More than two million tourists visit Lahaina on Maui, the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands, each year. They were mainly attracted by beaches and surfing. But for the locals in Hawaii, Lahaina is also very significant to their cultural identity.
Lines of cars are long as Maui residents return from the evacuation. They return to extinguished dreams.
Sydney Carney is one of those forced to return to the ashes that were once a home, and she is critical that the warnings came so late.
– People just waited helplessly, they died from the smoke.
The state’s chief prosecutor has launched an urgent investigation into why the warning system for natural disasters did not work.
So far, over 60 people have been confirmed dead and around a thousand people are missing. The death toll is expected to rise as burned areas are now searched.