Many of you know that I live on the island of Maui. I live on the south side, where we did have to evacuate, but were quickly out of danger. We could see the bright red glow blazing over the west Maui Mountains as Lahaina was being destroyed.
Never would I have imagined the site of the photos when I awoke the next morning. As I turned on my phone, I was bombarded by messages from friends around the world concerned about my safety. The images were shocking, unbelievable, and traumatic.
To write this enlivens the emotions felt that morning and the days to follow.
What now?
The local community ignited into nothing short of an immediate call to action. No one had to ask. Many were awakened in the night to report to the shelters. Angels arose from everywhere as immediate relief was given in all directions. It was like a community of ants on an ant hill – everyone working where they saw fit, where they were able and in harmony and support of one another. It was magical, and moving to say the least. The heart of a community is in how they care for each other. Maui showed up.
The remaining couple of months have been dedicated to helping the people, first with safety, food, clothing, water and communication. Money came from everywhere. Trauma relief became available from local members and experts from around the world. Meetings began to take shape for clean up and restoration. Those that were not actively responding were in trauma. Community members started hugging in store and in local businesses. We all held the same grieving awareness, and we knew it.
After the shock and response to the world who mourned with us, came a new beginning.
A LITTLE OF MY WORK ON MAUI
Since I moved here in 2006 I became involved in the community. My personal and professional efforts have been in the agriculture and local food scene. I started out by creating the Chef Teton brand of cooking shows. From my experience with the National School Lunch Program, participation with the rising health food industry, and my understanding of regenerative agricultural practices and policies I witnessed a need. I could see that raw, plant based and fermented culinary methods were on the rise. People were diet confused while hungry for knowledge.
I had become an expert in a very unusual field and did not know what to do with my experience, except to jump into the kitchen, where it all ends up. And since we are what we eat, we better get serious about eating as well as we can.
I also understood the need for a local food economy, particularly in Hawaii since we import 95% of our food. By participating on several boards of non-profit organizations within the food and agriculture sectors, I became acquainted with community leaders. I worked with the culinary school at the college, spoke at trade shows and local stores, cooked for retreats. I began teaching all over the islands. I became acquainted with the small farmers growing healthy food, and creating healthy growing methods. Unions were formed, local farmers markets cropped up, and many worked tirelessly for a healthy, safe and sustainable food source. With a team of dedicated individuals we founded an organization called “Food Security Hawaii”. It has been slow but steady.
Our governments, both on Maui and in the state of Hawaii, are extremely slow at making changes. Many of the policies impede growth and force artisans and growers to states where support and red tape is not so thick. Things got worse instead of better.
I was continually saddened by how our reefs are being ruined, our soil dried out and dead, and pesticides sprayed everywhere. Because we have removed so much biomass we have lost our small water cycle and continually experience droughts. When it does rain, it floods, because the dried out soil cannot hold water. I have laid awake nights, sickened by the demise of this island and the lack of leadership we need to shift things. The needed changes and advancements have been continually impeded. Monsanto (now Bayer) and big ag continue to rule. It is a mess. I considered giving up.
HOPE RESTORED
I have had the honor recently to sit In on some of the Lahaina Restoration meetings, and I walked away with new hope in my heart. I was blown away by the advancements and expertise within our own community members. Not only do they know their individual fields but their ability to use advanced technologies to aide them in planning and teamwork is way beyond my technical knowledge.
I share all of this because, even though I knew many in the field, I did not know that we had so much advanced expertise. Many of our devoted farmers have matured and grown into advanced experts in their fields. All of us (mostly them) who have been working these past 20 years have honed their skills, and have become experts in fields of soil biology, restoration, natural biologicals and amendments, along with advanced technologies in every direction.
I felt trust and pride in my capable community. I felt new hope birthed in me. Our government leaders were finally interested, willing to learn terms they never heard of and technologies foreign to them. They listened eagerly and sought advice. It was thrilling! OMG, someone is listening!
I walked away from the meetings feeling safe, trusting we are in good hands. We have an opportunity now for our government leaders to become informed. Or at least I hope they do. Many, particularly our Governor and the media, blame this fire on two words: Climate Change. This is not the reason. This fire was the result of a drought and high winds, not to mention poor response from our leaders. This fire was not because of global warming, but because the bio mass has been removed, the soils are dead, and natural rivers and streams have been diverted to resorts and golf courses. Valleys, once rich with tropical biomass, agriculture and food forests are dried up fields, and/or covered with subdivisions. It’s a bigger story than I could ever tell here. But, electric cars are not the answer. We must look at the underlying cause.
Changes in the quantity of carbon stored in the soil can affect the global carbon cycle and alter carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Thus, decreases in soil carbon (rich healthy soil) may raise greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, thus contributing to climate change. The point here is that we need to restore the quality of our soil by stopping the use of poisonous pesticides and herbicides, and instead plant, plant, and plant. When we know, without a shadow of a doubt that glyphosate (RoundUp) causes cancer, how can it possibility still be legal and sprayed all over this island? We must turn now to natural soil amendments.
But, I am getting off point. What I want to say is that I am proud of the movement that has not died, but only grown. I am proud of the expertise that exists on Maui to create healthier landscapes and agricultural systems. Many of our emerging experts have dedicated their life to learn and implement regenerative and sustainable methods. Perhaps our government will listen now because the Hawaiian people, who have lost their community in Lahaina, have a stronger voice now. The Hawaiians, along with all the angels on the island, are making sure the right decisions are made for restoration in the direction of healthy air, water, soil, and food, something they have fought for years unsuccessfully.
Tourism will still be welcome, but hopefully this tragedy will be used to move us in a direction of restoration instead of destruction. I know the expertise exists, the methods exist and the community will hold strong together and make it so.
Blessings to all who have lost their loved ones, homes and suffered so. It is still raw here, many are displaced and still in trauma. Please hold them in your prayers as the “main stream” media turns its attention to even more destruction around the world. Many are suffering great loss.
Blessings to all.
Stay healthy. Healthy people are the catalyst to a healthy community. Let’s be smart in our everyday decisions, support our local economies/communities, and honor the lives we have been given by caring for ourselves. Let’s honor the natural world. It is, by the way, our very sustenance.
What’s next? Stay tuned!
Big Love to all! Chef Teton