Lessons From Lāhainā: A Stories of Impact Documentary
On August 8, 2023, a wind-driven wildfire moved through Lāhainā on the Hawaiian island of Maui in hours, taking more than 100 lives and destroying more than 2,000 structures. A new Stories of Impact documentary from UL Research Institutes examines the Lāhainā wildfire and returns to the question a grieving community was left asking: How could this happen, and what will it take to make sure it never happens again?
The film follows the Fire Safety Research Institute as its researchers walk the burn scar and document the fire’s destruction. Through their work with first responders, survivors, and state officials, the documentary explores not just how the Lāhainā wildfire spread, but why the systems meant to prevent it fell short.
Derek Alkonis, a senior research program manager with the institute, guides viewers through that work. Rather than assigning blame, they show how a rigorous look at the evidence revealed a harder truth: No single failure caused this tragedy.
Through firsthand accounts and expert analysis, the documentary follows the investigation from the burn scar to the lessons that followed. The documentary explores how safety science can help communities understand risk, strengthen resilience, and prepare for future Hawai’i wildfires.
Watch the documentary below to learn more.
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