When former UFC champion Max Holloway thinks about the Maui wild fires that leveled Lahaina town, he’s overcome with heartbreak and anger.
The heartbreak is understandable given the loss of human life so far. As of Saturday, 114 people were confirmed dead, a number that’s expected to rise significantly given reports of more than 1,000 people still missing.
Maui’s top emergency management official, Herman Andaya, resigned last week after he defended his decision not to sound warning sirens as the wildfires tore through the island. The response from the Hawaii government is one thing fueling Holloway’s anger.
“The state, the government, at so many levels, they just – I’m just straight up gonna say they failed the people of Lahaina,” Holloway told TMZ. “It’s kind of heartbreaking. When it felt like they were lollygagging, too, after everything happened, the Hawaiian people, the locals there are the ones that stood up and took on this responsibility.”
Also frustrating Holloway is the fact that developers already have made attempts to buy the land owned by survivors where their homes once stood.
“There’s a bunch of big companies trying to come in and buy up land, which is a shame. It’s a shame,” Holloway said. “This is our ancestors. This is ancestry homes. Ancestry homes they’re trying to take. This is a historical place, and they’re trying to do that. And at this time, too, it’s even more crazy.”
Holloway, a native of Waiʻanae on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, vows to continue doing his part to help and spread awareness as Lahaina rebuilds. He’s asking anyone to donate money to the Hawaii Food Bank, Maui Food Bank, Hawaii Community Foundation, or any other organization dedicated to the cause of assisting survivors and those affected by the fires.
“The amazing thing is how Hawaii can come together and pull through,” Holloway said. “The people of Hawaii are coming strong together. You’re seeing it. You see it through all the social media, everything. The Hawaiian people band together, making it for these Lahaiana guys and letting these guys know that we are here. We’re here to stay. Keep staying strong.
“I know it doesn’t look like there ain’t no end to this, but we are here for the long run for you guys.”
Holloway returns to competition Saturday in Singapore where he headlines UFC Fight Night 225 in a featherweight bout vs. Chan Sung Jung. The proud Hawaiian admits he’ll step into the octagon with a heavy heart but hopes to provide his people in Maui with some joy.
“If I can take their mind off of it for a second, a minute, five minutes, whatever it is, I always go in there thinking Hawaii is on my back,” Holloway said. “I’m going in there a little bit heavier now because of what’s going on in Lahaina.”