(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) delivered remarks on the House floor and, along with Rep. Ed Case, led a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the devastating Maui fires. Tokuda’s House colleagues wore red in solidarity with our Maui ʻohana.
A video of Rep. Tokuda’s remarks can be downloaded for media use here and viewed here.
Rep. Tokuda’s remarks as written:
Mr. Speaker,
I invite all my colleagues who have ties to Maui, who have been to Maui, or who stand by our community to join me here in the Well of the Chamber.
Louise Abigail was 97 and an active grandmother that lived in the Hale Mahaolu ‘Eono Independent Living Complex. Tony Takafua was just seven years old and was with his mother and grandparents.
They are the youngest and oldest victims of the wildfires, the difference in their ages spanning almost a century yet connected by one cruel fate.
On August 8th, Maui and Hawai‘i Island were ablaze with 11 separate fires.
Spurred by 80 mph winds, fire ripped through our town of Lahaina in just 17 minutes, tragically claiming the lives of 115 people, with dozens more still unaccounted for and thousands displaced and grieving.
It would be easy enough to speak of our pain and grief. The hands I’ve held, the stories I’ve heard. I have come to know all too well what death and destruction smells and feels like and how the sadness clings to you.
Instead, I’d like to focus on something just as important: hope.
When I first went back to Lahaina, the absence of color, of structure, of anything familiar is what hit me.
But as I’ve returned there, including with the Speaker and other members of the House, whom I want to thank for the support made clear by their presence, I’ve noticed something amidst the rubble.
Life.
Sprinkled through the burn zone, I’ve seen one plant in particular that has survived.
Banana trees.
They are one of the original canoe plants brought to Hawai‘i from Polynesia because of their ability to feed and heal people.
How fitting to see these trees come to life as we prepare for the arduous journey ahead of us.
Our people are strong and resilient. They have a gracious grit that has both inspired me and moved me to tears in the face of this unthinkable tragedy.
But they also feel justifiable anger and frustration that they are even in this situation. And, we feel an overwhelming sense of urgency to provide the help, the support, and yes, even the answers people need.
This is a national disaster that will require a national whole-of-government response.
Our strong support for our Maui ‘ohana will send a clear message to every American that no matter where you live in this great country, you will not be left behind.
Mr. Speaker, we will need the help of all our colleagues as we set sail for what must be a better future for our people, determined by our people.
The asks we make will not be insignificant, and the support we need will span generations.
But today, I simply ask for your humanity.
Hawai‘i has so often shared its aloha, its people, whatever we can give, with the world.
Now, our people need your kōkua (help), your help.
We have been tested, but we are not broken.
We will rise again. And we will be stronger than before. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if there's one thing you can always count on, it’s that aloha always wins.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Congressman Case and myself, I humbly ask for a moment of silence so that we may lift up and honor our Maui ‘ohana as they grieve, as they recover, and as they rebuild.
[moment of silence]
Thank you, and I yield back.
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