A courageous Hawaiian man became a modern-day Paul Revere, trading in a horse for a bicycle as he raced against a raging wildfire to warn his grandmother of the impending danger.
Pa'ele Kiakona, 28, embarked on a treacherous 13-mile journey through a scorched landscape on August 8th, desperately trying to save his beloved grandmother who resided in the doomed town of Lahaina.
"I was going as fast as I could, but the fire was advancing rapidly," Kiakona recounted to The Post on Friday, reflecting on the harrowing ride from his Honokohau Valley home to the beachfront town where he grew up. "I almost fell over multiple times the wind was just crazy. There were moments when I felt like giving up, like I couldn't make it. But I felt as if God had his hand on my shoulder, pushing me, helping me."
Despite the perilous conditions, Kiakona managed to reach his grandmother's house on Front Street, a narrow road that runs along the Lahaina Harbor waterfront, just moments before the flames engulfed the area. "I got there and I told her, 'You need to leave now,'" Kiakona recalled. "Luckily, my grandma had some tenants and they had a car. They packed their belongings and quickly got into the car."
Tragically, the fires ravaged the town less than thirty minutes later, reducing Kiakona's grandmother's home to ashes. However, his swift actions saved her from becoming one of the growing number of casualties, which has already surpassed 100. Although officials have been unable to determine the exact number of missing individuals, the Lahaina blaze is already considered the deadliest in the United States in over a century. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Kiakona's harrowing journey began around 4 p.m. on August 8th when he received a call informing him that flames were rapidly approaching Lahaina. "Someone from another island called me because there was no power, landlines, or cellphone service," Kiakona explained. "People couldn't communicate with anyone outside of Lahaina."
Initially, Kiakona contemplated saving the family's boat, which was moored in the heart of the harbor. However, as he neared the town, he realized that his family's safety took precedence. "I didn't fully grasp the severity of the fire until I got closer," Kiakona admitted.
With wild winds causing power lines to fall and roads to close, the remaining open routes quickly became congested with vehicles attempting to flee the inferno, which was moving at speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour. When Kiakona encountered the wall of cars, approximately three miles from the town, he knew he had to change his approach.
Determined to reach his grandmother, Kiakona borrowed a friend's bicycle and pedaled furiously along a footpath that traced the shoreline. The smoke from the fire obscured the sun and enveloped him as he rode. "There was smoke in every direction it was like something out of a movie," he recalled. "My legs were filled with lactic acid, my lungs were heavy, and my heart was pounding. But I pressed on. Pure instinct took over nothing was going to prevent me from reaching my family."
Kiakona successfully reached his grandmother's house and urgently warned her to evacuate. With the help of the tenants, she was able to leave promptly. Kiakona's cousin arrived on a dirt bike, and he hopped on to secure a ride out of the area. "By the time we met just outside Lahaina, their house was gone," Kiakona lamented. "I managed to get them out just in time."
Pa'ele Kiakona's heroic efforts in the face of danger exemplify the selflessness and determination of individuals in times of crisis. His swift actions saved his grandmother from the devastating wildfire that has left a trail of destruction in Lahaina.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this tragedy, stories of resilience and bravery like Kiakona's serve as a reminder of the indomitable spirit of the human race.
Login