b'Kakoo. businesses, and homes were lost, with an estimated$5.5 billion in damages.In the immediate aftermath of the fires, local aidIn a grammatical sense, this Hawaiian word means on the island of 150,000 people poured in for peoplewe. Just a plural, first-person pronoun. to live day-to-dayfood, medicine, clothing, water,But in a deeper sense, it stands for communitywhatever they could gather up, said Stephena were all in this together mode that fosters a Kealoha, an Ohana Lay Marianist.shared responsibility to one another, no matter how Family was helping family. Maui County spear-small or large the community may be. headed those efforts and organized shelters at com-Kakoo also dovetails with Ohana, a Hawaiian munity centers on the island before FEMA and otherword that refers to familial relationships beyond agencies came on board. Whatever was needed, itmerely blood-relatives, for neighbors and friends. seemed to materialize in abundance, with Ohana inLikewise, Ohana also aptly was chosen in 2010 to urgent need.name the newly formed Ohana O Malia Marianist People were all trying to help in any way theyLay Community at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in could, said Kealoha, marveling at the reflexive responseWailuku, Hawaii, on the island of Maui. With 13 of help from throughout the island.members, this small-but-mighty group carries on the Pastoral care quickly followed, with St. AnthonyMarianist Charism at the former Marianist parish. first holding an Ecumenical prayer service for fireWere really all family here, noted Valerie Standing, victims and displaced residents, then serving the needa Lay Marianist and longtime St. Anthony parishioner. for Catholic funerals. About a third of the fire victimsThat sense of familyof Kakoo and Ohanawere Catholic, and St. Anthony held 21 funerals, includ-came to the forefront a little less than a year ago after ing parishioners who died of causes unrelated to the fire.the devastating wildfires that ravaged the historic Between August and December, we had funeralsseaside town of Lahaina, on the northwest every week, Standing said. One week, we had threecoast of Maui, just 20 miles from St. Anthony funerals; quite often, we had two.Parish. Driven by hurricane-force winds, Standing serves with the bereavement ministry,the fire largely incinerated the town which facilitates funerals at St. Anthony. The groupin just a few hours, with 100 killed handles the set-up for visitations, Masses, and receptionsand thousands displaced. Lives, for the family. Standing described the 10 bereavementPHOTOS BY JOHN BAUER.group members, including three Lay Marianists as,wonderfulvery dedicated. The sustained effort for the many funerals afterthe fires proved to be draining at times, with thesensitivity, compassion, and emotion, as Standingnoted, but as roadside signs near the historic town stillurge today, Lahaina Strong. The bereavement grouptook that to heart, finding the strength to walk withthose in need and play a small role in their recovery.Each of us within our hearts is grateful we couldhelp in some way, Standing said.The big thing is, we were there, added LettyMariscal, a Lay Marianist in the ministry. Thats soimportant.In doing so, they fulfilled the call of parish pastorMonsignor Terrence Watanabe, a Diocese of Honolulupriest who has shepherded the parish since the Ohana O Malia Lay Marianists Letty Marianists withdrawal in 2021.Mariscal (top left), Valerie Standing (lower He says he last thing we can do for anybody onleft) and Stephen Kealoha (above) talkthis earth is to give them a proper funeral and to beabout pastoral care after the wildfires. a comfort for the family, Standing said. We doeverything we can to assist the family with compassion.12 Call 1.800.348.4732'