v6toy4x
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2019
- Messages
- 2,572
- Reaction score
- 4,062
This is the long version, the short versions starts with "FUCK" and ends with "ME"
I started a couple threads about our current trip to maui which now seem so very petty.
There are 6 of us on this trip, myself, wife, 2 adult sons, my parents, my mom is 84 and my dad is 89 in a wheel chair and the onset of dementia. We were staying north of Lahaina at the whaler and rented a jeep for our boys and a minivan for the group.
We landed on the 30th of July planning to depart at the end of August. Our primary goal was to complete my sisters burial plot with some granite vases and a bronze marker, that was a success. Afterwards we were on a quest to eat and drink it up at every good restaurant we had been to in the past or had not yet tried, trying to veer from the beaten path when ever possible and raising a glass to my sister at every meal. Needless to say we didn't make it too far down the list.
Sunday night and Monday night were both spent in Lahaina, Sunday at KIMOs and Monday at the Mala Oceanside Tavern, Lahaina was packed and in high spirits.
We then forgot to fill the minivan with gas after dinner, opting to do it the following morning, Tuesday. This will turn out to be a very BAD decision.
Tuesday morning we woke around 5:30 to no power, me and the wife hopped in the minivan to go and see if we could get coffee and gas furhter up the road, unfortunately the power outage was more than 30 poles along the Honoapiilani Highway leading into Lahaina so power was out every where along the coast from Lahaina to Kapalua, gas stations, coffee shops, grocery stores all closed up. We returned to the condo and decided to sit tight for a bit and see what would come of the power.
Around 2:00, it was obvious the power was out for several days so I decided to grab the two boys and make a dash in the jeep into Kahalui to grab some gas in a can for the van and some non perishable groceries. When we hit Lahaina police were struggling to close roads for all the power lines, the highway had almost every pole down across the road. The bulk of the traffic was ending up on front street with a long back up heading north already, just from the downed poles, the fire was probably just getting started up the hill along Lahainaluna road in the houses or there abouts.
We veered south onto front street , it was void of any crowds all the stores closed up, very ominous in hind sight but probably saved a lot of lives by no one being there. We were turned back north at most intersections. I knew a little short cut through the houses to get to Lahainaluna rd and then up to the bypass. At this point the fire is underway but the smoke wasn't so bad we got about a half mile up Lahainaluna road and it stopped. we sat for maybe 5-10 minutes and then we started to see people running down the street form in front of us and the smoke was getting more noticeable with each wave of wind it would go from annoying to black as the wind gusts came and went. At the same time people were fleeing their houses from up the road, others were running up the street from behind us to get to theirs, to the left was a women frantically trying to corral here goat and drag it out but it took off and she fled down the street at the same time to the right was a young guy with what appeared to be burns on his arm running down the hill telling everyone to turn around. That's when it got real, I flipped a u turn grabbed some sidewalk and got back down to the highway. At this point the traffic is going evrywhere but no where at the same time. I decided I needed to get back to the condo so we booked down to front street right about the harbor and turned north and the traffic stopped right about Fleetwoods, just north of the Banyon tree. I knew the north bound traffic was already at a crawl when we first hit Lahaina but i figured we would just be patient and get back to the condo, my wife and parents. Screw the gas and food.
In the next half hour or so we moved maybe 100'. There had been some high grey smoke coming from the fire up the hill as soon as we got back onto front street but all of the sudden the smoke went black and was right down at the roof line of the stores, no flames yet just thick black smoke. Then embers starting hitting the hood, there was no way we were getting through to the end of front street. We flipped another u turn and headed south. Front street had been coned off at the south end for power pole work, we and others just went passed the cones and made it out onto the highway headed south, poles and trees down and wind blown debris every where. I pulled over and tried calling my wife to no avail. We went back to plan A and hauled into Kahalui. Our condo was 4-5 miles north and surrounded by golf course and the highway I hoped it was far enough out of harms way, however i knew they couldn't drive themselves out because no gas. At this point I was really worried. Once we left lahaina you couldn't go back police were shutting down every thing local to lahaina but the highway was opened both directions. We hit Kahalui around 4:30 got a gas can, and turned back planning quick stop in Maalaea for gas food and groceries. What we didn't know was at about that time they set up a roadblock for any and all north bound traffic to all of west maui right at the aquarium in Maalaea.
We got to the intersection of 30 and the 310 when everything stopped. We ran the median to get to the turn off for Maalaea, grabbed gas, the place was a zoo, the line at the restroom was 12-15 people long from all the cars sitting on the highway. It took an hour and a half to get out of the gas station back out onto the highway, its probably 6:30 now and we didn't move unless someone in front gave up. Cell reception at the condo was bad and all the landline and internet went down with the poles. However text would eventually make it through if my wife moved about the complex. She was able to find a sweet spot and could call out but if she was in the building our calls weren't going through. She assured us they had been told they were safe and to shelter in place.
