VIDEO: Statewide vigils show aloha for victims of Maui fires
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM
Kahu Ahu Imaikalani Winchester places an offering on a stone altar, or ahu, during ceremonies at Thomas Square, Friday, Sept. 1, for the spiritual healing for those effected by the August wildfires on Maui.
COURTESY OLELO In this image taken from video, the University of Hawaii Maui College offers a prayer during the noon vigil.
GEORGE F. LEE / AUG. 21
Wooden crosses bearing flowers have sprung up along a fence line on the Lahaina Bypass near Lahainaluna Road.
UPDATE
KAHULUI >> Following a Native Hawaiian sunrise vigil at Waihee Beach Park, over 200 people — many dressed in red to represent Lahaina — attended a midday ceremony today on the Great Lawn at the University of Hawaii Maui College in Kahului as part of the daylong “Kipuni Aloha no Maui” vigil being held statewide in support of those who suffered losses in the deadly Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire.
Kumu hula Hokulani Holt lead the gathering in partnership with other kumu hula, cultural practitioners and leaders from the island’s faith communities who shared Hawaiian oli and song, Christian hymns, a Buddhist chant, prayers and other gestures to comfort and uplift.
Wailuku resident Kui Gapero, 39, said he was there as a member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha and had assisted with an awa ceremony at the early morning event as a student of Holt’s.
“Any moment we can lift our voices up and heal the aina, heal our people, I’m down for it,” he said.
Like many on Maui, Haiku artist Avi Molinas, 58, is still struggling to come to grips with the enormity of the Lahaina disaster. He said more than $400,000 worth of his sculptures and paintings burned along with the Wyland Gallery on Front Street, adding that Lahaina was a vital art hub on Maui.
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Additionally, several members of his wife’s large family in Lahaina lost their homes and some are believed to have died or are missing. He came to the vigil seeking solace among others in the community.
“I tried to work at home but I cannot. I am so in shock. I don’t know, I’m in an empty space now. I’m lost. I’m totally lost,” Molinas said.
Noon vigils also were held in Hana and at Keawanui Fishpond on Molokai. The day’s observances will end with a sunset ceremony at the Ka‘anapali Golf Course. The program will start at 5 p.m., with the vigil set to occur from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Parking is available at the golf course and Outrigger Ka‘anapali Beach Resort. Ka‘anapli Trolley will provide transportation to and from the sunset vigil, golf course and all Kaanapali resorts.
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Hawaii’s renowned kumu hula and cultural practitioners are leading a daylong vigil today to provide spiritual healing from the tragedy caused by the Maui fires.
All Hawaii residents — as well as people around the world — are invited to join in the vigil, “Kipuni Aloha no Maui,” meaning “embrace beloved Maui,” during the ceremonies to be led by spiritual leaders at sunrise, noon and sunset.
Today’s events are scheduled:
>> 6 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. sunrise ceremony;
>> 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. noon ceremony;
>> 5 to 7:30 p.m. sunset ceremony.
“The vigil will center on emotional and spiritual healing that is rooted in traditional Native Hawaiian practices and include leaders from diverse faiths,” according to a flyer promoting the event.
“This is a time when Hawaii as a whole, as one big family — we really have to search deep within ourselves and come together in solidarity and in healing,” said kumu Kamana‘opono Crabbe. “We thought it would be ideal if we could bring all our cultures and religious spiritual faiths together.”
Statewide, traditional Hawaiian cultural practitioners will join leaders of diverse faiths to offer prayers and rituals for those who died, from sunrise to sunset.
Watch the livestream video above.
