Memories of Lahaina drive musicians’ efforts to raise funds for fire relief

Pat Simmons was on tour with the Doobie Brothers in South Dakota when he got the news of the devastating fires on Maui. Wondering how he could help, he began composing a song to benefit Lahaina.

Featuring all the Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald and guest drummer Mick Fleetwood, the as-yet-untitled song will be released soon, with proceeds benefiting relief efforts.

"We were on the road and my son Josh called and let us know what was going on," Simmons, a Haiku resident, said of the fires. "I started thinking about what can I do? I felt so helpless. The first thing I thought of as a musician, how do you bring some attention to what's going on? I immediately started writing poetic phrases about my feelings and things, and thinking maybe I could turn this into a song."

Flying to Los Angeles to work on some tracks for a new Doobie Brothers' albums, Simmons was asked by the band's producer if he had written anything for Maui.

"I had some lyrics and we wrote this song," he said. "It's kind of a commemoration about the town and the people and the island, and the spirit of the people. With all the efforts going on, it's one more piece to make a difference, to bring some hope to what is going on."

Seeking fellow Maui musicians to contribute, after securing Mick Fleetwood's help, "I talked to Keali'i Reichel and said would you be willing to do a chant, a prayer of some sort on the song? He really liked the track, so I think he will do it. All the guys in the band played on it, and John McFee is working on some Hawaiian-style guitar."

The rough cut of the new song is a beautiful, moving tribute to Lahaina, a classic Doobie Brothers' ballad that many people will likely love.

In terms of imagery in the song, Simmons used Lahaina's banyan tree as a symbol of regeneration.

"I have these images of Lahaina from my memories," he said. "The beautiful waters and the beach and everything. I realized rather than trying to be morose you have to think in terms of our memories of that beautiful town and what we hold on to and what we aspire to, and in the future I see the town re-emerging. The banyan tree is part of that image. The fact that it survives is hopeful."

As for the title, "I don't know," he said. "Part of the chorus is carry me home, so that might be the title. That's part of what I see, Lahaina carry me home. We're hoping it will bring attention to the needs of the victims of this unprecedented disaster and hopefully generate much-needed funds to help them rebuild their homes and our beloved Lahaina."

Among other musicians composing tributes to Maui, Na Hoku Hanohano Group of the Year winner A'ea'e has released "Lahaina, Ka Wenuse O Ka Pakipika" ("Lahaina, The Venice Of The Pacific") to benefit the Maui Strong Fund.

"All five members of A'ea'e have strong Maui connections," band member Keola Donaghy posted on Facebook. "We share the pain of the Maui community that lost so many loved ones, neighbors, homes, and personal belongings to the fires of August 2023. We offer this mele in the hope that the Lahaina of old -- a verdant, water-rich land -- can be restored with the leadership of its community."

Na Hoku Hanohano award winner Kala'e Camarillo has released the moving "Sands of Old Lahaina," with the hope that Lahaina "will rise again."

"Being born and raised in Maui, Lahaina always held a special place in my heart," he posted on Facebook. "This song was written out of love with the intention of shining light and providing hope for the people of Lahaina."

Hoku-winning reggae artist O-Shen recorded "More Than a Fire," with a Hawaiian chant contributed by Haiku's Poi-Poundah (Pololu Nakanelu).

"This song was created to help raise awareness and funding for the families that were affected by the Lahaina fires on Maui," O-Shen posted on Facebook.

Proceeds will benefit the Maui Strong Fund.

And, Lily Meola composed an extraordinary, powerful song "Hope in the Ashes," which she performed live on her Instagram account. In the chorus she sings, "all I am asking is for hope in the ashes."

Currently recording a new album in Nashville, she said she is not sure if she will release "Hope."

"I was on Maui a couple of days after the fire helping out some family and friends who lost their homes," she said. "It was just so heartbreaking to see everything going on. I had this trip planned and couldn't cancel it. So after being home for a couple weeks, I had to fly to Nashville and it felt really weird to be away from home. I felt like I needed to write something for home."