Impacted By Hawaii Fires: Oklahoman Shares Personal Experience And Ways To Support

Thousands are still missing after the Hawaii fires, and the death toll has reached 100. 

News 9 has been staying in touch with Oklahomans impacted by these fires, and one resident is speaking out about how people here in the state can help those in need in Hawaii.

“It's a really hard scenario to describe," Niki Gold said.

Gold has been living in Hawaii for 15 years but was born and raised in Oklahoma. She has seen first-hand the impact these deadly fires have had on her community.

“We're still at the point where houses are smoldering and they're still not letting families come in and clean up or even look for those who are still missing,” Gold said.

She said there’s been a lot of buzz about the lack of emergency sirens that went off but explains sirens may not have had a huge impact on the outcome. 

“A lot of the locals don't really mind hurricanes, we've come to be used to it,” Gold said.

Gold said hurricane sirens in Hawaii are similar to tornado sirens in Oklahoma.

“When we hear the sirens, we know what to do , a lot of us would just go about our business,” Gold said.

Residents never could have imagined the kind of damage and destruction that came with that storm last week. Gold explained the winds from the hurricane coupled with the downed power lines quickly turned the remote island into a fast-burning flame.

“It just turned into one giant tinderbox and within a couple hours it got to the point where people couldn't evacuate,” Gold said.

The flames burned a large part of the island, including multiple hospitals and clinics. Gold is currently 27 weeks pregnant with twins, and at 36-years-old, she said she is already nervous about her pregnancy.

The closest clinic burned down in the fire, and the nearest hospitals aren’t taking on new patients. She was transferred to a nearby island that’s a 15-minute flight away, but she’s having to spend the next 8-10 weeks of her pregnancy alone.

“So, I'm being exported to Oahu for the remainder of my pregnancy just for better care. "It's only a 15-minute flight, but it's still far enough away that my daughter and my husband cannot join me for the remainder of my pregnancy,” Gold said.

There are also at least two more storms that are headed towards the island, causing residents to be on high alert.

“I know a lot of people on the island are trying to encourage the outflux of tourism right now, just so that we can reestablish ourselves and rebuild,” Gold said.

Gold said a lot of those residents are living in homes or temporary shelters that wouldn’t hold up if another storm came through. She said those residents will need the hotel rooms or any safe areas they can to prepare for the worst.

Gold explained there’s one main way to get in and out of the island, so it’s difficult on a normal day to get supplies in. Now, that’s become almost impossible.

People coming in or out have to show proof of residency, or proof they’re staying in a hotel on the island. Gold said the store shelves are almost empty, and residents are having a hard time getting the things that they need.

But, as residents work to rebuild, there are ways people can help, even from here in Oklahoma.

“Whole families can be sponsored, which is a really great way to show support over the long term,” Gold said.

Gold also sent News 9 a list of families who are in immediate need for help. To view the list, click here.

“Just constantly being updated with their current needs, like whether it be diapers or wipes or formulas or or something more generic like blankets or or even just just money for gas,” said Gold.

Even with the devastating damage to the island, Gold said she’s confident they will rebuild.

“We've got each other's backs, we will rebuild, we will take care of each other like there will always be Lahaina to us no matter what.”

For a map of Lahaina, click here.