Kaibigan ng Lāhaina’s secretary, Axel Beers, is a descendant of a Visayan immigrant and a sakada. Born and raised in Wailuku, his life weaves a story shaped by colonialism, exploitation, love, family, and resilience. Like the kalamungay tree, the Filipino spirit endures and thrives despite adversity. He observes this resilience in the Lahaina community. For him, we are the seeds of our community, who are “planted into complicated soils” that “nourish and shade” the generations to come.

Kaibigan ng Lāhaina’s Executive Director, Eric Arquero, offers his reflection of the devastation caused by the Lahaina fires. Overwhelmed by the unknown, he describes the mixture of emotions — mourning for his community while taking action through volunteering and searching for meaning while observing the mounting frustration and uncertainty — all while navigating how to move forward in rebuilding a town, a community, and a home that was lost. His reminder to readers: “We are living connectors to our past, to our culture and with the community that feeds us and nurtures us and lets us be contributors to the health and wellbeing of a small town in West Maui.”

The Land mourns. And the people follow. Dr. Jeffrey Miguel Acido recounts the memory of his father’s passing, in which he expresses that the memory and legacy of our ancestors begin with the support systems we have in place. As Filipinos, we “[tend] to our collective grief” by “[witnessing]...each other’s pain,” a ritual by which we acknowledge each other as vital sources of connection and life. Together, we weave the fabric that weathers with us through our accomplishments and hardships. Together, we build support systems that remember our history, support our present, and protect our future. Together, “all things are possible.”

Dr. Jeffrey Miguel Acido describes Kaibigan ng Lāhaina (KNL) as “painting visions of a liberated world.” As a blueprint for a liberated tomorrow, he notes KNL’s diverse framework that feeds and homes our families; prioritizes our overall health and well-being; fights for socioeconomic mobility; strengthens our connections with our cultures; and beckons us to be the writers of our own stories.

Marnelli Joy Ulep's strong desire to help after the Maui wildfires led her to join the Kaibigan ng Lāhaina board, where she now contributes to Lahaina’s community recovery and resilience. Through Zoom calls and shared meals, Marnelli’s commitment to preserving Filipino history and ensuring future generations thrive demonstrates the unwavering strength of Filipino communities during times of need.