Hawaiian Airlines is offering $19 flights from Maui to Honolulu to help escape wildfires

As deadly wildfires rage across Hawaii this week, many are wondering if the US state capital Honolulu is on fire.

55 people have been confirmed to have died and more deaths are expected after the fires were made worse by strong winds from Hurricane Dora.

Is Honolulu on fire?

No, Honolulu is not burning. The wildfires are happening on Maui, an island entirely separate from Oahu that Honolulu is on.

The state of Hawaii is made up of 137 islands, but there are eight main islands: Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe.

Often called “the big island”, Hawaii is the largest of the eight islands and consists of the two famous volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

• READ MORE: Prayers for the Maui wildfires, supported by donations from food banks and relief funds

In August 2023 there are only fires on Maui, the second largest island with 727 square miles and around 170,000 inhabitants.

People are being evacuated to the other islands of Hawaii, as is Hawaiian Airlines Operation $19 flights from Maui to Honolulu.

Wildfires devastate Maui

Fires are burning all over Maui, but their worst peak was in a town called Lahaina on the island’s west coast.

The blazes appeared almost without warning due to the strong winds and engulfed the entire area, which is a popular tourist spot.

Everything was burned to ashes including homes, cars, buildings, restaurants, churches, historic buildings and more.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green told According to CNN, more than 1,700 buildings and properties worth billions of dollars were destroyed.

These include the 122-year-old Pioneer Inn Hotel, Mick Fleetwood’s restaurant and the famous banyan tree, popular with tourists.

It’s the deadliest natural disaster in the region since the 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people, and people are calling it “apocalyptic.”

Maui’s mayor gives update

Maui Mayor Richard Bisson issued a statement of “devastation, destruction and immeasurable loss.” interview with NBC.

He said there has been “loss of life, historic places, property and businesses” but is confident Lahaina can be rebuilt as communities come together.

The mayor called it an “impossible situation” as winds of up to 80mph caused the fires to “start so quickly” and “spread so quickly.”

Bisson sadly added that the number of deaths is likely to rise as the current number only includes those found outside.

“We haven’t searched the inside of the buildings yet. We are waiting for FEMA to assist in this search as they are prepared for the dangerous situation in the burned buildings,” he said.

He also confirmed that there is no power, water, or communications, including internet and phone signal, on the entire west side of Maui.

Her focus is on finding missing persons and reuniting families.

• READ MORE: Is Whalers Village Affected by the Maui Fires?

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