Paddle-out participants form a circle off Hanaka‘ō‘ō Beach Park on Friday during a memorial for Lahaina fire victims. It’s been exactly two years since the blaze destroyed much of the town, resulting in 102 deaths. The same day, a fire destroyed dozens of homes upcountry in Kula. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
On the second anniversary of the fires, Kuhinia Maui, a Lahaina and Kula-led movement with support from Maui County, hosted its second annual memorial paddle-out from Hanaka‘ō‘ō Beach Park, also known as Canoe Beach, north of Lahaina Town.
Paddle-out participants circle up on the water off Hanaka‘ō‘ō Beach Park during the event to honor the 102 people who lost their lives in Lahaina. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Jess Faust, left, holds hands with Taylor Giordani. Faust lived in Lahaina before the fire but has since relocated to Kīhei. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Participants make a splash during the floating memorial ceremony. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Boats around the perimeter of the paddle-out and a participant float among flowers dropped from a helicopter. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Cassie Coonradt amid some of the the flowers. The King Kamehameha III Elementary schoolteacher was able to participate because of a flex day in the schedule to end the first week of classes for a new school year. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Some of the flowers dropped from a helicopter on the water off of Hanaka‘ō‘ō Beach Park. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Paele Kiakona, a Lahaina Strong leader, said before the paddle-out that he had confidence Lahaina can recover from the devastation, rebuild, and come back stronger.
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