Bird's eye view of the aftermath of a burned city

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Rising From the Ashes

In the summer of 2023, Lahaina, Hawaii, was struck by one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history. This is the story of how 12-year-old Kini Varona survived—and how her community is coming together to rebuild.

By Allison Friedman and Michelle Crouch

From the September 2024 Issue

Learning Objective: to identify key ideas and details in a narrative nonfiction article

Lexiles: 990L, 830L

Featured Skill: Key Ideas and Details,

Other Key Skills: text features, cause and effect, compare and contrast, allusion, critical thinking

Listen to this story read aloud.

AS YOU READ

Look for ways the people of Maui come together to support one another.

The smoke cloud rose into the sky like an angry creature—dark and writhing, stretching so high that it blotted out the sun.

Kini Varona, then 12, first spotted it from her bedroom window in Lahaina, a town on the Hawaiian island of Maui. It was August 8, 2023, the last day of summer vacation.

Outside, strong winds from a nearby hurricane were howling, so Kini had spent the afternoon curled up in bed, playing games on her phone and relaxing. But the sight of the dark smoke yanked her attention away from the screen. As the daughter of two firefighters, Kini knew what it meant: wildfire.

Kini ran to get her dad, Jonny, and together they headed outside for a better view from a neighbor’s porch. Wildfires were not uncommon in the area, but Kini and her dad could tell right away that this was no ordinary flare-up.

Kini’s mom, Aina, was already at work at the fire station, and her dad decided to head over to help. That meant Kini and her twin brother, Kimo, would need to go with him. Jonny told them to pack a bag so they could stay overnight. The family’s two cats, Pumpkin and Pepper, were out roaming the neighborhood, but Kini wasn’t too worried—they were outdoor cats. They could take care of themselves for one night.

As Kini’s dad drove them away from their home, Kini watched the cloud of smoke grow larger. Little did she know that cloud was about to swallow her world.

The smoke cloud rose into the sky like an angry creature—dark and writhing, going so high that it blotted out the sun.

Kini Varona, then 12, first spotted the smoke from her bedroom window in Lahaina, a town on the Hawaiian island of Maui. It was August 8, 2023.

Outside, strong winds from a nearby hurricane were howling. So Kini had spent the afternoon curled up in bed, playing games on her phone. But the sight of the smoke yanked her attention from her screen. As the daughter of two firefighters, Kini knew what it meant: wildfire.

Kini ran to her dad, Jonny. They went outside for a better view. Wildfires were not uncommon in the area. But Kini and her dad knew right away that this was no ordinary flare-up.

Kini’s mom, Aina, was already at work at the fire station. Kini’s dad decided to head over to help. Kini and her twin brother, Kimo, would go with him. Jonny told them to pack a bag so they could stay overnight. The family’s two cats, Pumpkin and Pepper, were out roaming the neighborhood. But Kini wasn’t too worried—they were outdoor cats. They could take care of themselves for one night.

As Kini’s dad drove them away from their home, Kini watched the cloud of smoke grow larger. Little did she know that cloud was about to swallow her world.

A Rich History

Kini had always felt lucky to live in Lahaina, a beautiful town with a long, rich history. The area was first settled more than 1,000 years ago by people from Polynesia, a large group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. In the early 1800s, Lahaina was home to Hawaii’s first king, Kamehameha (kuh-may-uh-MAY-hah) the Great, who united the Hawaiian islands into one kingdom. Lahaina was its capital, its jewel.

Yet by then, Hawaii was already changing. White settlers had begun arriving from Europe and America, hoping to make their fortunes in industries like whale hunting and sugar farming. Over time, these settlers seized more and more control from the Native royals—until ultimately, in 1893, they overthrew the monarchy. Later, Hawaii became a U.S. territory and then, in 1959, a state.

By the time Kini was born, Lahaina had transformed into a popular destination, with two million visitors a year. Surf shops, beach cafés, and gift stores had sprung up along the town’s bustling main road. Tourists marveled at the humpback whales leaping in the harbor and the West Maui Mountains rising in the distance.

