August 8th, 2023 — A day that changed everything for Maui. As we gather now, one year later to remember the lives tragically lost, communities shattered, and Historic Lahaina town left in ashes, we remain hopeful for the future.

Aerial photo from the 9/8/2023 paddle out remembering Lahaina one month after the fires. Photo Credit: David Parias

August 8, 2024: We hug one another, we share a sense of strength and gratitude for still being here, a year later… For Being Stronger Together. Many of you recall the immense sense of togetherness in the days and weeks following the devastating Lahaina and Kula fires. Like many others, our Trilogy ‘Ohana sprang into action to support Maui. We shut down operations of our business for a few weeks to provide relief assistance, utilizing our vessels and U-Hauls to deliver supplies. To read our story in last year’s aftermath, please see our initial fire relief efforts update.

The lahaina Strong MEmorial patch

Whether you live near or far, show your love for Lahaina by purchasing a Lahaina Strong iron-on patch. Proceeds from the Lahaina Strong Patch will go to fund our winter Keiki Whale Watches for Lahaina Schools this Whale Season!

stand with Lahaina.

One Year anniversary community events

“A number of special events marking one year after the August 8, 2023, wildfires will pay tribute to the 102 victims and the two that remain missing. The events are designed to honor the resiliency of a community that has faced crisis and heartbreaking tragedy, and offer residents opportunities to gather in healing and shared support. The series of remembrance events, presented as Kuhinia Maui, will take place August 8 – 11, 2024. Information is available at https://www.KuhiniaMaui.org. The website will be updated regularly and signing up for text notifications is encouraged.” - County of Maui

“Kuhinia Maui takes its name from a line in a traditional Maui chant that proudly speaks of the unequaled beauty and richness of Maui, highlighting that Maui and its people will rebound from tragedy,” Mayor Richard Bissen said. “Our community is strongest when we’re able to support each other, and I’m grateful for those involved who are helping to put together a remarkable number of gatherings that will give our community a chance to be among each other in care and aloha during a week of remembrance. I’m pleased that the County is able to offer support for these community-driven events.”

Please note — these events are designed for community and residents of Maui who have been affected by the fires.

What we lost Personally and where we are Going:

The Lahaina blaze claimed Trilogy VI, one of our beloved vessels, and caused significant damage to our office, equipment, inventory, and vehicles. More heartbreakingly, over thirty of our employees lost their homes in the fire, including two generational family homes owned by the Coon family. Despite these losses, our spirit of resilience and dedication to excellence has remained unshaken. We are excited to share our progress and plans for the future with our cherished community and guests.

“Overall, we’re grateful and thankful for where we’re at this point in time. It could have been so much worse. No loss of life within our staff OR their immediate families. We lost some friends to the fire. So many people and businesses lost the ultimate things. All of our losses were material things that can probably be replaced in time. Our greatest loss is Lahaina town itself, and our beloved harbor. We lost one boat in the fire – it was the boat my dad and I sailed across the ocean together when I was 13. A lot of good memories on that boat. We would have lost another one if it wasn’t for my cousin [Gabe Lucy] who ran into the flames and drove it to safety just as the fire engulfed the entire harbor.” - Captain Riley Coon

Losing Trilogy VI had significant impact to our operations and to the hearts of our team members and loyal guests. T6, was for decades, the queen of our fleet and a favorite boat to both our employees and guests. However, in the spirit of resilience, we have already begun the process of securing a replacement vessel. We are thrilled to announce that our new vessel is expected to join our fleet as early as 2025. This replacement promises to enhance our ability to deliver the exceptional marine experiences that Trilogy Excursions is known for.

Trilogy VI in front of Launiupoko, 2020. She was tragically burnt in the Lahaina fires at our slip in Lahaina Harbor.

The fires also heavily impacted our office in Lahaina. We lost crucial equipment, inventory, and vehicles, many of which were either destroyed by the fire or damaged by smoke. Our team has been working tirelessly to repair and restore our office.

