In the more than a year since wildfires killed 102 people and destroyed 2,200 structures on Maui, U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda has devoted floor time each week that the House has been in session to deliver a “Maui Minute” update, report, story or plea.

On Tuesday, Tokuda, freshly returned from district service, used her time to recite the names of the 102 people who lost their lives in the fires. 

What You Need To Know

  • Tokuda noted the age range of those who perished, from 7-year-old Tony Takafua, whose remains were found along with those of three family members in a burned car in Lahaina, to 97-year-old Louise Abihai, who died along with her best friend Virginia Doha, 90, at the Hale Mahaolu Eono senior housing complex
  • It took four minutes for Tokuda to read each of the names, from Abihai to 75-year-old Glenn Yoshino, the former owner of House of Saimin in Lahaina
  • Tokuda also made note of Robert Owens and Elmer Stevens, who have yet to be accounted for

“On Aug. 8, Hawaii gathered to observe the one-year anniversary of the fires on Maui and in Lahaina,” Tokuda said. “Today, as Congress reconvenes, I rise to honor and remember the family and friends that we lost. They’re beloved mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, grandparents and grandchildren, brothers and sisters, friends and life partners.”

Tokuda noted the age range of those who perished, from 7-year-old Tony Takafua, whose remains were found along with those of three family members in a burned car in Lahaina, to 97-year-old Louise Abihai, who died along with her best friend Virginia Doha, 90, at the Hale Mahaolu Eono senior housing complex.

“Many had lived their entire lives in Lahaina,” Tokuda said. “Others chose to make Lahaina their home, having come from faraway places across the United States and abroad, like the Philippines, Mexico and Scotland.

“Today, I rise to read all 102 of their names into the Congressional Record,” she said. “While they are no longer walking amongst us, they will never be forgotten by the family and friends they left behind, by our community or by this Congress, in whose records their names will be forever remembered.”

It took four minutes for Tokuda to read each of the names, from Abihai to 75-year-old Glenn Yoshino, the former owner of House of Saimin in Lahaina.

Tokuda also made note of Robert Owens and Elmer Stevens, who have yet to be accounted for.

“May the happy memories of those we lost carry our community forward and inspire us to live each day in their honor,” Tokuda concluded.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.