But to Kini, Lahaina was home. She grew up playing volleyball on the town’s white-sand beaches, surfing in the sparkling turquoise waters of the Pacific, and going to concerts under the sprawling, 150-year-old banyan tree in the middle of town. She especially loved sailing with her grandfather, strumming popular Hawaiian songs on her ukulele as they skimmed over the waves.

Kini had always felt lucky to live in Lahaina. It’s a beautiful town with a long, rich history. The area was first settled more than 1,000 years ago by people from Polynesia, a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. In the early 1800s, Lahaina was home to Hawaii’s first king, Kamehameha (kuh-may-uh-MAY-hah) the Great. He united the Hawaiian islands into one kingdom. Lahaina was its capital, its jewel.

Yet by then, Hawaii was already changing. White settlers had begun arriving from Europe and America. They planned to make fortunes in whale hunting, sugar farming, and other industries. Over time, these settlers seized more and more control from the Native royals. In 1893, they overthrew the monarchy. Later, Hawaii became a U.S. territory and then, in 1959, a state.

By the time Kini was born, Lahaina had become a popular destination, with 2 million visitors a year. Surf shops, beach cafés, and gift stores lined the town’s main road. Tourists marveled at the humpback whales in the harbor and admired the West Maui Mountains.

But to Kini, Lahaina was home. She played volleyball on the town’s beaches, surfed in the sparkling waters of the Pacific, and went to concerts under the sprawling, 150-year-old banyan tree in the middle of town. She especially loved sailing with her grandfather, strumming popular Hawaiian songs on her ukulele as they skimmed over the waves.

Growing Danger

Though Maui is surrounded by water, experts had warned for years that Kini’s beloved island was in danger from wildfires. In Hawaii, as in many other parts of the world, climate change has led to longer, hotter summers. Droughts have become more common. With less rain, the tall grasses that cover much of Maui have dried out, creating perfect fuel for fire. One scientist described the situation as “a ticking time bomb.”

And on August 8, that bomb exploded.

Early that morning, ferocious winds from the nearby hurricane tore across the island. Several fires broke out, including just east of Lahaina. Experts believe power lines blown down by the winds produced sparks that ignited the bone-dry grasses.

Kini’s mom, Aina, was among the firefighters on duty in Lahaina that morning. Aina and the rest of her crew rushed to the scene of the fire outside Lahaina. They managed to bring it under control, but by mid-afternoon, fierce winds had breathed new life into the flames.

Now, a monstrous wall of fire was roaring straight toward the town.

Maui is surrounded by water. But experts had long warned of wildfires. In Hawaii, as in many other parts of the world, climate change has led to longer, hotter summers. Droughts have become more common. With less rain, the tall grasses that cover much of Maui have dried out, creating perfect fuel for fire. One scientist described the situation as “a ticking time bomb.”

And on August 8, that bomb exploded.

Early that morning, strong winds from the nearby hurricane tore across the island. Several fires broke out, including just east of Lahaina. Experts believe power lines blown down by the winds produced sparks that ignited the bone-dry grasses.

Kini’s mom, Aina, was among the firefighters on duty that morning. Aina and the rest of her crew rushed to the fire outside of Lahaina. They got it under control, but by mid-afternoon, fierce winds had breathed new life into the flames.

Now, a wall of fire was roaring straight toward the town.

Battling the Blaze

In the hours that followed, Aina and the other firefighters worked desperately to extinguish the growing blaze. Just as they’d put out the flames in one area, new fires would ignite, sparked by burning embers carried by the winds. The smoke grew so thick that the day seemed to turn to night. The scorching heat melted the windshield of one of the fire trucks.

Then the unthinkable happened: The firefighters’ hoses ran dry. The pipes that supplied water to the town’s fire hydrants had melted. Aina felt trapped in a nightmare.

By then, Kini, Kimo, and their dad, Jonny, had made it safely to the fire station. While Jonny went to help care for injured people at the police station across the street, Kini and her brother sat for hours in the growing darkness, waiting anxiously for news.

Finally, around 9 p.m., Aina returned with a group of firefighters for a break. Tears streaked the gray ash coating their cheeks.

“Is our house going to be OK?” Kini asked her mom.

