The devastating fires in Maui have impacted thousands of people, including Kim Ball, the well-known owner of Hi-Tech Surf Sports, who lives in Lahaina. Hi-Tech is an important industry account with five stores on the island, including their flagship location in Kahului that specializes in hardgoods.

Ball and his family lost three Lahaina homes in the fires last Tuesday: a 900-square-foot house in the neighborhood by the old Pioneer sugar mill that a friend rented; a 1,000-square-foot cottage behind it where his two adult sons, a schoolteacher and a nursing student, lived; and another home nearby in a new development where Ball and his wife lived.

Some in his area died trying to escape. His son, Blake, had to flee for his life, and nearly got caught in the inferno as he rescued Ball’s dogs from his house. Ball’s heard stories of people running to safety on foot for two miles to escape while carrying their babies.

People have told him harrowing stories of young people trying to help older strangers as they all ran away from the fast moving blaze in other parts of Lahaina, but the older people were not able to keep up, and urged the young people to leave them behind to save themselves.

“They couldn’t do anything,” Ball said. “It was coming too fast. And if you didn’t run, you weren’t going to make it. It’s just so sad what they had to go through.”

So far, 114 have been confirmed dead on Maui. Many more are still unaccounted for.

As far as Ball’s neighborhood, it’s all gone. Not a single house is left.

“It was a vibrant neighborhood,” he said. “It’s all working class families. It’s not a ‘second home’ neighborhood. And most of the households were multifamily. You had two, three families living together. When you multiple that out about how many are affected, it’s a lot. Where will they all live?”

Leaning on Family

Ball is fortunate – his brother, sister-in-law and nephew live in Kihei, and have taken his family in while they look for a long term rental. “It’s been therapeutic to be with family during this time,” Ball added. “I sure wouldn’t want to be living on my own. So, to have my boys and my brother and sister-in-law and nephew all together – we’re playing board games. I’m cooking fresh fish tonight. They’ve been great.”

Ball’s wife Cindy left on a pre-planned trip to visit her grandkids in Oregon the morning of the fire before the big eruption happened, and will likely stay there until Ball secures a long term rental on Maui.

Ball believes many who lost their homes are also staying with relatives.

“That’s the local way – we take in family,” he said. “My sister-in-law has heard stories about 15 people staying in one house, and I’m sure that’s the case for many people.”

Hi-Tech Employees Step Up

Ball has been overwhelmed by how his staff immediately rallied to help the Lahaina community, even before they knew Ball’s family had lost their homes.

“First thing on the morning after the fire, texts started going around with my staff about going on social media to collect food and water and blankets,” he said. “That was really before anybody mobilized. We had an outpouring of at least 20 truckloads of stuff that morning that was taken to the shelters and the church and it continued the next day.”

“And by the third day, other organizations that could help were up and running. Then we started getting some clothing from our vendors,” Ball said. “The staff boxed it according to size and gender. I think a lot of people had family in Lahaina who came and got backpacks and clothing. So, that has been pretty cool.”

He’s appreciative of the vendors who offered to help, including some that immediately air freighted donations of clothing and other goods. Stance CEO John Wilson emailed Ball that Stance was forgiving Hi-Tech’s outstanding invoice.

“It came from such a genuine place, that was really cool,” Ball said.

Anyone who has spent time with Ball in Maui can see he is almost like the mayor there – he knows everyone, and is deeply involved in community groups. Hi-Tech puts on several surf contests for kids and hosts fishing tournaments. Personally, Ball has been a longtime youth wrestling coach and is very active in his church.

So it’s no surprise that Hi-Tech has launched its own fundraiser by selling a “Rebuild Lahaina” T-shirt to benefit the Maui Sports Foundation to help youth sports get back on track.

Business Outlook Uncertain as Tourists Stay Away

While Hi-Tech is fortunate – the company did not lose any stores, though its shop in the Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Kaanapali is closed right now because the hotel is housing displaced employees and first responders. However, two of his Kaanapali employees also lost their homes.

But Ball is worried about what the future holds, especially since influencers, such as actor Jason Momoa and others, are telling tourists to stay away.

“Lahaina is devastated, no bones about it – it’s done for awhile,” Ball said. “But all the other areas of the island are open, and still beautiful. If people stay away, it will devastate the whole island. Eighty percent of our economy is based on visitors. If we have no visitors, we’re not going to survive.”

“You can already see it – the car lots are now just like they were during the pandemic, fields and fields filled with idle rental cars. Hopefully, visitors will start coming back because we still need them.”

As far as Hi-Tech’s business, sales have dropped off a lot, Kim said, which is understandable.

“We have been selling replacement clothing, water bottles, backpacks – stuff that families lost but need immediately,” he said. “Hardgoods sales are way down. It has been the worst summer for surfing that I can remember on Maui. Once we get some surf back, maybe that will spur some sales because just like me, a lot of people lost all of their boards in the fire. And it’s one of the more therapeutic things you can do to forget everything and feel better, is to get in the water.”

Still Coming to Surf Expo

Despite losing his homes, Ball and his staff will be at the Surf Expo trade show in Orlando, Florida in September.

“Are you kidding?” Ball said. “I’ll get a big bed at the hotel, a nice, comfortable bed. I’ll get a hot shower. And I don’t have to wait in line for the toilet. I’m coming!”

“I might not leave the hotel room, but I’ll be there,” he said, laughing.