A year has passed since Lahaina, the historic heart of Maui, faced the deadliest fire in over a century. Native Hawaiians have regarded Maui as their sacred place for centuries, and Lahaina is at the heart of this spiritual connection. It was here that the first capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom was established. Carmen Lindsey, chairwoman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, stated that "Lahaina holds some of the most historically significant cultural properties and highest-ranking sacred remains of our ancestors."
Nearly a year ago, the once vibrant town of Lahaina was engulfed by flames, marking the largest natural disaster in Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki. In less than 24 hours, the community of 9,100 residents saw their beloved town reduced to
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