August 16th, 2023

The Maui wildfires have wreaked havoc across the Hawaiian island of Maui. Fires have consumed homes, displaced families, and ravaged entire communities. As the tragedy continues to unfold, the death toll continues to rise. With the confirmed number of deaths peaking at 114, communities across the nation are coming together to provide support.

Last Wednesday, Bishop Gorman High School held a remarkable fundraising event known as Miracle Minute to offer support to the victims of the devastating Maui wildfires. The event saw an outpouring of solace from students, faculty, and the broader community, raising over $55,000 in just 60 seconds.

Charlie Au, a senior at Bishop Gorman and Kailua Kona local, shared his personal connection to the disaster. “Maui’s always been my backyard,” Au expressed. “They’re like our neighbor… our Sisterland.” Taking a moment to reflect on the impact of the fires, he emphasized, “As a small community, thinking about how they’re affected by it and how it could be my home, it puts into perspective how hard it can be for those people.”

Charles Correa, another senior at Bishop Gorman with Hawaiian ties shared his thoughts on how the event has affected him. “Born and raised in Hawaii, seeing our homeland burned and so many of our people killed casts great sadness over the entire Hawaiian island chain.” Correa was born and raised on the island of Oahu. He states that, though not directly affected by the wildfires, he knows many that have been devastated. “I do have a former teammate whose family lost everything. Their house, cars, belongings, and more. Thankfully all remain safe, but their lives have been affected permanently.”

Amongst the crisis, concerns regarding the U.S. government’s response to the Maui wildfires have been raised. Au commented on the challenges, stating, “They’re making it really hard to get supplies into Lahaina. They closed Lahaina and just the other day they opened it up, to me it seems very unorganized and a lot more can be done.”

The devastating reality of the wildfires has prompted discussions on preventive measures and what could be done to negate such a catastrophic event in the future. Au stressed the importance of preparedness, stating, “Preparation. When the wildfire happened, it was really unorganized, and it was really hard to get supplies into the Lahaina area. I think having a sense of urgency about those things is very important.”

BGHS’s Miracle Minute received praise from Au, who noted the school’s strong ties to Hawaii. “We have a lot of people from Hawaii, so I think having the Miracle Minute is a really good thing for Gorman. It’s nice to have support globally, and we’re just doing our part to help.”

Correa added, “It’s special, for what Hawaiian people call the “Ninth Island” to be making efforts to help those affected by the wildfires. Having a strong community led by God, help coming from a Catholic institution will also create a closer connection to those on Maui.

The Miracle Minute stands as a testimony of the spirit and unity that communities such as Bishop Gorman High School can have in times of crisis. As the nation watches the ongoing devastation in Maui, initiatives like Bishop Gorman’s fundraiser provide a glimmer of hope and a reminder of the power of collective action.