“No, I don’t think so,” Aina answered sadly.

Kini thought of her cats, and her heart squeezed with fear. But she barely had time to absorb this news before her dad was rushing her and her brother back into the car.

“We gotta get out of here,” he said. “The fire could get here.”

In the hours that followed, Aina and the other firefighters worked hard to extinguish the blaze. But as they put out the flames in one area, new fires would ignite, sparked by burning embers carried by the winds. The smoke grew thick. Day seemed to turn to night. The scorching heat melted the windshield of one of the fire trucks.

Then the unthinkable happened: The firefighters’ hoses ran dry. The pipes that supplied water to the town’s fire hydrants had melted. Aina felt trapped in a nightmare.

By then, Kini, Kimo, and their dad, Jonny, were at the fire station. Jonny went to the police station across the street to help injured people. Kini and her brother sat for hours in the growing darkness, waiting anxiously for news.

Finally, at around 9 p.m., Aina returned with a group of firefighters, tears and gray ash coating their cheeks.

“Is our house going to be OK?” Kini asked her mom.

“No, I don’t think so,” Aina answered sadly.

Kini thought of her cats. Her heart squeezed with fear. But she barely had time to absorb this news before her dad was rushing her and her brother back into the car.

“We gotta get out of here,” he said. “The fire could get here.”

Monstrous Flames

Driven by the relentless winds, the fire was moving at up to 85 miles per hour—faster than a car racing down a highway. It was growing bigger and more terrifying by the minute.

Lahaina was equipped with loud sirens to warn people of emergencies. But they never went off. (Officials later said they thought the sirens would be confusing because they were used mainly to warn people about massive waves called tsunamis.) And with cell phone and internet service down on much of the island, many residents had no idea the fire was coming until flames were licking at their doorsteps.

Traffic choked the roads as people scrambled to escape. Down by the waterfront, traffic was at a full stop. As the flames grew closer, people began abandoning their cars and jumping into the ocean. For hours, they huddled in the waist-deep water, ducking to avoid the embers that swirled in the wind like fiery rain. As exhaustion set in, many people were swept out to sea by the powerful currents. Local boat captains and Coast Guard crews sailed back and forth through the thick black smoke, plucking people from the waves.

Meanwhile, Kini, Kimo, and Jonny were stuck in an endless line of cars trying to drive out of town. As they inched along, Kini looked out the window at the horrifying scene unfolding around her.

“I could see a giant red smoke cloud devouring my neighborhood,” Kini remembers.

After an agonizing 40 minutes, Kini and her brother and dad escaped the reach of the flames. They spent the night with friends, but Kini found it difficult to sleep. “I was worried about my mom,” she says. “She was still fighting the fire.”

Driven by the winds, the fire was moving at up to 85 miles per hour—faster than a car racing down a highway. It was growing bigger and more terrifying by the minute.

Lahaina was equipped with loud sirens to warn people of emergencies. But they never went off. (They were used mainly to warn people about massive waves called tsunamis. So officials thought the sirens would be confusing.) With cell phone and internet service mostly down, many residents had no idea the fire was coming until it was at their doorsteps.

Traffic choked the roads as people scrambled to escape. As the flames grew closer, people by the waterfront began abandoning their cars and jumping into the ocean. They huddled in the waist-deep water, ducking to avoid the embers that swirled in the wind. Many people were swept out to sea. Local boat captains and Coast Guard crews sailed back and forth, rescuing people.

Meanwhile, Kini, Kimo, and Jonny were stuck in an endless line of cars trying to drive out of town. As they inched along, Kini looked out the window. She saw a horrifying scene unfolding around her.

“I could see a giant red smoke cloud devouring my neighborhood,” Kini remembers.

After an agonizing 40 minutes, Kini and her brother and dad escaped the reach of the flames. They spent the night with friends. But Kini found it difficult to sleep. “I was worried about my mom,” she says. “She was still fighting the fire.”

Changed Forever

By the next morning, the heavy winds had died down. The worst of the fire was over. And after an endless, anxious night, Kini was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief when her mom arrived at their friends’ house—exhausted but safe.

