Only one house on a housing block in West Maui has inexplicably survived and remained almost intact – as nearly every property in the area is set ablaze following last week’s devastating blazes.
New photos show the two-story house with white walls and a red roof, miraculously unscathed amid the apocalyptic devastation that surrounds it.
The garden of the seaside house also seems to have retained a semblance of greenery in contrast to the ash and charred trees.
Social media users have named the house “The Red House That Survived Hawaii’s Wildfires”, giving it near-mythological status. The scene echoes that of the Maria Lanakila Catholic Church in downtown Lahaina, which still stands amid rubble.
Many houses were destroyed by the forest fires which killed at least 110 people.
A two-story house with white walls and a red roof, looks miraculously unscathed amid the apocalyptic devastation that surrounds it
The Maria Lanakila Catholic Church in downtown Lahaina still stands amid rubble
The Lanakila Catholic Church Church, which has existed since 1846, is seen in a video posted on TikTok proud with its stained glass window and tower structure in place even as the ground around it smolders.
Members of the church community took to Facebook to express their gratitude that the building was saved.
Jeffrey Chang wrote, “May she be a beacon of hope…to help the rest of the community.”
Another user, Jeffrey Domdoma wrote: ‘May she be a beacon of hope for the people of Lahaina!!!! Praise the Lord…on this rock I will build my church!!! come and follow me….’
Terrence Watanabe, pastor of nearby St. Anthony Parish, told The Pillar that “the whole town of Lahaina was consumed by fire.” It’s all gone. The church, Maria Lanakila (Our Lady of Victory), is still standing, as is the presbytery. The school was a bit affected.
Speaking of the church’s local relief efforts, Watanabe said, “Our bishop has just returned from the meeting on the mainland…the diocese – they are meeting today to decide what they can do to help.
“Catholic charities here in Hawaii are also stepping up at this point. And I think they have already contacted the national office for help and support.
“Here in St. Anthony (parish) we have set up a fund for people to donate,” he added.
Lahaina’s 150-year-old banyan tree also appears to have survived the fires.
The Lahaina banyan tree, near the city’s historic courthouse, is known as the oldest living banyan tree in the United States. The tree and the courthouse were badly damaged.
Historic tree remains standing amid carnage but appears badly burned
On Friday, the historic tree, with 47 trunks, was still standing, although badly burned by flames.
It is not yet known whether the tree, imported from India in 1873, will survive.
The death toll in the blaze currently stands at 110, with more than 1,000 residents still missing.
Maui officials have so far only identified five of the victims.
Currently, only two people have been named by authorities as victims – Robert Dyckman, 74, and Buddy Jantoc, 79. The names of the other three have not yet been released, as work is still underway to notify their families.
Several other victims have been named by friends and relatives, although they are not yet on the official register.
Carole Hartley, 60, of Alabama, was among the first known to have died in the wildfires
Franklin ‘Frankie’ Trejos, 68, died trying to rescue Sam, a golden retriever. The two were found dead in a car
Clyde Wakida is pictured with his 46-year-old wife, Penny. He died trying to save the house they built together 35 years ago
The slowness with which the victims were named highlights the difficulties encountered by responders in identifying the remains. Island officials have urged survivors whose relatives are missing to provide DNA swabs to help the process.
Work continued as more images emerged Wednesday that laid bare the ferocity of the fires that swept through Maui at speeds of up to one mile per minute.
Video recorded in Lahaina shows tourists taking refuge in a swimming pool surrounded by burning buildings. Thick clouds of smoke rise around them, carried by gusts from passing Hurricane Dora, which contributed to the disaster.
The intense heat was enough to melt the cars that were consumed by the fires, officials said.
