Modesto couple stranded in Hawaii during Maui wildfires struggle to return home

Heavy black smoke overtook the horizon. Patches of bright orange and red flames danced across the landscape. Winds howled, hurling dirt into the skin of people trapped by the wildfires.

Those are the images Modesto resident Erika Worley shared of her vacation turned sour in Maui, Hawaii.

Erika and her husband, Joe Worley, traveled to Maui to celebrate her 40th birthday. Unfortunately, they arrived Tuesday afternoon — the same day the wildfires began.

Strong winds from Hurricane Dora passing hundreds of miles to the south filled the air with debris as they drove their rental car to the historic town of Lahaina, where they had a hotel reservation. Toppled trees and downed power lines forced detours.

This was just the beginning of their travel troubles.

They neared the hotel, only to find the street closed due to a downed power line. The wind picked up, the fire spread and the couple found themselves stuck in traffic just off Front Street — Lahaina’s scenic seafront main street — for several hours.

The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Matthew Thayer/The Maui News via AP)

Though going nowhere, Erika said they mostly remained in their car because the fast-flying dirt was incredibly painful as it hit their eyes and skin.

The strongest wind the couple had ever felt eventually shifted, and then they could feel the heat. A police officer started yelling to motorists, “Get in your cars and go!” So they did. The two drove until they found a McDonald’s for a restroom and food, then looked for an area to park for the night.

Maui Plantation seemed like a good place to stay, as there were a number of other cars parked and waiting. It wasn’t long, though, before a woman who worked there told everyone they had to leave because a fire started right behind them. She directed the displaced tourists to a nearby park-and-ride area, which quickly filled.

Erika said they got some sleep, but she could feel and hear the fierce winds all night.

On the upside, the strong winds have pushed much of the smoke off the island, the Worleys said. There was a bit of rain on the east side of Maui on Thursday morning, but wind is still predicted and officials are warning people they are not out of the woods just yet.

Thousands — tourists and locals alike — are trying to find lodging and flights out at the same time, and countless people, she and her husband included, have been unable to book either, Erika said.

CBS News reported Thursday that at least 53 people are confirmed dead from the wildfires and that Lahaina has been nearly destroyed. “Maui officials said 1,400 people stayed at the airport overnight Wednesday while waiting for flights off the island,” CBS reported.

People gather at the Kahului Airport while waiting for flights Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Kahului, Hawaii. Several thousand Hawaii residents raced to escape homes on Maui as the Lahaina fire swept across the island, killing multiple people and burning parts of a centuries-old town. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

“The people here have been so kind in the face of devastating loss,” Erika said, noting that she and Joe met locals who lost a family member and houses. “Even the other tourists for the most part have been pretty decent to everyone. I hope they can minimize anymore damage and recover their communities.”

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green described the scene in an interview with CNN Thursday. “There is no doubt that everyone would describe this [Front Street in Lahaina] as though a bomb hit Lahaina. It looks like total devastation. … It looks to me about 80% of Lahaina is gone.”

The governor’s office has urged donations to the Hawaii Community Foundation. There also are several aid charities and organizations set up to help with funding and resources, such as The Maui Mutual Aid Fund and Aloha United Way’s Maui Relief Fund.

Wildfire wreckage is seen Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. The search of the wildfire wreckage on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of burned out homes and obliterated communities as firefighters battled the deadliest blaze in the U.S. in recent years. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)