Still, Kini’s gratitude for her family’s safety was tinged with grief. The fire had turned the beautiful oceanside town into a gray, ash-covered wasteland. More than 2,000 buildings had been damaged or destroyed. Many were landmarks from the time of the Hawaiian Kingdom—including the Old Lahaina Courthouse and the historic Waiola Church. More than half the town’s residents had lost their homes, and tragically, more than 100 people had been killed. It was the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century.

Immediately, people across the island of Maui leapt into action to help. Families opened their doors to those who had lost their homes. Local chefs teamed up to cook meals for thousands. Kini and her family visited one of several community-led relief centers, where volunteers handed out essentials like food, water, and clothing.

About two weeks passed before it was finally safe enough for Kini and her family to return to their home to see what remained. Kini was stunned to see their house flattened, their car a tangle of melted metal.

As the family picked through the ruins, they suddenly spotted a flash of orange. It was Pumpkin! The cat’s fur was covered in ash and she smelled strongly of smoke—but incredibly, she was alive. A few weeks after that, Kini’s mom found their other cat, Pepper. “I was shocked and happy they had survived,” Kini says.

By the next morning, the winds had died down and the worst of the fire was over. After an anxious night, Kini finally breathed a sigh of relief when her mom arrived at their friends’ house. Her mom was tired, but she was safe.

Still, Kini’s gratitude for her family’s safety was tinged with grief. The fire had turned the beautiful oceanside town into an ash-covered wasteland. More than 2,000 buildings had been damaged or destroyed. Many were landmarks from the time of the Hawaiian Kingdom—including the Old Lahaina Courthouse and the historic Waiola Church. More than half the town’s residents had lost their homes. Tragically, more than 100 people had been killed. It was the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century.

People across the island leapt into action to help. Families opened their doors to those who had lost their homes. Local chefs teamed up to cook meals for thousands. Kini and her family visited one of several community-led relief centers. There, volunteers handed out food, water, and clothing.

About two weeks later, it was safe enough for Kini and her family to return to their home to see what remained. Kini was stunned. Their house was flattened. Their car was a tangle of melted metal.

The family picked through the ruins. Suddenly, they spotted a flash of orange. It was Pumpkin! A few weeks after that, Kini’s mom found their other cat, Pepper. “I was shocked and happy they had survived,” Kini says.

Strength in Community

In the wake of the disaster, Lahaina residents came together to help one another heal. On the one-month anniversary of the fires, Kini took part in a paddle out, a traditional Hawaiian ceremony to remember people who have died. Along with hundreds of friends and neighbors, she paddled out into the ocean on her surfboard. Everyone made a circle and recited Hawaiian chants together.

One year later, the community has slowly begun piecing itself back together. Many businesses have reopened, including restaurants and grocery stores, and Lahaina’s biggest elementary school has welcomed students back at a new location. The town’s beloved banyan tree, which was badly scorched in the fire, has even been sprouting new life.

Yet it will take years to fully rebuild. First workers must finish clearing debris and monitoring the soil, air, and water to make sure they are free of dangerous chemicals and metals released by the fire. That alone will likely take another year. Then, water and electricity systems must be rebuilt. That’s all before the construction of new homes and buildings can even begin.

Though the road ahead remains long, it also presents an opportunity. Before the fire, the growing number of tourists renting vacation homes on Maui had caused the cost of housing on the island to skyrocket. As the Lahaina of the future begins to take shape, survivors are pushing for the town to be rebuilt in a way that meets the needs of the people who live there, not just visitors. That means more affordable housing, for example.

In the meantime, Kini and her family are living in a temporary home south of Lahaina. Like many other residents displaced by the fire, the Varonas hope to one day return to their beloved town.

Kini dreams of the day her family can settle into a new house there, with other kids living nearby. She pictures Lahaina more beautiful than ever, filled with lush greenery and lively neighborhoods.

And most important, she imagines it as a place where her community can finally be together again.

After the disaster, Lahaina residents came together to help one another heal. On the one-month anniversary of the fires, Kini took part in a paddle out. That’s a traditional Hawaiian ceremony to remember people who have died. Along with hundreds of friends and neighbors, she paddled out into the ocean on her surfboard. Everyone made a circle and recited Hawaiian chants.

