Western Reader
The tranquil town of Lahaina on the island of Maui was recently ravaged by a catastrophic fire, leaving an indelible mark on its community. The most heart-wrenching consequence of this disaster is the staggering number of school children who remain unaccounted for.
On that fateful day, Lahaina’s school children were kept home due to high winds from an offshore hurricane. Many of these children were left alone as their parents had to continue their work obligations.
The Associated Press shared a harrowing account of a father who managed to rescue his own children from the flames but was left distraught over his inability to save his neighbors’ children.
After ten days of devastating fire in Maui the mayor, Richard Bissen couldn’t give an answer how many kids are missing.
Honestly what is going on in Maui?
Why is there no answers or accountability? pic.twitter.com/R0xjxVukMc— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) August 20, 2023
In the wake of this tragedy, the local education system has been thrown into chaos.
The Hawaii State Department of Education released a report revealing that 2,025 students from the Lahaina public school system are still missing. Prior to the fire, the four schools in the district, including two elementary schools, one intermediary, and one high school, had a total of 3,001 students enrolled.
The report further detailed that out of the original 3,001 students, 538 have re-enrolled in other public schools, while 438 have opted for the State Distance Learning Program. However, the fate of the remaining 2,025 students remains uncertain.
They may have moved out of state or enrolled in private schools, but the lack of concrete information leaves a chilling void.
Private schools in Maui are also grappling with the aftermath. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that Maui Preparatory Academy received a surge of about 1,000 applications for new openings created to accommodate displaced students.
In contrast, Sacred Hearts School, which had approximately 200 students, was left in ruins by the fire.
MAUI FIRES UPDATE 🚨 [Unverified]
Maui’s county has released the number of MISSING KIDS in Maui
It said that CHILDREN from 104 families are MISSING according to reports in Maui 💔☹️
Credits- Lahainafireupdates#Hawaii #hawaiifires #LahainaFires #MauiFires #lahaina #Maui… pic.twitter.com/B7KppFoWaN
— T R U T H P O L E (@Truthpole) August 23, 2023
Despite the urgency of the situation, government officials have been less than forthcoming with information.
Two weeks after the disaster, they have only reported 115 official deaths and estimated between 850 to 1,100 people of all ages are missing. The absence of a list of those presumed missing adds to the growing frustration and anxiety among the residents.
This tragic event underscores the need for transparency and swift action from our government officials. The families of Lahaina deserve answers and the missing children deserve to be found.
As we continue to grapple with the aftermath of this disaster, let us not forget the lost generation of Lahaina – the 2,025 students whose futures hang in the balance.
This article appeared in TheDailyBeat and has been published here with permission.
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