Maui’s wildfire victims in full: First IDs released after Hawaii disaster
Raging wildfires in Maui have left at least 106 people dead and thousands of others missing after they were forced to flee their homes.
“We are heartsick that we’ve had such loss," Hawaii governor Josh Green said during a news conference on Tuesday.
Mr Green said he expects the death toll to rise every day as recovery teams and cadaver dogs search the burned area in Lahaina on Maui. Despite the number of deaths increasing, only a few of the 111 have been identified.
Part of this reason is due to the state that many bodies were found in after the blazing wildfires moved quickly through Lahania.
A mobile morgue unit arrived to help Hawaii officials identify the remains as teams continued to search for more in neighbourhoods that were reduced to ash.
Mr Green asked people who are missing loved ones to submit their DNA to help them identify the victims.
The US Department of Health and Human Services deployed a team of coroners, pathologists and technicians along with exam tables, X-ray units and other equipment to identify victims and process remains, said Jonathan Greene, the agency’s deputy assistant secretary for response.
“It’s going to be a very, very difficult mission,” Greene said. “And patience will be incredibly important because of the number of victims.”
Maui mayor Richard Bissen offered his “deepest condolences” to the families who have received news about their loved ones.
“As a community, we offer our prayers of comfort in this most difficult time,” he added.
Here are the victims of the Hawaii wildfires named so far:
Robert Dyckman
Robert Dyckman, aged 74, was named by Maui county officials on 15 August.
Dyckman was a resident of Lahaina.
In a statement after releasing his name, county officials said: “We understand that this is an incredibly difficult time for the families, and we ask that the media and the public respect the privacy of the grieving families. We will continue to work closely with the families to ensure that they are updated and supported throughout this process.”
Buddy Jantoc
Buddy Jantoc, aged 79, was among the other victims named by the County of Maui on 15 August.
Jantoc, who lived in the Hale Mahaolu retirement home in Lahaina, was a well-known musician in the area and was known for playing at local bars, hotels and malls.
"Besides his family, his other love was music," Keshia Alaka’I, his granddaughter, told Sky News in an interview. "Music was his life. He played every instrument. His house was like a music store. He didn't really have a sofa, just guitars.”
Ms Alaka’I said that she “broke down” when local police called her to confirm that her grandfather’s remains were found.
"He would call me every time there was a tropical storm or heavy rain. When I didn’t hear from him, I knew something was wrong,” she told Sky News.
Ms Alaka’I told the outlet that Jantoc was “loved by many” and added: "My papa was always the light of the party, kind, generous, never had a mean thing to say, he was always positive."
Melva Benjamin
Melva Benjamin, 71, was from Lahaina.
On 17 August, the County of Maui announced that Benjamin had died in the fire.
Virginia Dofa
Virginia “Vergie” Dofa, who was from Lahaina, died aged 90 in the Maui fire, the County confirmed.
In a GoFundMe description, one of Dofa’s grandchildren said she was living in Hale Mahaolu when the wildfires engulfed the town.
“There was no alarms. No sirens. No evacuation plan until it was too late. The system failed our loved ones and a lot of lives and homes has been taken away from us,” the GoFundMe reads.
Alfredo Galinato
Alfredo Galinato, 79, from Lahaina was among the victims of the fire, the County of Maui confirmed.
In a Facebook post, Galinato’s son, Joshua, said he had been searching for his father after his mother and brothers fled from the wildfires. Galinato’s last known location was their home in Lahaina.
“We are grateful to finally hear about our Father’s remains but saddened that he has not joined us in safety,” Joshua wrote.
Joshua included a link to a GoFundMe to raise money for his family who lost all of their possessions, including their home, in the fires.
Donna Gomes
Donna Gomes, 71, of Lahania was identified by the County of Maui on 17 August after her family was notified.
Gomes’ grandchild created a GoFundMe to collect donations in order to support their family after they lost everything in the Maui wildfires.
“Not only have we lost our homes but our family is also grieving the loss of our family backbone,” Tehani Kuhaulua wrote.
Conchita Sagudang
Conchita Sagudang, 75, of Lahaina, died in the wildfires, officials in Maui County confirmed in a press release on 20 August.
Sagudang died alongside her son, Danilo Sagudang, her sister wrote in a Facebook post.
“There are no words to express the pain of this type of tragedy,” Nemi Bandayrel wrote.
“I’m so heartbroken and so does my whole family the BANDAYREL. Rest in peace my greatest sister and the best nephew. Danilo I know that you will always take care your mom up there in heaven.”
Danilo Sagudang
Danilo Sagudang, 55, died alongside his mother, Conchita Sagudang, on 8 August, officials confirmed in a press release.
