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Lahaina Today
By the People, for the People
Laguna Beach, Lahaina Fire Survivors Promote Community Preparedness
Residents and officials discuss emergency planning after devastating wildfires in California and Hawaii.
Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:41pm
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A community's resilience is tested as the overwhelming forces of nature threaten to engulf it, underscoring the need for comprehensive emergency preparedness.Lahaina TodayLaguna Beach residents and officials joined a panel discussion following a screening of the documentary 'Lahaina: Voices of Change,' which shared personal stories of community leaders and residents navigating recovery after the devastating Lahaina fire in Hawaii. The event highlighted the importance of community preparedness and emergency planning, with speakers urging residents to get involved in evacuation workshops and home hardening efforts.
Why it matters
The Lahaina fire and past wildfires in Laguna Beach have shown the need for robust community preparedness and emergency response plans. By sharing lessons learned and promoting engagement, local leaders hope to empower residents to take an active role in protecting their neighborhoods and supporting first responders.
The details
The panel discussion featured a range of speakers, including Laguna Beach city officials, a Hawaii firefighter, and the founder of a nonprofit supporting Lahaina's recovery. They emphasized the importance of having a personal emergency plan, participating in community response training, and taking steps to harden homes against fire. The event also highlighted the mental health impacts on first responders and public workers involved in disaster recovery.
- The Lahaina fire broke out on August 8, 2023.
- The Laguna Beach event took place on April 3, 2026.
The players
Jeremy Delos Reyes
Founder of Kaiaulu Initiatives, a group dedicated to rebuilding Lahaina's landscape.
Apu Kalama-Jacobson
A firefighter with the Hawaii Federal Fire Department who responded to the Lahaina fire.
Sue Kempf
Laguna Beach City Council representative on the city's wildfire mitigation and fire safety subcommittee.
Bob Whalen
Laguna Beach City Council representative on the city's wildfire mitigation and fire safety subcommittee.
Niko King
Laguna Beach Fire Chief.
What they’re saying
“These past couple of weeks, Hawaii has suffered a horrible flood, horrible rain event, couple storms back to back, and all of our plants held strong, like our community. All the plants survived, but more so, what we found out through our initiative was the mental health aspect.”
— Jeremy Delos Reyes, Founder, Kaiaulu Initiatives
“You've all been to Maui. Its beautiful water, and it looks normal, and I knew once we cracked that corner, it was not what we knew Maui was … We hit that corner, we saw everything, just the smoke rising. It was humbling, emotional, and I remember bringing it up. 'This is not an Instagram trip. Turn your phones off, and get your hearts ready, and let's go.'”
— Apu Kalama-Jacobson, Firefighter, Hawaii Federal Fire Department
“Emergency preparedness is kind of like doing your taxes. Nobody wants to do it, but you have to do it, and you need to do it and get organized. It's really the best thing we can do.”
— Bob Whalen, Laguna Beach City Council
“I don't hesitate to put our firefighters in front of any encroaching flame. Our firefighters are brave, they're trained, they're the best. We have a history of wildfires here, and they will stand to protect homes, lives and the environment, but the one thing that I still lose sleep over is we had the sirens go off [for a test] last week — so many people didn't know what they were. So many people don't know what [evacuation] zones they live in.”
— Niko King, Laguna Beach Fire Chief
“You are the responders' first responders … That has to become second nature for us in our communities.”
— Archie Kalepa, Founder and CEO, Lele Aloha
What’s next
Laguna Beach officials plan to continue promoting community emergency preparedness through workshops, home hardening initiatives, and expanding the CERT program to empower residents as first responders.
The takeaway
The devastating wildfires in Laguna Beach and Lahaina have underscored the critical importance of community-driven emergency planning and preparedness. By engaging residents, supporting first responders, and addressing mental health impacts, local leaders hope to build more resilient communities that can better withstand and recover from natural disasters.
