Fires in Lahaina
Scorched the earth and trees
But the banyan lives
in deep roots of community
and limbs reaching to the skies
Surviving the fires that destroyed so much life, some people sought revival through rituals, finding strength in religion and traditional Hawaiian spirituality and culture that peacefully co-exists with nature. After experiencing trauma, and asking what life is calling on us to do, we may find deeper psychological and spiritual meaning in our lives. Post-traumatic growth can occur as the catastrophic event reconnects us with a source of vital energy that generates hope and new life amidst the ashes.