The La Haina fire has caused over 10000 people to lose their homes. Officials have stated that anyone who has lost their residence in the fire can apply for temporary accommodation, and hotels and short-term apartments on Maui Island are also open to disaster victims. However, the actual situation remains to be seen in CCTV reporter Liu Xiaoqian's visit.

I came to a beach park north of La Haina, which is now a temporary supply station where disaster victims can come to eat and choose necessary daily necessities. Among them, there are both indigenous people and white people who own properties, as well as a large number of transient migrants residing in La Haina. They are an important component of the local tourism service industry.

The fire indiscriminately attacked everyone, but did the victims receive equal treatment?

CCTV reporter Liu Xiaoqian: During my visit, I found that not all people who lost their homes in the La Haina fire can receive accommodation assistance. There are still many people living in cars or sleeping directly on the beach, waiting for precious spots.

I met Stephen and his friends on the beach. They were dishwashers at a restaurant in La Haina and usually stayed overnight at an open-air camp in town.

Stephen, a disaster victim from La Haina: I don't even have a tent. My tent and everything have been burned down, and many of my friends can't be reached.

The sleeping bags, backpacks, and clothing they are currently using come from donations.

CCTV reporter Liu Xiaoqian: Do you two meet the conditions for receiving accommodation assistance?

Stephen, a disaster victim from La Haina: Yes, we are waiting for notification.

CCTV reporter Liu Xiaoqian: When did your name enter the list?

Stephen, a disaster victim from La Haina: Two days ago, they said we could choose where to live. It sounds great, but when they brought us to the hotel, the hotel had other opinions. They said the waiting list is very long because the room is already full, exceeding their capacity, and we cannot wait in the hotel. They said we must leave temporarily. Where can we go?

I can't help but wonder how many disaster victims like Stephen are unable to receive the necessary assistance due to their different identities.

Stephen, a disaster victim from La Haina: They said I could have a place to live, which ignited my hope. In the end, we ended up in this field.

CCTV reporter Liu Xiaoqian: If the hotel has available rooms, will they call to inform you?

Stephen, a disaster victim from La Haina: They said that, but they haven't called yet.

CCTV reporter Liu Xiaoqian: How many days do you plan to sleep here?

La Haina disaster victims: Until they come to find us.

The collapse of pillar industries makes it difficult for tourists to come and go

After the La Haina fire, tourists cancelled flights or flew to other Hawaiian islands, causing a huge blow to the economic income of Maui Island. The locals are calling for tourists to return to Maui Island, but they are also concerned that tourists and disaster victims may seize resources and fall into a new predicament.

Maui Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States, with an average of over 7000 visitors per day according to official data. After the fire broke out, this number dropped to less than 2000 people.

CCTV reporter Liu Xiaoqian: The century old town disappeared in just one big fire, and its reconstruction takes several years, even more than a decade. At the same time, a larger and more difficult to detect secondary disaster is spreading on Maui Island.

Hawaii State Councilor Brian Shatz said on social media that due to the impact of the La Haina fire, tourists in other areas of Maui Island have plummeted, and the local tourism industry has begun to see layoffs and unpaid leave.

Lahaina disaster victim Ellie: I am a tour guide, and you will find that most tour guide jobs are no longer available, so I also lost this job.

Local non-profit organizations are concerned that the recession in the tourism industry will cause more residents to lose the economic ability to pay rent and daily expenses, leading to direct victims who are not directly affected by the fire being forced to join the relief team.

Lahaina disaster victim Naomi: Almost everyone is unemployed. My brother-in-law works in a flower shop and can only work a few hours a day because business is linked to the tourism industry. Now we have nothing, we can only look at each day, and the situation is different every day.

The absence of tourists has provided disaster victims with more temporary accommodation resources, but as long as the scenery remains, they will eventually return. At that time, what choice will capital make between disaster victims who have nothing and tourists who spend a lot of money?