In wake of wildfire, Lahainaluna football's return, push for it inspires | Opinion
Oct. 10—There are instances during which high school football, given its prominence in our culture, and healing intersect.
In the wake of tragedy, it's only a diversion. That diversion may last a few hours, if that.
But it helps, more than anyone not directly affected could know.
Every so often, communities across our country remind us of how football aids the healing process. Tragedy can take on several forms, and one is natural disaster.
A hurricane or a tornado may leave, but its effect never does. Or, in this case, a wildfire.
We have all seen the images from the wildfires in Hawaii, including the one that broke out Aug. 8 in the historic town of Lahaina on Maui.
It took nearly a month, Sept. 3, for officials to deem the Lahaina wildfire 100% contained.
The aftermath delved into facets no one should endure. The search for the unaccounted. Removal of hazardous materials. Food distribution. Health advisories. Residents being denied access to the disaster zone to assess damage and recovery. And, above all, death and destruction.
According to an August report from CBS News, approximately 80% of Lahaina was destroyed, including about 2,200 structures, 86% of which were residential.
The official death toll was 115 as of early September. An FBI estimate placed the number of people unaccounted for at 385 as of Sept. 2. That figure dropped to 66 on Sept. 8, per Hawaii governor Josh Green.
There is nothing that can heal that wound for Lahaina.
Maybe, though, some things can at least aid the path forward.
One of them is the town's beloved high school football team.
Lahaina is home to Lahainaluna, a state gridiron powerhouse.
The Lunas captured four straight state championships in Hawaii's Division II from 2016-19, were D-II runner-up three other times and were 2021 state runner-up in D-I.
Lahainaluna's high school campus is located on the eastern reaches of the community, near the West Maui Natural Area Reserve. Its buildings were damaged but structurally spared, although there is no set timetable for reopening.
Lahainaluna students are going to Kulanihako'i in nearby Kihei as a "school within a school" for the time being, according to The Maui News.
"We saw smoke and stuff coming down from the hill. It was pretty scary," Lahainaluna senior Morgan Montgomery told KHON, the FOX affiliate in Honolulu, of the wildfire. "And then eventually, from our apartment complex, we started to see houses catch fire in the neighborhood next to us."
While the school's uncertainty has had lingering effects, up to and including students transferring, Lahainaluna did have something secured. The Lunas will have a football season.
Following consultation between Lahainaluna officials, the Maui Interscholastic League and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, a five-game schedule was announced in late August.
Lahainaluna opened that season Sept. 30 with a 42-0 rout of Baldwin, in which Lyrik Kahula threw three touchdown passes.
The first full Lahainaluna varsity football alma mater since Aug. 8 fires.
Chicken skin moment.@OC16Sports pic.twitter.com/uI11aE3i77
— Brian McInnis (@Brian_McInnis) October 1, 2023
"It's exciting, but we still are well aware of what we're trying to represent and how we go about doing this as a community," Lahainaluna coach Dean Rickard told KHON in August.
Following the wildfire, the MIL released a statement, reading in part: "School athletics will be an important part of the healing process for all Maui communities."
The HHSAA also offered its support.
"We're going to adjust whatever we need to adjust," HHSAA executive director Chris Chun told Hawaii News Now. "We're going to do whatever we can to make sure that they're part of our fall tournament sports."
The five-game schedule, along with having the mandated 10 days to prepare for its opener, was deemed enough for Lahainaluna to proceed. The schedule includes two home games, but that of course is tentative due to the ongoing relief effort.
At least, though, there will be football, one way or another.
"This first game, it's just going to be something to kind of lifts everybody's spirits from Lahaina," Montgomery told KHON. "I know the community and the people of Lahaina are looking forward to this game."
He was right. Not a sound could be heard from the crowd of more than 5,000 postgame after the win over Baldwin, as the Lunas sang their alma mater in a tug-at-your-heartstrings scene.
We've seen it so often from afar.
Aransas Pass, on the southeast coast of Texas, returning to the gridiron after a hurricane devastated the campus and community.
Paradise getting back to football after the 2018 Camp Fire, the most devastating in California's history.
Newtown capturing a Connecticut state football title seven years to the day after the unspeakable tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Uvalde starting its football season in Texas 3-1 following a 2-8 season the year before and after the unspeakable tragedy that occurred in that community last May at Robb Elementary School.
It's not going to eliminate the pain. It's not supposed to, and it can't have that effect.
But what high school sports can do, especially with its galvanizing pride of joy of a football team, is bring temporary relief to a community in dire need of it.
"I have been contacted by some players and parents saying that the kids are ready to get back on the field and power through this tragedy as a way of healing and keeping their thoughts on something other than the devastation to our community," Rickard told KHON after the wildfire in August. "I've also reached out to our coaches and they, too, are ready to get back on the field as long as there's support and buy-in from the players and parents."
The community and the state found a way forward.
And now, Lahainaluna will get that diversion, with plenty of new Lunas fans the world over in the process.