Everyone had hopes the road would open, but as the night grew on it was clear that wasn't going to happen, they needed the north bound lanes clear as every concievable piece of logistical equipment was roling through with police escort along with a steady stream of ambulances, absolutely sureal. As we tucked in for our first night in the jeep, you couldn't see ver to lahaina but you could see the south Maui mountain side, up contry, there was a wall of flame 2 miles?? long just steadily burning down the mountainside. I sat and wondered if only I had gotten gas my wife with some help could have gotten her and my parents in the van and out of kaanapali. Man I fucked that one up.
By morning, Wednesday, Lahaina was mostly gone whatever was left would be gone that evening. The barrage of sirens and equipment never stopped and we never moved. Then the generosity of the local people began to pour out, locals were dirving up handing out water, snacks, chips, hot dogs, pizza and even toilet paper to the hundred or so cars just parked on the side of the road hoping it would open, it was astonishing. People from one car to the other were offering what they had. That is when the guilt hits you, most of the people were in line to get back to their homes, IF they were still there. All we wanted to do is get the hell out. We spent wednesday night right where we spent tuesday night, sleeping in the jeep along side the highway.
Wednesday evening, busses started streaming in, first 2 or 3 then 5 or 6 and by thursday morning it was 12-15 at a time, school busses, sight seeing busses, handicap busses any buss that would drive, west maui was being asked to clear out, visitors to go home. I got a hold of my wife and told her to move forward with getting on a buss and leave the rental van, since it didnt look like we were going to get through. I tried the symapthy card at the checkpoint, my dad and moms age, him in a wheel chair and the back up power generator had run out of propane so the elevator was down, thank god they were only on the second floor. We were rightfully turned back.
It was now a race if i could get there or the bus got there first. We didnt get through and about 11:30 thursday mornig I got a call from my wife that with the help of some staff they got my parents most of the luggage on a handicap bus and were in route to us. She shot a video as they passed through lahaina, it is hard to watch and i will not post it or any of the video/pics we took out of respect..
Now I had to secure new flights and accommodations for awaiting those flights. alaska airlines were great with the help of two associates we were able to get all of us booked an 3 different flights out. My wife goes tonight, my boys tomorrow and me and the parents later tomorrow. A travel agent came through and we got a decent condo in Kihei which is where I sit now. we are leaving in a bit to pay my last visit to my sister and not sure when we will come back??? we have been coming here every year since 1979.
If you made it this far reading thank you.
It was one hell of a 3 day stretch.
I started a couple threads about our current trip to maui which now seem so very petty.
There are 6 of us on this trip, myself, wife, 2 adult sons, my parents, my mom is 84 and my dad is 89 in a wheel chair and the onset of dementia. We were staying north of Lahaina at the whaler and rented a jeep for our boys and a minivan for the group.
We landed on the 30th of July planning to depart at the end of August. Our primary goal was to complete my sisters burial plot with some granite vases and a bronze marker, that was a success. Afterwards we were on a quest to eat and drink it up at every good restaurant we had been to in the past or had not yet tried, trying to veer from the beaten path when ever possible and raising a glass to my sister at every meal. Needless to say we didn't make it too far down the list.
Sunday night and Monday night were both spent in Lahaina, Sunday at KIMOs and Monday at the Mala Oceanside Tavern, Lahaina was packed and in high spirits.
We then forgot to fill the minivan with gas after dinner, opting to do it the following morning, Tuesday. This will turn out to be a very BAD decision.
Tuesday morning we woke around 5:30 to no power, me and the wife hopped in the minivan to go and see if we could get coffee and gas furhter up the road, unfortunately the power outage was more than 30 poles along the Honoapiilani Highway leading into Lahaina so power was out every where along the coast from Lahaina to Kapalua, gas stations, coffee shops, grocery stores all closed up. We returned to the condo and decided to sit tight for a bit and see what would come of the power.
Around 2:00, it was obvious the power was out for several days so I decided to grab the two boys and make a dash in the jeep into Kahalui to grab some gas in a can for the van and some non perishable groceries. When we hit Lahaina police were struggling to close roads for all the power lines, the highway had almost every pole down across the road. The bulk of the traffic was ending up on front street with a long back up heading north already, just from the downed poles, the fire was probably just getting started up the hill along Lahainaluna road in the houses or there abouts.
