Hawaii exec a lifesaver in wildfire crisis
Lisa Paulson became a hero after the country’s deadliest wildfire in over a century swept through Lahaina, Maui, in August, killing 101 people and displacing thousands.
Using her experience as a 30-year Maui resident, a nonprofit executive and the director of Maui’s Hotel and Lodging Association, Paulson led a group of tourism managers on a daring mission to evacuate approximately 12,000 tourists from the island.
She has been named USA TODAY’s Woman of the Year honoree for Hawaii for her outstanding crisis management and leadership skills.
The deadly blaze started as brush fires and quickly erupted into wildfires that ravaged the historic town. As authorities closed Honoapiilani Highway, the main route connecting hotels to the safer side of the island, thousands found themselves stranded. Paulson coordinated with county transportation officials and tour bus operators on a system to evacuate people from West Maui.
Despite challenges such as power outages and communication breakdowns, she used her connections within the industry to establish contact with hotel managers with crucial information about the emergency situation.
Paulson also helped orchestrate a transportation plan to evacuate tourists through the active burn zone.
Her efforts extended beyond evacuating tourists, though. She addressed the needs of displaced local residents by providing free hotel rooms. Paulson continues to lead initiatives to support Maui’s residents and aid in recovering the tourism industry.
Working with state agencies, the Red Cross and FEMA, Paulson now focuses on day care facilities and mid- to longterm housing solutions. She participates in Hawaii Gov. Josh Green’s Economic Recovery Commission, expressing optimism about coordinated efforts for recovery and economic stabilization on the island’s west side.
Paulson exemplifies the strength of the community and the dedication of individuals, prioritizing the safety and well-being of those affected by the fire.
Question: Can you walk us through the process of selecting evacuation routes and coordinating transportation?
Answer: So we had to work with the (Hawaii) Department of Public Works to make sure that the roads were even clear. Even when we did the first run of buses, bus drivers reported so much debris on the road. We coordinated with the Department of Public Works, police and fire to make sure that these buses were safe to go through.
A lot of these bus companies had to be careful who they selected to make this drive, because they knew that it was going to be something very uncomfortable and emotional for these people to see. So they had selected the drivers that were going to be doing these runs, and (it was) just a beautiful thing. You know, everybody just didn’t care what time it was. They didn’t care how long they were going to be behind the wheel. It was everybody just all hands on deck to start establishing consecutive and consistent evacuation.
In your opinion, what role did the collective efforts of individuals like yourself play in the overall disaster recovery? And, in this specific instance, would you say that you consider yourself kind of a facilitator?
I’m kind of a born facilitator. I had a brief stint in government, and I like to push things through and get things done quickly and efficiently. So that’s why I didn’t last in government very long (laughs). But, yeah, because I’ve lived here so long, I knew the key players, and they also knew me. So those relationships go so far and run so deep. When these types of events happen, you just start calling people, and when things happen, they make them happen. That’s what I just love about this community in this state. There’s no, oh, I got to check with so and so. It’s like, got it. I’ll get it done.