KAHULUI — Days after spending three hours treading water on Front Street as wildfires raged through the town of Lahaina, Bill Jackson continued to have nightmares.
“I couldn’t sleep for a few days because I had nightmares.” He said.
He then met health workers at Pu’uhonua o Nene who stood by him, encouraged him and helped him begin to overcome his trauma.
“The past few days alone have brought me to a point where I don’t think I’ve ever felt so good. The nightmares are gone.” Jackson said Friday. “The more they instilled the words of life in me, the more I can now sleep through the night. … There are still a lot of unanswered questions that I’m working on. But I really appreciate everyone here. I appreciate it.”
Mr Jackson is one of an estimated 60 people living in Pu’uhonua o Nene. Pu’uhonua o Nene is a temporary shelter in a military tent with air-conditioned sleeping quarters, dining space, medical facilities and hot showers on a gravel patch of former vacant bushland. Corner of Hanna Highway and Mayer Elmer Cravalho Way. The shelter opened Sept. 29 for survivors of the Maui wildfires who were homeless and had not lost their physical structure before the fire and were therefore not subject to shelter eligibility requirements. It was done. This effort is a partnership between the state and the nonprofit Project Vision His Hawaii, a mobile health and social services provider.
Bob Wardlow, Project Vision’s director of social services, said the facility has a capacity of 150 people and plans to expand next week to include wildfire survivors and the general public who have lost their homes. There are currently about 15 tan tents with outdoor lighting set up, with several more expected to be added next week. Larger tents can accommodate 10 to 20 people, and smaller tents can accommodate 6 to 12 people, depending on whether you use bunk beds or not.
Portable bathrooms are provided, but more permanent bathroom facilities are being constructed.
Wardlaw said local chefs are providing three meals a day, and that Wardlow hopes to eventually cook on-site.
Other services include laundry, Wi-Fi, transportation to appointments and state-funded disaster case managers who work with disaster victims to help them develop recovery plans, according to the Department of Human Services.
Pets are also welcome.
The shelter accepts donations, which include needed items such as clothing, towels, bedding, toiletries, and furniture.
Wardlow said he also has long-term hopes for the location. At the edge is a plot of earth for the construction of a garden for growing food in the future. “We hope to develop this into affordable housing.” That the people who live there can have a say.
“We know that people who are unhoused often don’t have a say in what is provided for them. So we hope this will be different.” Wardlaw said.
Currently, the shelter is only for adults and is not actually intended for children, although that may change in the future, Wardlaw said. The Department of Human Services is working to secure additional resources for families with minor children, and the American Red Cross said it will allow children to stay in hotels until alternative housing can be found.
When Wardlow first launched the site, he said: “A kind of reunion opportunity.” For the survivors of the fire. “I don’t think many of them have seen each other since the fire.” He said.
Damon Johnson lived in Ka Hele a Ke Ola in Lahaina before a fire destroyed the facility. Fortunately, he wasn’t there on the afternoon of the fire. He was having dinner in Kihei and he had most of his belongings with him because he has had things stolen in the past. Therefore, he was able to save personal documents such as his identity card.
Mr Johnson visited Pu’uhonua o Nene when it opened last week and said the facility was clean and had good food, amenities and security.
“The only thing that’s not brand new is this part of humanity.” He said. “This is a place where people can take refuge. People who lost things in Lahaina, families. This is a place where they can feel safe and start getting their mind and spirit back on track. Wherever you go, we will help you. There is someone here who will help you.”
He thinks he will be spending time in a shelter for the foreseeable future.
“I’m sure that as time goes on and people become more independent, things may change a little bit.” He said. “But this is a place where I actually see a future, and this is land that has been given for a good purpose.”
Jackson was also relieved to have a place to return to. Before the fire, he had lost his home in Kahului and was going to Lahaina several times a week to get clothing and other services from the Salvation Army. On the afternoon of August 8th, as they were enjoying themselves on the narrow sandy beach near Cheeseburger in Paradise, the fire began to spread through the town.
“I knew I was in trouble at the time, so I just had to get in the water. It was my only option. It came so fast. I didn’t have time to do anything. There was no Jackson said.
At first, I stepped into the sea up to my chest. But then, as the fire got closer and the water temperature rose, he began swimming further offshore, eventually starting a treadmill about 100 yards away. Jackson is still haunted by some of the footage, including cries for help, a dead body and a person who said he saw her running down Front Street on fire. He says he contracted a bacterial infection because he was in contaminated water for so long.
“I’m starting to be able to talk about what I did without getting emotional.” Jackson said.
Mr Jackson explained: “My true feeling is that in order to help others who have gone through it, I had to go through it too.” Thanks to the shelter and services at Pu’uhonua o Nene, Jackson said she and others finally have the opportunity to focus on their immediate needs and take the next step.
“People don’t notice when you’re homeless. All you want to do is focus on the next hour and the next, and years go by without accomplishing anything.” He said. “I come from the saying that if you take care of their needs, you can bring out their potential. So now they are taking care of the needs of everyone here. They are not aware of it yet. No, but now they’re thinking, “Where can I get drugs?” “Hey, I’m going to start interviewing for jobs.” … They know how grateful they are, but they’re also like, “Wow, my needs are being met, I’m going to do something with this.” I am not aware of the concept of “I can do it.” ”
The shelter is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with quiet hours from 10pm to 8am.
For more information, call (808) 754-1241, email mauistrong@projectvisionhawaii.org or visit projectvisionhawaii.org.
* Editor-in-Chief Colleen Uechi can be reached at cuechi@mauinews.com.