We veered south onto front street , it was void of any crowds all the stores closed up, very ominous in hind sight but probably saved a lot of lives by no one being there. We were turned back north at most intersections. I knew a little short cut through the houses to get to Lahainaluna rd and then up to the bypass. At this point the fire is underway but the smoke wasn't so bad we got about a half mile up Lahainaluna road and it stopped. we sat for maybe 5-10 minutes and then we started to see people running down the street form in front of us and the smoke was getting more noticeable with each wave of wind it would go from annoying to black as the wind gusts came and went. At the same time people were fleeing their houses from up the road, others were running up the street from behind us to get to theirs, to the left was a women frantically trying to corral here goat and drag it out but it took off and she fled down the street at the same time to the right was a young guy with what appeared to be burns on his arm running down the hill telling everyone to turn around. That's when it got real, I flipped a u turn grabbed some sidewalk and got back down to the highway. At this point the traffic is going evrywhere but no where at the same time. I decided I needed to get back to the condo so we booked down to front street right about the harbor and turned north and the traffic stopped right about Fleetwoods, just north of the Banyon tree. I knew the north bound traffic was already at a crawl when we first hit Lahaina but i figured we would just be patient and get back to the condo, my wife and parents. Screw the gas and food.
In the next half hour or so we moved maybe 100'. There had been some high grey smoke coming from the fire up the hill as soon as we got back onto front street but all of the sudden the smoke went black and was right down at the roof line of the stores, no flames yet just thick black smoke. Then embers starting hitting the hood, there was no way we were getting through to the end of front street. We flipped another u turn and headed south. Front street had been coned off at the south end for power pole work, we and others just went passed the cones and made it out onto the highway headed south, poles and trees down and wind blown debris every where. I pulled over and tried calling my wife to no avail. We went back to plan A and hauled into Kahalui. Our condo was 4-5 miles north and surrounded by golf course and the highway I hoped it was far enough out of harms way, however i knew they couldn't drive themselves out because no gas. At this point I was really worried. Once we left lahaina you couldn't go back police were shutting down every thing local to lahaina but the highway was opened both directions. We hit Kahalui around 4:30 got a gas can, and turned back planning quick stop in Maalaea for gas food and groceries. What we didn't know was at about that time they set up a roadblock for any and all north bound traffic to all of west maui right at the aquarium in Maalaea.
We got to the intersection of 30 and the 310 when everything stopped. We ran the median to get to the turn off for Maalaea, grabbed gas, the place was a zoo, the line at the restroom was 12-15 people long from all the cars sitting on the highway. It took an hour and a half to get out of the gas station back out onto the highway, its probably 6:30 now and we didn't move unless someone in front gave up. Cell reception at the condo was bad and all the landline and internet went down with the poles. However text would eventually make it through if my wife moved about the complex. She was able to find a sweet spot and could call out but if she was in the building our calls weren't going through. She assured us they had been told they were safe and to shelter in place.
Everyone had hopes the road would open, but as the night grew on it was clear that wasn't going to happen, they needed the north bound lanes clear as every concievable piece of logistical equipment was roling through with police escort along with a steady stream of ambulances, absolutely sureal. As we tucked in for our first night in the jeep, you couldn't see ver to lahaina but you could see the south Maui mountain side, up contry, there was a wall of flame 2 miles?? long just steadily burning down the mountainside. I sat and wondered if only I had gotten gas my wife with some help could have gotten her and my parents in the van and out of kaanapali. Man I fucked that one up.
By morning, Wednesday, Lahaina was mostly gone whatever was left would be gone that evening. The barrage of sirens and equipment never stopped and we never moved. Then the generosity of the local people began to pour out, locals were dirving up handing out water, snacks, chips, hot dogs, pizza and even toilet paper to the hundred or so cars just parked on the side of the road hoping it would open, it was astonishing. People from one car to the other were offering what they had. That is when the guilt hits you, most of the people were in line to get back to their homes, IF they were still there. All we wanted to do is get the hell out. We spent wednesday night right where we spent tuesday night, sleeping in the jeep along side the highway.
Wednesday evening, busses started streaming in, first 2 or 3 then 5 or 6 and by thursday morning it was 12-15 at a time, school busses, sight seeing busses, handicap busses any buss that would drive, west maui was being asked to clear out, visitors to go home. I got a hold of my wife and told her to move forward with getting on a buss and leave the rental van, since it didnt look like we were going to get through. I tried the symapthy card at the checkpoint, my dad and moms age, him in a wheel chair and the back up power generator had run out of propane so the elevator was down, thank god they were only on the second floor. We were rightfully turned back.
It was now a race if i could get there or the bus got there first. We didnt get through and about 11:30 thursday mornig I got a call from my wife that with the help of some staff they got my parents most of the luggage on a handicap bus and were in route to us. She shot a video as they passed through lahaina, it is hard to watch and i will not post it or any of the video/pics we took out of respect..
Now I had to secure new flights and accommodations for awaiting those flights. alaska airlines were great with the help of two associates we were able to get all of us booked an 3 different flights out. My wife goes tonight, my boys tomorrow and me and the parents later tomorrow. A travel agent came through and we got a decent condo in Kihei which is where I sit now. we are leaving in a bit to pay my last visit to my sister and not sure when we will come back??? we have been coming here every year since 1979.
If you made it this far reading thank you.
It was one hell of a 3 day stretch.
