Just over a year ago, on August 8, 2023, the deadliest wildfire in modern US history leveled the historic town of Lahaina on the island of Maui. Dry, gusting winds from Hurricane Dora exacerbated fires that rapidly spread through the island’s arid green spaces and consumed homes and buildings. Over one hundred people were killed, and a year later, two remain missing. The fires devastated over 2,200 structures, displacing 12,000 people from their homes, and costing Hawaii an estimated $5.5 billion. Lahaina, once the royal capital of Hawaii and a tourist paradise, was destroyed and its people still feel the physical and emotional effects of the fires.

After the event, the lingering effects of surviving a natural disaster still haunt many Hawaiians. The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, a longitudinal study conducted by epigenetic researchers at the University of Hawai’i, found that over half the survivors show signs of depression compared to just a third before the tragedy. Rates of anxiety and other mental health issues also spiked and have remained high.

According to the study, one factor that can make a difference in how people rebound is through social connections. Maui residents who reported high levels of social support had better mental health, before and after the fires. World aid organizations, volunteer organizations, and local schools stepped in immediately to provide basic needs, support, and social connections. Community members banded together to provide their friends and neighbors with food, clothes, and other supplies. Local schools stepped up to provide support to people and to the recovery efforts.

Mountain bikers showed up for the community, too. 

Mountain Bikers’ Impact

For more than a decade, the Maui Mountain Bike Coalition (MMBC) has been an active, community-centered IMBA Local Member Organization. Reflecting on the initial weeks after the fires, Ray Watson, President of the MMBC, shared, “It was non-stop scrambling to find food, water, shelter, service, and information. My day job went from managing a hotel to trying to house families that lost everything.”

Impacts of the fires were felt across the bicycling community with local bike shops Maui Sun Riders and West Maui Cycles sustaining damage. The fires blocked access to outdoor recreation spaces including multiple playgrounds, parks, skateparks, community pools, and surf spots. Many community members lost their bikes and gear. One of the longest-standing MMBC and IMBA members lost all 3 of his bikes, all of his equipment, and all of his tools.

In the wake of the devastation, the MMBC could see that, based on their skill sets, the only clear path forward that would serve their mission and their community was to help nurture those who turn to bikes for stress relief, distraction, and a sense of normalcy: to build social connection. In the early days, Watson found himself feeling a sense of relief just talking about bikes as a distraction from the disaster. He put his plans for the MMBC on hold in order to focus on helping those in need of basic life necessities, knowing the club would sustain while the dust and ashes settled. The MMBC turned its efforts to hosting trail days, group rides, and events so people could get out and clear their minds, and so that the healing nature of physical activity and social connections could be uplifted in the community’s recovery. 

Rebuilding in the Mountain Bike Community

“Our focus was sticking to what we are good at, which is mountain bikes, bikes in general, and trails. Immediately we partnered with local shops, Kona Bikes and Strider Bikes to do bike giveaways because we knew having bikes to use was going to be impactful in healing and rebuilding our trails community,” stated Watson.

Within the first six months of recovery on Maui, over 1200 bikes were given out to community members. At one event hosted by Krank Cycles, over 400 community members showed up to assemble the donated bikes. The MMBC hosted events in collaboration with other organizations such as Kapalua Golf, so families could have a night out to have fun with other community members. They continue to host film nights, trail work days, and group rides.

The biggest effort MMBC has engaged in since the fires is the planning, design, and development of the Napili Community Bike Park, a free community-centered facility in Lahaina. This project has been years in the making, and the importance of this free and accessible outdoor recreation amenity was amplified by the loss of recreational areas in the fires. Working with Maui Land and Pine, a private land holding company, MMBC was able to lease a 5-acre parcel of land that will be the home to the Napili Community Bike Park.

Support the Napili Community Bike Park

Maui Mountain Bike Coalition has activated partnerships with stakeholders who have community connections. They are partnering with Cam Zink (American professional freeride mountain bike rider and X Games athlete) and his trail building company Sensus Rad Trails to build the Napili Community Bike Park. The head of Sensus Rad Trails, Cody Wilkins, is a master trail builder and ambassador for Kona Bikes. Kona and the Maxx G Foundation have been an integral piece of this project, donating the initial $38,000 to kickstart the movement. Sensus Rad Trails will be arriving in late October (after Cam defends his Red Bull Rampage victory from 2023), and will spend most of November 2024 building the park. 

New Bike Park Offers Hope on Two Wheels

Community isn't just a geographic area or the infrastructure within. It doesn’t begin or end at the city limits. Community health and vitality don’t simply refer to job-growth, per-capita income, and healthy economies. Communities are people, and communities grow and heal in all the spaces where people engage and connect. 

Don’t take it from us: take it from science. The Maui Wildfire Exposure Study reminded us that social connections help keep people healthy, and contribute to healing. Mahalo, Maui Mountain Bike Coalition, for using your passions for Hawaii, for biking, and for building community to contribute to the rebuilding efforts in and around Lahaina, and across the island.