‘The tremendous amount of loss is overwhelming’
Posted: August 10, 2023
A 27-year veteran teacher on Maui lost her childhood home to the raging wildfires on Maui, leaving her and her family displaced like other educators who’ve been affected by the fires. She is one of more than 50 Maui educators who have either lost their homes entirely in the fires or their homes suffered damage to the extent that they have to temporarily relocate.
Lori Ann Koyama, a student activities, media production, and yearbook teacher at Lahaina Intermediate, fled her home with her daughter Tuesday as fires engulfed Lahaina.
“I evacuated early, so I was not in danger,” Koyama said. “I thought I was going to be able to get home, so I didn’t take anything with me.”
Because Koyama and her daughter left in such a hurry, she lost everything. According to a GoFundMe page set up for Koyama’s family by her sister-in-law Emi Yamauchi, Koyama and her daughter escaped their home “with literally just the clothes on their back.”
“That was my childhood home…all my memories, everything is and was there,” Koyama said.
“All that’s left is ashes,” she added.
Sadly, HSTA has learned that Koyama is one of at least 15 teachers who lost their homes to the tragic Maui wildfires.
“My family and friends ran for their lives. Some had to drive through fire to escape,” Koyama said.
Koyama lived in her home with her daughter, father, and husband. While details remain scarce due to downed phone and electric lines, the family has been getting bits and pieces of information through other family members, and confirmed Thursday that all family members made it out safely.
Right now, Koyama and her family are staying at her cousin’s house who, along with his cousin’s mom and his wife’s family, are taking care of them.
“He has been amazing. Many other relatives and friends have reached out to help but just the tremendous amount of loss is overwhelming. So many coworkers and friends lost their homes.”
If you’d like to help Lori and her family cover the cost of food, shelter, and immediate living expenses, please consider donating to her GoFundMe page here.
More than 100 active and retired Maui educators have either lost their homes entirely in the fires or their homes suffered damage to the extent that they have to temporarily relocate. The HSTA has issued relief checks to those educators and plans a second round of payments in late December 2023.