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There have been accolades, and rightfully so, to Maui firefighters, rescue personnel, community volunteers, local nonprofits and countless donors who have gone beyond the call to help those whose lives have been devastated by the wildfires. Many, many thanks to each of you.
I want to also thank the reporting staff of The Maui News for their tireless coverage of what can only be the most difficult and emotional story any of them have ever encountered in their careers. There are just four of them now: Managing Editor Colleen Uechi, reporters Melissa Tanji and Rob Collias, and photographer/reporter Matthew Thayer. They have all done a Herculean job with such limited resources.
Because each of them has covered Lahaina and Upcountry events in the past, most likely these journalists know people who died, who are missing or who lost everything.
Maui is their home, too, and they will forever have anguished memories of seeing Lahaina burning, of walking the ashen streets lined with charred shells of vehicles, of passing once-familiar neighborhoods reduced to rubble and of speaking with grief-stricken survivors sharing so many horror stories.
And, yet, like so many other dedicated rescue workers and volunteers, they continue to do their jobs to serve their community.
Those of us reading their words or looking at the photos do not see the many tears undoubtedly shed at the end of each day.
I send my former Maui News colleagues wishes of strength along with my deep appreciation for keeping us informed.
Valerie Monson
Makawao