Help for the Maui Guest House Ohana

I’m Tanna’s friend and long time dive-buddy, Lori.  I’m writing on her behalf from California based on the very limited communication she’s been able to reestablish this past weekend. The Maui Guest House (MGH) Ohana have lost everything in the fires that ravaged Lahaina overnight on August 8th, 2023.  

Tanna is a woman of incredible faith, and she has been focused solely on the safety of staff, guests, neighbors, and friends since Tuesday night. With severely impacted communication and a complete blackout on internet connectivity on the West Side of Maui, here’s what we know. Tanna Swanson and Barbara Downs were safely evacuated from the Wahikuli neighborhood with less than 15 minutes notice last Tuesday night as the fires raged through the neighborhood. Tanna’s elderly next door neighbor Chikko Kato made it out safely with them. Tanna’s Nephew Noah Berkey and his wife Angie, also in the Wahikuli neighborhood were evacuated safely (but barely) with their cats. Tanna’s close friends & neighbors Lanny and Vashti Daise, and their daughter Seanna Daise were evacuated safely. All have lost their homes in the Wahikuli Lahaina fire. Tanna had the foresight to evacuate her guests early in the evening to the Sheraton at Ka’anapali, and then they were able to make their way out through Kahakuloa to Kahului side from there. All 10 guests made it out safely.  

Tanna is asking urgently for prayers for the safety of staff member Brooke Kripal, who Tanna hasn’t been able to establish communication with since the fire. Tanna has spent the past several days searching the West Side, and has worked to get Brook added Red Cross and missing persons lists.   

Guesthouse Ohana and recent tennants Gabi Goncalves and Mark & Sarah LaRock were evacuated safely, all have lost their employment & businesses to the fire. Dear friends Erik Stein and Victoria Martocci at Extended Horizons Scuba Maui and their staff and crew are also all safe–however, the boat, shop, and business office were all completely destroyed in the fires.