One year later, the community has slowly begun piecing itself back together. Many businesses have reopened, including restaurants and grocery stores. Lahaina’s biggest elementary school has welcomed students back at a new location. The town’s beloved banyan tree was badly scorched in the fire. But now it is sprouting new life.

Yet it will take years to fully rebuild. First, workers must finish clearing debris. They also need to check the soil, air, and water to make sure they are free of dangerous chemicals and metals released by the fire. That will likely take another year. Then, water and electricity systems must be rebuilt. That’s all before the construction of new homes and buildings can even begin.

The road ahead remains long. But it also presents an opportunity. Before the fire, the tourists renting vacation homes on Maui had caused the cost of housing on the island to skyrocket. Survivors are pushing for the town to be rebuilt in a way that meets the needs of the people who live there, not just visitors. That means more affordable housing, for example.

In the meantime, Kini and her family are living in a temporary home south of Lahaina. Like many others displaced by the fire, the Varonas hope to return to their beloved town.

Kini dreams of settling into a new house there, with other kids living nearby. She pictures Lahaina, filled with lush greenery and lively neighborhoods.

And most important, she imagines it as a place where her community can finally be together again.

Writing Prompt

What can the aftermath of the Maui wildfires teach us about the power of community? Answer this question in a short essay.

Writing Prompt

What can the aftermath of the Maui wildfires teach us about the power of community? Answer this question in a short essay.

^{This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue.}

Slideshows (1)

Audio ()

Activities (8)

Quizzes (1)

Answer Key (1)

Slideshows (1)

Audio ()

Activities (8)

Quizzes (1)

Answer Key (1)

Essential Questions: What is a community? What is resilience? What can be learned from natural disasters?

1. Prepare to Read

(10 minutes)

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

Project the Vocabulary Slideshow on your whiteboard. Review the definitions and complete the activity as a class. The audio pronunciations of the words and a read-aloud of the definitions are embedded on the slides. Highlighted words: embers, monarchy, sprawling, tinged, writhing.

2. Read and Discuss

(45 minutes)

Invite a volunteer to read the As You Read box on page 4 or at the top of the digital story page.

Read the article once as a class. (Differentiation: Share the lower-Lexile version or the Spanish version of the article.) Optionally, have students listen to author Allison Friedman read the article aloud while they follow along. The audio read-aloud is located in the Resources tab in Teacher View and at the top of the story page in Student View.

Divide students into groups to read the article again and respond to the following Discussion Questions, also located in the Resources tab.

Invite a volunteer to read the As You Read box on page 4 or at the top of the digital story page.

Divide students into groups to read the article again and respond to the following Discussion Questions, also located in the Resources tab.

Discussion Questions (30 minutes)

1. List at least five facts that can be learned from the map of Hawaii. (text features) Answers may include: Hawaii is completely surrounded by water and borders no other states; Hawaii is a string of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Hawaii; Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean; the capital of Hawaii is Honolulu, located on the island of Oahu; Lahaina is a coastal town located on the island of Maui; Hawaii is located south of Alaska and west of California.

2. The authors describe the Lahaina fire as “the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century.” What factors led to the Lahaina fire being so deadly? (cause and effect) Many factors contributed to the devastating nature of the Lahaina wildfire. Climate change has caused longer, hotter summers and droughts, turning the tall grasses that cover Maui into the perfect fuel for fire. A nearby hurricane’s winds blew across the island, downing power lines and producing sparks that ignited the dry grasses. Burning embers carried on the winds ignited new blazes. Fire hoses ran dry because the pipes that supplied fire hydrants melted. Emergency sirens were not activated because they were typically used for tsunamis, meaning many people had little warning and preparation time. Cell phone and internet services were down, making communication impossible. (If students need scaffolding to identify these factors, direct them to the sections “Growing Danger,” “Battling the Blaze,” and “Monstrous Flames.”)

