Note: In the difficult months following the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires that devastated Lahaina, education was disrupted significantly. But amid the struggles, students and educators persevered — and the learning and classwork resumed.
At Lahainaluna High School this past school year, teacher Jarrett Chapin tasked his English/Language Arts sophomores to research topics related to local problems and to write speeches, project proposals and op-eds about their issues. Today, we present abridged versions of three of those pieces. All reflect the diligence, learning and critical thinking being done by Lahaina’s youth even as they, and their community, strive for recovery amid ongoing challenges.
A huge crack runs from the foundation to the roof of Kahana Beach Resort, a resort that can be seen from “S-turns Beach” in West Maui. While the resort seems to be crumbling from the outside, many are remarking about the disappearance of the beach at the Kahana Sunset condos nearby. These are signs of change and erosion.
The beautiful coral reefs that once decorated the shoreline surrounding Maui’s west coast are dying from a variety of human toxins and the rising temperatures created by industrial pollution. These causes directly impact the ecosystem below the sea, causing coastal erosion. The buzz about coral reefs has been getting louder, and surfing and marine organizations are bringing attention to the harm threatening our coral reefs.
It’s time for us to act and protect these.