Though much of the news we are getting right now pertains to the Maui fire, similar events have been going on elsewhere, notably the Greek islands of Corfu and Rhodes, North Africa, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Turkey. In addition, there are evacuation notices in Washington State, where I live, and parts of British Columbia and Oregon. This is not a complete list. Hundreds of thousands of people have been told to leave their homes.
Thirty years ago, I was living in a tiny village north of Santa Fe called Cundiyo, very near the pilgrimage town of Chimayo. There was a forest fire, very close to our home. It was extremely well managed, and there was excellent communication between the fire fighters and residents. Helicopters were dropping buckets of water, and we were invited to don protective gear and observe the measures being used to contain the fire. There was an informational program in which we were shown the methods being used: ditch digging, aerial spraying of fire retardants, and various uses of water dispersed from the air or from hoses on the ground. We had the feeling that despite the very obvious danger, our homes and lives were respected and that every precaution necessary had been deployed. Out of state firefighters, including many indigenous persons who were highly regarded for their unique skills, arrived in the hundreds, perhaps thousands.
Because of the excellent organization and coordinated efforts, no lives or homes were lost. This said, trees burned and animals ran for their lives, many perhaps leaving little ones to die alone. It was a tragedy, but not of the scale of Lahaina or many of the fires raging today.
In contrast, there can be little doubt but that the response in Maui was disastrous. Incompetence seems like a truly feeble word. “Criminally negligent” might be closer to what has been experienced, and we grieve for the people and pets who perished, for all those who lost loved ones and homes, for the destruction of the legacy of the Hawaiian monarchy, and for the abysmal response of officialdom, from the local level to the White House.
At the same time, the aloha spirit and allegiance to “pono” have exhibited how people can pull together when the going gets tough. “Pono” has no exact translation, but it means something like acting in a correct manner in order to make everything right. When we act responsibly and with honorable intent, we bring harmony where there is discord. Karma is extinguished because motivations are pure and actions are constructive. The people of Lahaina have been modeling “pono” in the face of bureaucratic obstructions and crying needs for the essentials needed for survival.
In the meantime, there have been stories and theories about what happened and why. To be entirely honest, I am not satisfied with the official explanations. I could deploy all my planets in Virgo to pick at the details, but the first issue I have is with the boats that were a significant distance from shore and yet caught on fire. Obviously, this is the tip of the iceberg, but even with very strong winds and so on and so forth, my incredulity button is bright red.
Others are reporting their theories of what happened and why, many alleging sinister intent, but my focus is always on how best to help the living. I am in contact with boots on the ground and have proposed relief to people and pets that are hospitalized or incapacitated. My suggestions are to begin with very deep HEPA vacuuming so as to remove particulates to the maximum extent possible. Then air filtration can be provided. Obviously, there are severe respiratory issues but the most vulnerable should be addressed first. This should be followed by support for the respiratory system and whatever injuries have been sustained or aggravated by the stress.
The second major suggestion involves the crews in hazmat suits. They are lacking fresh air, sweltering, and are emotionally and physically strained to the max. They need support so that they can hold up under the strain. My lab can produce the adaptogens and adrenal formulas needed. When I have a response from Hawaii, I will be asking those who can afford it to donate directly to those providing the relief. These are mostly local initiatives, and they have a workaround for delivery that is reliable.
Anyone with suggestions can write me directly. In the meantime, I hope that as we see the spirit of the Hawaiian people, we will be inspired to build a healthier world for all.
Copyright by Dr. Ingrid Naiman 2023 || All Rights Reserved
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Thank you Ingrid for your very diplomatic essay on a very controversial topic . I am at my witts end as to how it was handled .I too live in Washington in the San Juan islands and I spoke with the fire department yesterday and he said he didn't think our alarm system for the island was working. I plan on calling all my friends here and asking them to join me in calling the city and demanding it be repaired . Thank you for shedding more light on the mishandeling of the entire situation . I wont even call it a forest fire because it was more like a fire weapon of some sort .All the best
deirdre