3. What was Kini’s life like before the fire? How is it different now? (compare and contrast) Kini’s life before the fire was peaceful and pleasant. She hung out with friends on beautiful beaches and sailed on the ocean with her grandfather. Her life after the fire seems more complicated and more difficult. Her family, like many other families, was displaced by the fire, and they now live in a temporary home in another town. Her friends and the members of her community are all in different places, and she isn’t sure when she’ll be able to return to Lahaina.

4. How have the people of Maui come together to support one another? (key ideas and details) People across Maui welcomed displaced people into their homes, chefs cooked meals for thousands of people, and volunteers at community-led relief centers provided food, water, and clothing. Workers continue to clean debris and monitor the soil, air, and water for safety. People supported one another in healing emotionally and held a community paddle out, a traditional Hawaiian ceremony and memorial to those who died in the fire.

5. What do you think might be difficult about being a firefighter? What do you think might be satisfying about the job? (critical thinking) Answers will vary. Students might say that the danger firefighters face, as well as the frustration of not being able to save every person or building, likely makes the job extremely difficult. But the ability to save lives and the excitement of battling a powerful force of nature must make it rewarding as well.

6. What does the story of the Maui wildfire teach us about how to rebuild after a disaster? (critical thinking) Answers will vary. Students may offer that the Maui community’s response to the fire shows the importance of people coming together not only to help meet people’s basic needs—food, water, clothing, shelter, medical supplies—but also to support one another in their emotional healing. Also, rebuilding after a disaster is an enormous job, and the more people that contribute to that effort, the better. The way people in Maui are coming together will make it possible for the community to return home sooner. What’s more, they will be returning to an even stronger community, because survivors turned the disaster into an opportunity to rebuild their town in a way that better serves its residents.

7. The title of the article, “Rising From the Ashes,” is an allusion to the phoenix, a magical bird from ancient mythology that is reborn again and again. When the phoenix gets old, it sets itself on fire and burns to ashes. Then, from these ashes, the phoenix is reborn. This immortal bird is a symbol of hope, of life, and of better things to come. Why do you think the authors chose “Rising From the Ashes” as the title for their article? In what ways is the story of Lahaina like the myth of the phoenix? (allusion, critical thinking) Answers will vary. Students may offer that the authors likely chose this title because the banyan tree and many homes and buildings in the Lahaina community are literally rising from the ashes of the wildfire, and as a way of acknowledging that the people of Maui have been “reborn” with the knowledge and wisdom of making it through an incredibly difficult time, and they are looking to the future with hope.

3. Write About It: Key Ideas and Details

(45 minutes)

Have students complete the Featured Skill Activity: Key Ideas and Details. This activity prepares them to respond to the writing prompt on page 9 in the printed magazine and at the bottom of the digital story page:

What can the aftermath of the Maui wildfires teach us about the power of community? Answer this question in a short essay.

Alternatively, have students choose a task from the Choice Board, a menu of culminating tasks. (Our Choice Board options include the writing prompt from the magazine, differentiated versions of the writing prompt, and additional creative ways for students to demonstrate their understanding of a story or article.)

What can the aftermath of the Maui wildfires teach us about the power of community? Answer this question in a short essay.

Support for Multilingual Learners

These questions are designed to help students respond
to the text at a level that’s right for them.

Yes/No Questions

Ask students to demonstrate comprehension with a very simple answer.

1. Is Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean? Yes, it is.

2. Did the wildfire destroy Kini’s home? Yes, it did.

3. Did the emergency sirens warn people about the wildfire? No, they didn’t.

4. Did Kini ever find her cats? Yes, she did.

5. Is Lahaina being rebuilt today? Yes, it is.

Ask students to demonstrate comprehension with a very simple answer.

1. Is Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean? Yes, it is.

2. Did the wildfire destroy Kini’s home? Yes, it did.

3. Did the emergency sirens warn people about the wildfire? No, they didn’t.

4. Did Kini ever find her cats? Yes, she did.

5. Is Lahaina being rebuilt today? Yes, it is.

Either/Or Questions

Encourage students to use language from the question in their answer.

1. Is Hawaii surrounded by water or land? Hawaii is surrounded by water.

2. Did the nearby hurricane help stop the wildfire or did the hurricane make the wildfire worse? The nearby hurricane made the wildfire worse.

