The Lahaina Fires Lasted Hours, but the Trauma Will Take Generations to Heal

Aflare-up from a reportedly contained brush fire outside Lahaina on the island of Maui, Hawaii, grew into the deadliest US fire in more than a century. The furious fire, resurrected by 80 mile per hour winds from Hurricane Dora, decimated the physical structures of the town in just under three hours1 but will take residents decades, perhaps even generations, to recover from. The Lahaina fire, exacerbated by Hawaii's legacy of colonialism, adds to the complex emotions that the Native Hawaiian residents are grappling with. Although the fire unfolded quickly, the cleanup, recovery, and healing require public and mental health professionals to rethink how we respond to complex trauma and collective grief in the context of historical, recurring loss.