Resilience

Resilience is the ability to bounce back in stressful situations, recover from tragic mishaps, and move forward after suffering a setback.

A breathtaking aerial view of lush green mountains and a winding river, under a sky dotted with clouds, showcasing the stunning natural beauty of Reunion Island.

I was just in my now unrecognizable hometown of Lahaina. After 85% of the town was destroyed, I arrived at the end of a devastating Kona Low wind and rainstorm that created huge sinkholes and turned roads into lakes and rivers. From the cliffs of the Pali to Olowalu, it looked like Louisiana’s bayous lining the roadside—dark water with jagged snags reaching up.

And yet, Mother Nature’s resilience was evident, too.

The normally brown West Maui mountains on our side of the island were greener than I had ever seen. They looked as if they were covered in dark green velvet. It was stunning. It was also a beautiful reminder that even when life batters you, you can recover. You can bounce back. You just have to have faith, determination, and the desire to come back.

All of my friends who lost their homes, businesses, jobs, and possessions have bravely started over. One friend lost her jewelry store. Because she had one of those super-duper safes with ten-inch-thick walls, she didn’t insure her merchandise. That’s also where she kept her cash. Her store was on Front Street. The money and jewelry cooked inside the safe.

She fled her home with $120 in her purse, wearing her pajamas.

When she told me her story, I felt terrible for her—and, in a strange way, it made me feel lucky to have “only” lost my house and everything in it. But here’s the remarkable part: she just opened a brand-new store near the Cannery Mall. And when our town is rebuilt, she plans to return to Front Street.

That is resilience.

We went to dinner twice at Sale Pepe, my favorite Italian restaurant. It gave me such joy to see their new location filled with happy customers. They were the first restaurant that had burned to reopen in a new spot, and they celebrated their first anniversary while I was there.

Again—resilience. Bouncing back. Moving forward.

To Qiana and Michele—ciao! Congratulazioni per il tuo successo!

I was also able to get our rebuild permit finalized and choose paint colors, tile, flooring, appliances, and fixtures for the house that should be completed within a year. I felt a real sense of accomplishment when all of that was done.

I’m recovering from a broken baby toe that I smacked into a chair leg on my first morning there—because of course I am. But all in all, sitting by the pool with my daughter and spending time with dear friends and family made my trip home a truly blessed occasion.

Be well. Be strong. Be kind.

Shirley