Sagudang’s sibling wrote in a Facebook post that he and his mother were trying to escape the fires near the Paunau subdivision in Lahaina.
“They are forever in our hearts and we will miss them dearly. Mom and Danilo were our family, our support, our mentors, our friends,” Edna Sagudang wrote.
Rodolfo Rocutan
Rodolfo “Rudy” Rocutan, 76, a resident of Lahaina died as a result of the Maui wildfires, officials confirmed.
In a GoFundMe, one of Rocutan’s family members said he was living in Lahaina with his sister who survived. According to the description, Rocutan’s wife died in 2021.
“He is wise, friendly, caring and loving Father and Grandfather,” the creator of the fundraiser wrote.
Jonathan Somaoang
Jonathan “Jon” Somaoang, 76, was a veteran and retired wood crafter living in Lahaina when the wildfires hit, a missing poster of Somaoang reads.
The County of Maui officially declared Somaoang among the deceased on 20 August.
“Born and raised in Lahaina, Jon knows his town well,” the description for Somaoang’s missing poster reads.
Angelita Vasquez
Angelita Vasquez, 88, was living at Hale Mahaolu in Lahaina before she perished in the wildfires, officials confirmed.
Kenyero Fuentes
Kenyero Fuentes, 14, was at his home in Lahaina when the wildfire erupted on 8 August.
Fuentes was anticipating his first day of classes at Lahainaluna High School the next day, his mother, Luz Vargas, told NPR. Before the fires, Ms Vargas was planning Fuentes’ 15th birthday party for the coming Sunday. She said planned to include a vanilla cake and pork tacos.
For two days, Ms Vargas and her husband searched for their 14-year-old son at shelters, calling friends to find any sign of him.
But on 10 August, two friends delivered the tragic news that Fuentes was dead.
The two had snuck into Ms Vargas and her husband’s home and found the boy lying face-down with the family dog nearby in his bedroom.
Ms Vargas went to see her son’s remains and described a horrific scene – furniture completely burnt down to ash and her son’s charred body on top of a pile of debris.
Officials have not confirmed Fuentes’ death but his family has told news outlets he died.
Joseph Schilling
Joseph Schilling was last seen evacuating his home in Lahaina on 8 August, but his family confirmed his death on social media and a GoFundMe page.
Akiva Bluh, a close family friend of Schilling, who she referred to as “Uncle Joe” described him as “caring, outgoing, funny, easygoing, joyous, and LOVING.”
Bluh said Schilling was informally adopted into their family where he acted “out of love and kindness” toward Bluh and their brothers, became best friends with Bluh’s father and quickly became friends with their mother.
“Joe passed while aiding in evacuating five elderly people in his housing complex. Joe passed as a HERO. His character showed until his very last moments. To everybody who had the pleasure of meeting my Uncle Joe, count your lucky stars; rarely do you get to meet such a genuine soul,” Bluh wrote.
The County of Maui has not confirmed Schilling’s death thus far.
Salote Takafua, Tony Takafua, Faaso and Malui Fonua Tone
Other victims include a family of four: Salote Takafua, her son Tony Takafua and parents Faaso and Malui Fonua Tone, Hawaii News Now reported.
The family appeared to have become trapped in their car while trying to flee the fires on 8 August.
In a statement, the family of the victims said: “The magnitude of our grief is indescribable, and their memories will forever remain etched in our hearts.”
Lylas Kanemoto, a family friend to the victims, told The Associated Press that the loss of four members of the family was “unbearable”.
The County of Maui has yet to officially name the four family members among the deceased.
“At least we have closure for them, but the loss and heartbreak is unbearable for many. We as a community has to just embrace each other and support our families, friends, and our community to our best of our abilities,” she said.
Franklin Trejos
Franklin Trejos, 68, died trying to protect his three-year-old golden retriever, Sam, in the fires, according to NBC News.
Trejos lived in Lahaina with Sam and longtime friends Shannon Weber-Bogar and Geoff Bogar.
Ms Weber-Bogar described Trejos as “the friendliest guy you would ever meet”.
The County of Maui has not officially named Trejos among the victims but Ms Weber-Bogar told NBC News that her husband found Trejos’ remains after returning to Lahaina.
Ms Weber-Bogas said Trejos and Mr Bogar were trying to escape the fires by driving out of Lahaina.
“He must have seen what was happening, just crawled into the hatchback with him and laid down on top of him,” Weber-Bogar said. “There’s more of Sam left than there was of Frank.”
Thousands of survivors are currently staying in shelters, in hotel rooms and Airbnb units, or with friends.
Around 2,000 homes and businesses still don’t have electricity, Maui County wrote Tuesday night, after the power company restored supply to over 10,000 customers. The fire also contaminated water supplies in many areas.
Additional reporting from agencies
