For scores of families in Hawaii still hoping to reunite with loved ones, it was not yet time to give up -- even as the staggering death toll continued to grow, and even as authorities predicted that more remains would be found within the ashes left behind by a wildfire that gutted the once-bustling town of Lahaina.
But many others are already confronting a painful reality. Their loved ones did not make it out alive.
Thus far, the remains of more than 90 people have been pulled from flattened homes, blackened cars or on streets just a few strides from their front doors -- unable to outrun the smoke and flames that were just too fast and too ferocious. Maui officials declined to respond to phone calls, text messages and emails requesting information about how and where the county are sheltering the recovered remains. Nor did they answer questions about whether the county has the facilities and resources to handle the rising number of fatalities.
"We're hoping our church can be a beacon of hope when the time comes," the Rev. Barry Campbell said from Kihei, where his family has stayed since escaping Lahaina. For now, many faith leaders are mounting relief efforts, including turning houses of worship into temporary shelters. They are also delivering supplies to those in need, and doing their best to help families connect with friends and relatives across an area with intermittent power and without reliable cellphone services.
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