Oprah Winfrey at Maui wildfire shelter: How you can help

Part-time Maui resident Oprah Winfrey on Thursday gave her time and support to wildfire evacuees at a makeshift shelter as devastating flames continued to rage on the once-idyllic island.

The media mogul, 69, was spotted handing out supplies and speaking with residents at the War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, which has been converted into a shelter and resource center, Hawaii News Now reported.

“It’s a little overwhelming, you know,” Winfrey told the BBC in a brief, emotional video.

“But I’m really so pleased to have so many people, you know, supporting, and people are just bringing what they can and doing what they can.”

In one snapshot, Winfrey — one of Maui’s biggest private landowners — was pictured on a bed and looking concerned while speaking with residents forced to abandon their homes when the deadly flames closed in earlier this week, Hawaii News Now reported.

In another photo, she posed alongside four other evacuees, whose bright smiles hinted at a brief moment of levity amid an otherwise disastrous event.

The former talk show host, who has lived on the island part-time for at least 15 years, offered to bring supplies — including cots, blankets, and toiletries, the relief group Kakoo-Haleakala told the news outlet.

In a video shared by the group, Winfrey, wearing a straw hat, is seen organizing what appears to be blankets and pillows.

What we know about the Maui Wildfires

At least 36 people have died in the wake of the Maui wildfires that started late Tuesday.

“We’ve still got dead bodies floating on the seawall,” one Lahaina resident told Hawaii News Now. “They’ve been sitting there since last night.”

The wildfires, fanned by strong winds have burned multiple buildings, forced evacuations, and caused power outages in several communities.

The National Weather Service said Hurricane Dora was partly to blame for the strong winds that knocked out power as night came. About 13,000 residents in Maui are without power, according to reports.

People are rushing to the ocean to escape the smoke and flames fanned by Hurricane Dora.

Fire crews in Maui are battling multiple fires in the popular tourist destination of West Maui and an inland, mountainous region. Firefighters have struggled to reach some areas that were cut off by downed trees and power lines.

READ MORE

In addition to her 1,200-acre holdings across Hana and near Mount Haleakala — relatively far from the deadly fires — Winfrey also recently shelled out $6.6 million on 870 acres in Kula, which is caught between the south Maui and upcountry blazes.

Many Maui residents lost homes and possessions after the horrific wildfires left at least 55 dead and an untold number of others missing.

While many parts of the island — including the historic hamlet of Lahaina, which was almost completely decimated — are without power and communication access, outlets have urged survivors to mark themselves “safe” on the Red Cross emergency app.

On Thursday, The Office of the Governor of Hawaii pointed those interested in donating to relief efforts to the Hawai’i Community Fund.

Those in other parts of Hawaii are also able to donate up to $249 with purchases at Foodland grocery locations, the Washington Post reported.

In addition, the Maui Mutual Aid Fund is taking contributions specifically for local families, elderly people, and those with disabilities, the outlet said.

With video footage of desperate residents fleeing into the ocean to escape the flames made the rounds on social media, dozens of verified GoFundMe campaigns have sprung up to help individuals and other parts of the devastated community.

Those eager to donate are encouraged to find and support legitimate organizations using resources like CharityWatch, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and Charity Navigator, CNN noted.

Josh Marocco, pastor of Kings Cathedral Maui, told the Washington Postthe area is already touched by the number of volunteers helping with immediate relief efforts.

“We’ve had people arrive from Mercy Chefs, a group of chefs that cook day and night,. We’ve got connected with Convoy of Hope, CityServe … we’ve got calls from churches, pastors and people from around the world wanting to be a part of it,” he said.

The wildfires are Hawaii’s deadliest natural disaster since 61 people were killed in a tsunami in 1960. 

The blaze is also the US’s deadliest wildfire since the 2018 Paradise disaster in California.