Post by SeaRat on Sept 5, 2023 19:39:39 GMT -8
From Tom Hemphill, Northwest Diving History Association:
Our good friends and NW Diving History Association Members, Kim and Blain Roberts are former owners of Lahaina Divers. We have our association exhibit at their International Mermaid Museum between Westport and Aberdeen, WA. We are all shocked at what happened when a wildfire destroyed the City of Lahaina on the island of Maui, Hawaii.
Kim shared this report:
Blain founded Lahaina Divers in 1974 with his friends John Smead and Pete Voss. He eventually bought them out as they went on to pursue different paths. Blain and I built the 143 Dickenson Building in 1996. We built a new home in Puamana Nui in 1989. Both burned in the fire. We also lost our church and the kids' school. Losing these parts of our history is hard but nothing compared to the devastation left in the wake of the fire and the tremendous loss of life.
We sold the business to our managers Greg Howeth and Akiyo Murata in 2000. Greg bought Akiyo out a few years ago so he and his wife Dana are the sole owners. We sold the building at 143 Dickenson Street to them in 2017. It housed the dive shop and several other businesses.
We have spoken with Greg and Dana several times. They are struggling to find the path forward. The building burned and has subsequently been demolished. Both boats burned and sank in Lahaina Harbor. Greg found one scuba tank and the prop puller in the dock shack at the harbor. Those are the only two items left of Lahaina Divers.
Greg and Dana lost the roof of their home in the hurricane winds. All staff are safe and accounted for but most of them lost their homes. Greg and Dana have moved many into their home with its temporary roof.
Greg and Dana have created a Go Fund Me for their staff. If anyone wants to contribute, they can go to the Lahaina Divers Facebook page.
One of the hardest things is that Greg and Dana were working to refund all the deposits, which took time since the phones and internet were down. Unfortunately, many of those guests at the same time were canceling their charges causing the account to crash. We ask that those who need refunds be patient and not create a situation where there is double dipping from the bank.
Everyone says, Maui no ka oi, which means Maui is the best. That was true before and remains true today. We are told that aloha means hello, goodbye and love. Its literal translation is breath of life. Let's all send our aloha and breath of life to our Lahaina community.
Thank You Kim for the update. We pray that Lahaina Divers will come back to life soon.
We encourage our NW Diving History enthusiasts to take a day or two and visit the Westport Winery Garden Resort, the Sea Glass Grill, Ocean's Daughter Distillery and the International Mermaid Museum.
1 South Arbor Road, Aberdeen, WA 98520
360-648-2224
www.westportwinery.com
www.OceansDaughterSeasideRetreat.com
Kim shared this report:
Blain founded Lahaina Divers in 1974 with his friends John Smead and Pete Voss. He eventually bought them out as they went on to pursue different paths. Blain and I built the 143 Dickenson Building in 1996. We built a new home in Puamana Nui in 1989. Both burned in the fire. We also lost our church and the kids' school. Losing these parts of our history is hard but nothing compared to the devastation left in the wake of the fire and the tremendous loss of life.
We sold the business to our managers Greg Howeth and Akiyo Murata in 2000. Greg bought Akiyo out a few years ago so he and his wife Dana are the sole owners. We sold the building at 143 Dickenson Street to them in 2017. It housed the dive shop and several other businesses.
We have spoken with Greg and Dana several times. They are struggling to find the path forward. The building burned and has subsequently been demolished. Both boats burned and sank in Lahaina Harbor. Greg found one scuba tank and the prop puller in the dock shack at the harbor. Those are the only two items left of Lahaina Divers.
Greg and Dana lost the roof of their home in the hurricane winds. All staff are safe and accounted for but most of them lost their homes. Greg and Dana have moved many into their home with its temporary roof.
Greg and Dana have created a Go Fund Me for their staff. If anyone wants to contribute, they can go to the Lahaina Divers Facebook page.
One of the hardest things is that Greg and Dana were working to refund all the deposits, which took time since the phones and internet were down. Unfortunately, many of those guests at the same time were canceling their charges causing the account to crash. We ask that those who need refunds be patient and not create a situation where there is double dipping from the bank.
Everyone says, Maui no ka oi, which means Maui is the best. That was true before and remains true today. We are told that aloha means hello, goodbye and love. Its literal translation is breath of life. Let's all send our aloha and breath of life to our Lahaina community.
Thank You Kim for the update. We pray that Lahaina Divers will come back to life soon.
We encourage our NW Diving History enthusiasts to take a day or two and visit the Westport Winery Garden Resort, the Sea Glass Grill, Ocean's Daughter Distillery and the International Mermaid Museum.
1 South Arbor Road, Aberdeen, WA 98520
360-648-2224
www.westportwinery.com
www.OceansDaughterSeasideRetreat.com
