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In the course of the night time of Monday, Aug. 7, Hawai’i soccer coach Timmy Chang woke to the sound of loud noises. His spouse, Sherry, was already awake and requested, “Do you hear the wind?” Chang did not understand it on the time, however a high-pressure system north of Hawai’i and Class 4 Hurricane Dora — about 800 miles to the south — led to the unusually highly effective winds throughout the islands.

“It sounded prefer it was banging on the home,” Chang stated. “It was actually, actually sturdy. The very first thing I believed was, ‘Wow, tomorrow’s gonna be attention-grabbing making an attempt to throw the ball on this wind.'”

The subsequent day began like every other Tuesday in coaching camp. Hawai’i acquired via its morning apply, and by about 4 p.m. was entering into conferences earlier than dinner and night walkthroughs. That is about when phrase began circulating across the crew’s Manoa, Oahu, facility that wildfires had damaged out on Maui, about 80 miles away.

Chang’s first thought was the wind. Wildfires are widespread in Hawai’i — particularly this time of yr — however the excessive winds meant the hearth would journey shortly.

It was a precursor to the deadliest American wildfire in over 100 years.

At about 6 p.m., studies of devastation had been nearly incomprehensible.

“That is after we heard, ‘Entrance Avenue doesn’t exist,'” stated Chang, referring to the principle street via Lahaina City’s historic bustling downtown. “You then begin to hear studies about folks leaping into the ocean to save lots of their lives, to get away from the hearth.”

Within the three weeks since, the demise toll has risen to 115, with an inventory of unaccounted for people of greater than double that. The city was left in ruins. Roughly half Lahaina’s 12,000 residents had been displaced, in line with Hawai’i Gov. Josh Inexperienced. There isn’t any estimate for the way lengthy it can take to rebuild.

When Hawai’i steps on the sphere Friday for its dwelling opener towards Stanford (11 p.m., ET on CBSSN), it will likely be with heavy hearts — a second of silence shall be held earlier than kickoff. There is a sense of state pleasure that at all times comes with taking part in for the Rainbow Warriors, however within the wake of the fires, there’s an added feeling of duty to symbolize resiliency.

Receiver Karsyn Pupunu was born and raised in Lahaina and, together with defensive again Kimo Holo Holt-Mossman, is considered one of two Maui natives on the crew. They shared updates with one another all through the day the fires broke out, however as the hearth intensified cell service went out in West Maui and updates turned scarce.

The subsequent day delivered heartbreaking information for Pupunu: an aunt, uncle and two of his cousins had been amongst those that died within the blaze.

“That actually messed me up,” Pupunu advised ESPN. “That is after I determined it was time to go dwelling for slightly bit.”

His household dwelling, positioned up the street a couple of miles in Kahana, was spared, however that did not function a lot comfort.

“He wanted to be there together with his members of the family and be part of within the effort to assist and see what is going on on firsthand,” Chang stated. “Then come again when he is prepared — and that is what occurred.”

Holt-Mossman is from the east aspect of Maui in Kula, a couple of 45-minute drive from Lahaina, however a number of of his members of the family, together with his aged grandmother, had been compelled to evacuate as fires broke out in numerous components of the island.

By way of the uncertainty of all of it, Pupunu and Holt-Mossman stated they acquired unbelievable help from teammates, coaches and people across the program, however the wider response efforts have additionally stood out.

“The help has been large,” Pupunu stated. “Not solely the folks from Hawai’i, however even the folks from the mainland. Everybody’s been exhibiting their love, help and care all through this complete time and simply ensuring that we’re all good. Whether or not it is us, our members of the family, and even folks in Lahaina that they might not even know, however they’re nonetheless making an attempt to help.”

Stanford will put on Maui decals on its helmets for Friday’s sport. Vanderbilt, Hawai’i’s opponent final week in its season opener, introduced partial proceeds from ticket gross sales to the sport can be donated to the Hawaii Neighborhood Basis and the Maui Robust Fund. UCLA introduced final week it will present complimentary soccer tickets to video games towards Coastal Carolina and North Carolina Central to anybody who donated a minimum of $10 to considered one of 4 charitable funds supporting reduction efforts. Two exhibition males’s faculty basketball video games — Tennessee at Michigan State and Saint Mary’s at Hawai’i — have additionally been scheduled for October to lift cash.

The Hawai’i soccer program’s response was nearly rapid.

Inside 48 hours, it initiated a Maui reduction drive and gathered non-perishable items as a part of a beforehand scheduled fan fest occasion. Through the season, coaches and gamers are considerably restricted in how they may help, however Chang stated when the season is over they plan on having a presence in Maui to help in no matter method they’ll.

“We’ll be out in Maui, boots on the bottom making an attempt to determine how we may help,” he stated. “And if it is us simply taking part in soccer with the youngsters, then we’ll do this. However me and my workers shall be on the market and if we are able to carry gamers, we’ll carry gamers.

“We need to assist. And whether or not that is with a shovel to assist rebuild or that is with soccer, we’ll be there.”

Chang even threw out the potential of the Rainbow Warriors returning to Maui sooner or later to play a house sport for the primary time since 2001, when he led Hawai’i to a win towards Montana earlier than 12,863 followers at Struggle Memorial Stadium. The stadium, which is anticipated to be closed from Could 2024 to Could 2025 because it undergoes a big renovation, will be capable of host about 15,000 folks when it reopens.

“I’d like to do it once more,” Chang stated. “I performed in two video games over there. I additionally performed within the Hula Bowl. Each video games had been bought out. It was an unbelievable surroundings. I do know we have talked about making an attempt to get again there.”

Since Chang was employed in January 2022, he has made a concerted effort to interact with the local people. It begins on Oahu however extends to all eight islands — in Could, this system despatched coaches to Maui for a youth clinic — and the previous star quarterback frequently reminds his crew that with out a skilled crew in Hawai’i, it is their job to symbolize the state.

Maybe by no means more true than tonight towards Stanford.

“This sport means so much for us. It means so much to Maui,” Holt-Mossman stated. “[Chang] preaches that now we play for one thing a lot larger at present due to the pure catastrophe that occurred in Maui. I really feel like this dwelling opener means so much to the state of Hawaii with all we’re going via. It’ll be large.”