3. Was the wildfire moving quickly or slowly? The wildfire was moving quickly.

4. Did Kini and her brother and dad escape the flames in their car or did they have to jump in the water? Kini’s family escaped the flames in their car.

5. Was the banyan tree destroyed or did it survive the wildfire? The banyan tree survived the wildfire.

Encourage students to use language from the question in their answer.

1. Is Hawaii surrounded by water or land? Hawaii is surrounded by water.

2. Did the nearby hurricane help stop the wildfire or did the hurricane make the wildfire worse? The nearby hurricane made the wildfire worse.

3. Was the wildfire moving quickly or slowly? The wildfire was moving quickly.

4. Did Kini and her brother and dad escape the flames in their car or did they have to jump in the water? Kini’s family escaped the flames in their car.

5. Was the banyan tree destroyed or did it survive the wildfire? The banyan tree survived the wildfire.

Short-Answer Questions

Challenge students to produce simple answers on their own.

1. Why did many people not know the wildfire was coming? Many people did not know the wildfire was coming because Lahaina’s emergency sirens never went off, and cell phone and internet services were not working on much of the island.

2. What is a paddle out? A paddle out is a traditional Hawaiian ceremony to remember people who have died. People paddle out into the water on surfboards, form a circle, and recite Hawaiian chants together.

Challenge students to produce simple answers on their own.

Language Acquisition Springboard:

Fill in the five “W” words while reading, then use the answers to generate questions after reading.

Who? (Which person or people is this article mainly about?) Kini Varona

What? (What event does this article describe?) a wildfire

When? (At what time did this event occur?) August 2023

Where? (In what place or location did this event take place?) the city of Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii

Why? (What was the cause of this event?) Hurricane winds knocked power lines over. They caused sparks that caused the tall, dry grasses to catch fire.

Fill in the five “W” words while reading, then use the answers to generate questions after reading.

Who? (Which person or people is this article mainly about?) Kini Varona

What? (What event does this article describe?) a wildfire

When? (At what time did this event occur?) August 2023

Where? (In what place or location did this event take place?) the city of Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii

Why? (What was the cause of this event?) Hurricane winds knocked power lines over. They caused sparks that caused the tall, dry grasses to catch fire.

Connected readings from the Scope archives

Stories about rebuilding after natural disasters:

Narrative Nonfiction: “‘This Is the End of the World’”
Narrative Nonfiction: “The Tornado That Changed America”
Narrative Nonfiction: “Our Beautiful Town Is Gone”
Narrative Nonfiction: “Island of Sorrow”
Narrative Nonfiction: “Our World Turned to Water”
Fiction: “Aftershocks”

Stories about rebuilding after natural disasters:

Narrative Nonfiction: “‘This Is the End of the World’”
Narrative Nonfiction: “The Tornado That Changed America”
Narrative Nonfiction: “Our Beautiful Town Is Gone”
Narrative Nonfiction: “Island of Sorrow”
Narrative Nonfiction: “Our World Turned to Water”
Fiction: “Aftershocks”

Text-to-Speech

Rising From the Ashes

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

1. Prepare to Read

(10 minutes)

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

2. Read and Discuss

(45 minutes)

Discussion Questions (30 minutes)

3. Write About It: Key Ideas and Details

(45 minutes)

Support for Multilingual Learners

These questions are designed to help students respond
to the text at a level that’s right for them.

Yes/No Questions

Either/Or Questions

Short-Answer Questions

Language Acquisition Springboard:

Connected readings from the Scope archives

Help/Support

Help/Support

About Us

Subscriber Information

Rising From the Ashes

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

1. Prepare to Read

(10 minutes)

Preview Vocabulary (10 minutes)

2. Read and Discuss

(45 minutes)

Discussion Questions (30 minutes)

3. Write About It: Key Ideas and Details

(45 minutes)

Support for Multilingual Learners

These questions are designed to help students respond to the text at a level that’s right for them.

Yes/No Questions

Either/Or Questions

Short-Answer Questions

Language Acquisition Springboard:

Connected readings from the Scope archives

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These questions are designed to help students respond
to the text at a level that’s right for them.