Humpback whales are expected to gather in large numbers off Maui between December and March, marking peak whale-watching season. Local boat captain Emma Nelson notes a significant influx of 10,000 to 15,000 whales during this period. Unfortunately, her whale-watching company faced devastation due to wildfires in Lahaina that occurred on August 8, 2023. These fires caused over $5.5 billion in damage and claimed more than 100 lives. The community continues to cope with the emotional fallout, as evidenced by Lovett's acknowledgment of ongoing sadness, grief, and frustration post-tragedy.
"I actually got everything about ready to go two weeks before the Lahaina fires, and, unfortunately, like so many others, we lost everything."
"I would say boats alone were over $700,000 replacement value, and like a lot of people, we were under-insured because no one expected the harbor to burn down."
"There's the sadness, there's the grief, there's the anger, there's the frustration, there's the confusion."
"Think: a disco and a daycare," Emma Nelson, a boat captain, describes the lively atmosphere as humpback whales return to breed in Hawaii.
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