Dear Fellow Nobles,
Last week, thousands of people experienced horrors like never before as catastrophic wildfires scorched the Hawaiian island of Maui, killing more than 90 people and destroying most of the historic town of Lahaina. With search-and-recovery efforts ongoing, the death toll is still expected to rise from what are already considered the deadliest U.S. wildfires in more than 100 years.
I have personally been in contact with Masonic leaders from the impacted communities, including the Grand Master of Hawaii, Dustin Verity, to assess the damage and pledge the support of Shriners International during this time. Most Worshipful Verity and I discussed the Shriners and our Masonic Brothers on Maui, and the destruction involved. He visited the Maui Lodge on Wednesday evening, and said:
“When I visited the Brothers at the Lodge on Wednesday, everyone was in good spirits even though some had just lost all their material possessions, their homes, their jobs, and their farms. They were there not to ask for support, but to enjoy the fellowship. They knew that they would be taken care of because we all embrace the basic tenants of Freemasonry – Brotherly love, relief, and truth.”
Here are a few pictures provided by Most Worshipful Verity:
