Filmmaker Laurel Tamayo weaves a story of personal tragedy and climate change.

By GWEN MURANAKA

“The community aspect is what I want to show people — the power of the Aloha spirit,” says Laurel Tamayo about her upcoming documentary film “Healing Lahaina.”

It has been nearly one year since a series of wildfires erupted on Maui on Aug. 8, 2023, devastating the historic town of Lahaina, killing at least 101 people and causing more than $5.5 billion in damage in what is the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history.

For Tamayo, the story is deeply personal. More than 2,200 structures were destroyed. Among them her grandparents and cousins lost their home, a multigenerational gathering place, built by her family. “Healing Lahaina” traces their journey on that terrible day and since then.

In the film, Tamayo puts on a white hazmat suit, gloves and mask in order to tour the remnants of her family’s home along with her auntie, Miriam Tamayo. Where there was once a cozy home, shaded by trees, there is now only ashes and rubble. They carefully walk where the living room was and see a plant that her grandmother lovingly cared for. Today the family is scattered, waiting to return home.

“Nine months later and they haven’t even cleaned the debris of the remains of the house,” Tamayo said.

Tamayo, a graduate from  Chapman University, has devoted her career to inspiring audiences to take action on climate change. She is currently in the Harvard Executive Education Program working on her Public Leadership certificate and was named to Forbes’ list of 68 Climate Leaders Changing The Film and TV Industry.

“My background is in climate change and entertainment. I’ve been working on film and tv related to climate change and climate solutions for a few years now. When the Lahaina wildfire happened there were a few factors that made it so big and climate change was one of them,” she said.

Lahaina was once a beautiful wetland and the historic capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 to 1945.

“It was dry and hot which caused the invasive grasses to be more flammable. There was a hurricane off the island so it was super windy and that’s what made it spread so fast and far,” she explained.

“Healing Lahaina” follows a family friend, Jona Versola, who decided to stay and defend the neighborhood he grew up in. He was able to wave down a water truck, dousing houses. Tamayo was able to film a chance encounter with a neighbor who shared her gratitude and also grief for all that has been lost.

“I found a water truck, I was jumping up and down and saying hey, we need  you to come up because we don’t have any water,” We’re dousing houses,” Versola says.

Besides the devastation, “Healing Lahaina” highlights the personal stories of courage and resilience. The idea of Ohana forms an important thread and has been key to rebuilding.

“FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) had never seen a community act so quickly to help. It’s something people outside of Hawaii can learn from,” Tamayo said.

Another story “Healing Lahaina” follows is Kiha Kaina, a community leader, who went into Lahaina when everyone evacuated to deliver water and supplies. He lost his father, Joseph Lara, whose charred car was found in the devastation.

“It’s not about trying to be a hero it; it’s try to be Hawaiian and do your part,” Kaina says.

The film explores the stigma of mental health and the importance of seeking professional help. The wildfires scattered families, who now live separate in motel rooms. The loss of that ancestral tie to the land has also been devastating.

Talking to her grandma Jovita in an RV that is home for now, she shares that she used to love gathering with friends at the house to sit and talk story.

“My day off I like to talk story with my friends. Talk stories the whole day, all of us. That’s what I miss in my house. Right now no more friends,” Jovita tells her granddaughter.

Tamayo hopes that “Healing Lahaina” will resonate and that people will see some of themselves in the stories. Building community is a form of resilience as climate change continues to worsen.

“With climate change getting worse these events are going to happen more often. If people can see this film and think, ‘Oh this could be my family and how can we prepare for it. Even meeting your neighbors creates climate resilience,” she said.

The film has been her “5-to-9” passion project. Besides crowdfunding, Tamayo received grants from the Zentoku Foundation and PINK with Purpose, which has allowed her to hire a local film crew. They are currently in post production, with the goal of screening the film at festivals later this year.

“When I first set out on doing this it really scared me. I had never started anything like this, it truly scared me because I thought it was going to be doing it alone, so once we got rolling with producer (Tehya Jennett) I said worst case scenario I would use my savings to make this film,” she explained.

“The community aspect is what I want to show people. The power of the Aloha spirit. Through the disaster, I’ve been able to see the best in other people,” Tamayo said.

More information on Instagram @healinglahainafilm.

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