Through a combination of dedicated efforts and support from our community, we are making significant strides. Equipment is being replaced, inventory is being replenished, and vehicles are being purchased to ensure that our operations can continue smoothly and efficiently.

One of the cornerstones of our excursions is the delicious food that we serve on our boats. We are delighted to share that our catering location, which also sustained damage, is operational. We are committed to providing the same high-quality, delectable meals that our guests have come to expect and love. The positive feedback from our recent excursions is a testament to our culinary team’s dedication and hard work. Take it from a recent guest who sailed with us on our Discover West Maui Snorkel:

Progress in Lahaina rebuild efforts

Rebuilding efforts in Lahaina are making significant progress nearly a year after the devastating wildfires of August 2023.

The initial phases of reconstruction have begun, with the first homes being built in the impact zone. Gene Milne's property on Malanai Street is notably the first under construction, symbolizing hope and progress for the community to move forward (Hawaii Tribune-Herald) (Maui Recovers).

With that being said, there is still much to be done.

Housing remains a crisis, wildfires are widespread across the island during the summer drought months, and we have a long road ahead to rebuild our Lahaina Town. With all things considered, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it gets brighter when we do it together.

The cleanup phase is well underway, with “92% of residential debris and 31% of commercial debris removed ahead of schedule. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects residential debris removal to conclude by January and commercial debris removal by February” (Hawaii Tribune-Herald).

Infrastructure restoration is also advancing. The “county has restored drinking water standards in many burn sectors and aims to have water fully restored across Lahaina by August”(Hawaii Tribune-Herald). Ongoing infrastructure projects aim to make the town functional for repopulation by the end of the year (Hawaii Tribune-Herald) (Maui Recovers).

For more detailed updates and resources, visit the Maui Recovers website (Maui Recovers).

Lahaina Harbor update

Most recently, we were invited to attend the blessing at the Lahaina Harbor as they officially opened up the new fuel dock. This has probably been the biggest positive progress we’ve seen as a company and more so for the entire boating community.

Lahaina Harbor is the heartbeat of Lahaina.

Lahaina Harbor has over 1,000 jobs connected to it and is a cornerstone of Maui’s economic stability.

It is our hope that it will be prioritized this year in rebuilding to its former humble glory. For now though, having the ability to fuel our Kā’anapali boats in Lahaina and not having to traverse them to Mā’alaea and back, is a huge relief.

mahalo to you.

Our journey to recovery would not have been possible without the continued support from our guests around the world. We were overwhelmed with the support from Trilogy ‘Ohana from near and far who donated to our fire relief fundraising efforts for months following the fires. The donations made by so many of you were instrumental in helping our employees get back on their feet and remain on the island. Your generosity and kindness have touched our hearts deeply, and we are eternally grateful for your assistance during these challenging times.

Mahalo to the 3,635 donors on GoFundMe who collectively donated $659,896 to our Trilogy Fire Relief Fund that went directly to our crew and staff who lost everything in the wake of the fires.

Thus far, we have also raised and distributed roughly $260K raised from the Global Empowerment Mission Fund to local businesses including (but not limited to) surf schools, photographers, builders and a handful of local families.

We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has chosen to visit Maui for their vacation despite the effects of the fire. Your presence and support are vital to our community and economy, and we are honored to be a part of your Hawaiian adventure. As we continue our journey to recovery, our focus remains on delivering the exceptional experiences that Trilogy Excursions is renowned for. Our team’s resilience combined with the incredible support from our community have been instrumental in our progress. We are more committed than ever to providing safe, enjoyable, and memorable excursions for our guests.

We invite you to join us as we move forward, Stronger Together. Whether you’re a returning guest or a first-time visitor, you can trust that Trilogy Excursions will offer the same incredible adventures, beautiful scenery, and outstanding service that have defined our legacy for over 50 years. Thank you for your continued support and for being a part of the Trilogy ‘Ohana. We look forward to welcoming you aboard soon and sharing our beautiful ocean adventures with you.

Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare to welcome our new vessel in 2025 and continue to rebuild and strengthen our operations. MAHALO!

Stronger Together: One Year After the Lahaina Fires