We are deeply saddened by the reports of the wildfire that broke out on the Hawaiian island of Maui on August 8 and caused many deaths and injuries, especially in Lahaina.

On behalf of World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP/ RfP)　Japan, I would like to express our deepest condolences to those who lost their lives and their bereaved families. We also pray for those who are still missing will be found as soon as possible.

Those affected by the disaster have lost all of their household goods and have been forced to live as evacuees. According to reports, many people have taken refuge in community and religious facilities that were spared from the fire, and local religious communities are helping each other and offering support from all over the world.

Lahaina, which suffered devastating damage, is also a historical reserve and an area with strong relationships to Japan, where many Christian churches and Japanese ordained temples were once located. WCRP/ RfP Japan is concerned about the serious impact of the wildfires on the island's history, culture, and religious communities, and joins with the international religious network in expressing our heartfelt prayers and acts of solidarity to help the affected people restore peace and serenity as soon as possible.

August 18, 2023
World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP /RfP) Japan
Chairperson, Rev. Yoshiharu Tomatsu