Loved ones frustrated as over 800 people remain missing

By Audrey McAvoy, Claire Rush, and Jennifer Sinco Kelleher | Associated Press

LAHAINA, Hawaii — Following the devastating wildfire that engulfed the Maui community of Lahaina, authorities are facing the daunting task of accounting for 500 to 1,000 individuals who remain missing. This unprecedented challenge complicates the process of determining the number of casualties and the status of those who may have survived but have not yet made contact.

A similar situation occurred in 2018 after a wildfire that claimed the lives of 85 individuals and destroyed the town of Paradise, California. To help locate missing individuals who had actually survived, authorities in Butte County, the home of Paradise, published a list of the missing in the local newspaper. This decision proved effective in identifying numerous survivors, resulting in a significant reduction of the list from 1,300 names to just a dozen within a month.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea described how the editor of their local newspaper played a crucial role by offering to print the names of the missing. Recognizing the importance of this assistance, Honea immediately agreed, allowing the community to play an active part in the search for missing individuals.

In Hawaii, officials have expressed concerns regarding the release of a list of missing individuals, as it may inadvertently reveal the identities of those who have tragically lost their lives. Acting with compassion and respect for grieving families, Hawaii law enforcement agencies and first responders have adopted a standard practice of withholding names until families have been notified.

As of Monday, Maui police confirmed 115 deaths. Efforts to survey all single-story residential properties in the affected area have been completed, and search teams are now transitioning to multi-story residential and commercial properties, as reported by Maui County officials.

There is a discrepancy in the reported numbers of missing individuals. Hawaii Governor Josh Green stated that over 1,000 remain unaccounted for, whereas Maui Mayor Richard Bissen mentioned a figure of 850 during a pre-recorded video on Instagram. During President Joe Biden’s visit to the devastated region, White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall estimated the number to be between 500 and 800.

While central Maui Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran acknowledged the absence of any specific rules preventing officials from publicly releasing the list of missing individuals in this situation, he understands the sensitivity surrounding this issue. As someone with missing family members, he respects the approach taken by the mayor and local officials.

Additionally, questions have arisen about the prompt release of the names of the deceased even after their families have been notified. Maui residents are becoming increasingly frustrated as the search for their missing loved ones prolongs.

According to a report by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the Maui Police Department has instructed the medical examiner in Honolulu not to disclose the names of individuals who die from injuries sustained in the Lahaina fire. This directive arose after the media published the name of a severely burned patient once their next of kin had been notified.

Clifford Abihai, who arrived in Maui from California in search of answers regarding his grandmother, Louise Abihai, has expressed his frustration at the lack of information provided by authorities. He described the difficulty of not knowing her fate and whether she survived the fire.

Abihai’s grandmother resided at the Hale Mahaolu Eono senior living facility, where another family member, Virginia Dofa, tragically perished. Abihai emphasized the close bond between Dofa and his grandmother, who were best friends. As his grandmother was known to conserve her cellphone’s battery, reaching her regularly was challenging.

Determining the status of missing individuals can be a complex process. In the case of the Lahaina fire, it is possible that some bodies were entirely cremated, leaving no physical remains for identification through DNA tests, as explained by fire safety research consultant Vyto Babrauskas. He highlights the difficulty of identification when complete destruction occurs, as there may be no discernible evidence remaining.

Sheriff Kory Honea draws from his experience in Butte County, stating that it took weeks to complete the search for remains in Paradise. His team of detectives worked intensively, often putting in 16-hour days to narrow down the list of missing individuals. Currently, there is only one person who remains unaccounted for, and Sheriff Honea believes this individual was not present in town during the fire.

While the situation in Maui continues to unfold, those who have experienced similar tragedies, such as the loved ones of the 9/11 terror attack victims, empathize with the anguish of the affected individuals and their families. Over 22 years later, nearly 1,100 victims of the 9/11 attacks remain unidentified.

James Giaccone, whose brother Joseph was lost in the World Trade Center, reflected on their family’s journey. Initially desperate for any physical trace of his brother, he eventually shifted his focus to cherished memories of Joseph. Giaccone believes that identifying his brother’s remains now would reopen painful wounds rather than provide closure.

Rush reported from Portland, Oregon, and Kelleher reported from Honolulu. Contribution to this article was made by Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz in New York, Janie Har in San Francisco, and Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska.

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