The former Xposé presenter, Peter O'Riordan, has spoken of his distress after his Maui home was destroyed by the wildfires ravaging the island.
His wife, children and mother-in-law were forced to flee the house, which was burned to the ground, when fires raged through the town of Lahaina, which is popular with tourists.
"I was awoken to this phone call of just somebody hysterical, screaming down the phone. I was completely taken aback. I wasn’t even awake yet," he told RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, recounting the call from his wife, Stephanie.
Originally from Co Cork and a Maui resident since 2016, Mr O'Riordan runs a catamaran company and has been involved in the efforts to help people to leave the island, as well as bringing in supplies.
When disaster struck he was in Chicago, due to fly back to Maui the following morning.
Stephanie managed to get a hold of him in his hotel room, and explained that "it was all gone" and that the family was fleeing.
It was pandemonium, he said, as he explained to his children that the house, "all the memories, everything we have is gone".
This what left of my children's home ….. pic.twitter.com/09VnAKSozu
— Pete the Treat (@PeterORIordan1) August 12, 2023
"I got the go that they were out and okay, and that’s the most important thing. They fled almost immediately and survived, which is the most important thing," he said.
Early the next morning, Mr O'Riordan went to the airport and got as far as Denver, at which point all flights had been shut down. He had to wait until the following day to fly the last leg home.
He said: "I luckily got a flight out on United Airlines, which had all of the supplies being flown out to Maui. I landed and it was just catastrophic.
"The next day, we loaded up supplies, and headed into Lahaina town. What we saw was just absolute devastation and destruction that is absolutely unimaginable.
"It was as if someone literally dropped a bomb in the west side of Maui. Everything had been absolutely obliterated. I’m talking dust.
"Cars, buildings ... death, destruction everywhere."
Mr O'Riordan explained that he was now staying at his business partner's house, but emphasised that no-one is concerned about what they have lost, as everyone has rallied together during this dark time.
"We have taken it upon ourselves to take action," he said.
He added that Maui is a significant place for Hawaiian culture, and that there are parts of the island still untouched.
"We are a nation and island that is dependent on tourist money, we need income.
"My biggest fear is that in addition to this disaster, we are going to be spun into economic turmoil and an economic downturn coupled with this disaster that will serious effect this island for many many years to come," he said.
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