Two days after devastating fires torched west Maui last week, UFC veteran Kendall Grove got a first-hand look at the destruction of Lahaina, the historic and popular tourist town where his in-laws’ home was among some 2,700 structures that burned down.
“It’s just weird to see. It looks like an apocalyptic city that just ruined,” Grove, a native of Maui, told MMA Junkie Radio. “You could see where there was bodies on the road that they cleared. You see cars in the middle of the road (that tried) to escape and their cars broke down – God knows what happened to them. I just pray they didn’t suffer.”
As of Monday, officials said at least 99 people were confirmed dead after 25 percent of the search area was covered. The number of deaths will increase significantly, according to Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, who said children are among hundreds still missing.
Grove, 40, who also fought for Bellator and most recently competed for KSW this past January, said all of his family and loved ones are accounted for, but he has many friends whose family members died in the wildfires among the deadliest recorded in U.S. history in 100 years.
Speaking about what he’s witnessed and experienced in the past week is hard for Grove.
“This fire was crazy. The winds were at 60 miles an hour and basically Lahaina town, hundreds of years, went up in minutes,” Grove said. “It is what it is. It’s a tragedy. It’s something that, I’m still numb. I can’t wrap my head around it. … We’re just trying to rebuild and trying to come together as Hawaiians to survive. I can’t even speak. I’m at a loss for words right now.”
Burned cars and buildings are seen from Honoapiilani Highway that runs through the heart of Lahaina. Thousands were displaced after a wildfire fueled by winds from Hurricane Dora and dry vegetation destroyed much of the town. (Sandy Hooper, USA TODAY)
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has said it is dedicated to helping the west Maui community rebuild, even as private developers have started approaching residents with offers to buy land where homes once stood. Government officials said they are working to secure temporary housing for displaced people, as well as for emergency responders working in Maui.
Given the long road ahead for Maui and its people, all Grove could do is plead for help from anyone who is willing to assist in any way.
“We need your help. We need everyone’s help. Everyone who can, please donate to big organizations – Red Cross, FEMA,” Grove said. “Donate to individual families; I have. We have an adopt-a-family system where you can go on and adopt a family that lost everything, go to their GoFundMe and directly donate to them. … This is where we’ve got to come together and just be human beings to one another and just help each other, because Maui is bleeding, guys.
“If you were ever a tourist here or a visitor here, who loved it here and thought it’s beautiful, that continues to think it’s beautiful, please help. Help a family in need. Help us rebuild please.”
UFC veteran, Maui native Kendall Grove’s plea in aftermath of fires: ‘Help us rebuild please’
