The Maui News was proud and grateful to be in attendance at Friday’s closing event at the Lahaina Civic Center honoring those lost in the wildfire of 2023.

It was not a media event, which in many ways was a relief.

There aren’t that many occasions for a journalist to take down the boundaries of objectivity and to simply be free and able to feel, witness and absorb all that is happening around them.

The evening was one of hope and resilience, of memory and tenderness.

It was inspiring, moving and powerful.

It featured food, lots of it, music, dance and prayers. The gathering offered something else, something ineffable, perhaps faith and the evidence of things unseen.

The sense of loss and trauma is indelible for those who survived the tragedy. But so too was the palpable feeling that this was a community of indomitable will, one that refused to be broken.

Following a prayer, there was a moment when all present were encouraged to take the hand of the person next to them, to feel the human connection and to reflect, remember and be present.

It was an intimate moment that adumbrated the efforts of the county, West Maui recovery groups, volunteers and the spirit of those departed and imparted this message:

As a community, all things are possible; pain can be surmounted if only temporarily, and that life goes on because of human connection and because it must.

As journalists we often feel like we have a grip on a story but in this case it is the other way around. This story in all its aspects and humanity will likely grip us forever.

Being present Friday was a powerful and poignant reminder of how interconnected Te Maui News and we all are, and how much we honor being part of the community.

Mahalo for the aloha, smiles, fellowship, tears and moments of grace.

Long live Lahaina, long live Maui.

Andy Gross is a multimedia journalist for The Maui News. Email him at agross@mauinews.com.