Mikey Burke, a Native Hawaiian teenager from West Maui, always dreamed of leaving her hometown, thinking that there was more to explore beyond the village she grew up in.
However, after experiencing life in Los Angeles, where she felt lost among millions, she began to long for the authenticity of Maui, where she felt a deep connection to family and the land, or Aina.
Upon graduating college in 2006, Mikey returned home for a visit before launching her career in public accounting.
On her flight, she encountered Rob, a commercial painter, who would later become her husband.
As they fell in love, Burke made it clear she wanted to raise their children in Maui, cherishing the upbringing she had experienced.
After the birth of their son, Mikey took a significant pay cut to work at Maui’s local power utility, believing that things would stabilize for her and her husband, Rob, once he found work.
Contrary to her expectations, their financial situation became increasingly strained, exacerbated by the high cost of living on the island.
After welcoming twins into their growing family, Burke faced a housing crisis when they realized their two-bedroom condo exceeded occupancy limits.
After a year of searching in a tight housing market, they found hope in a four-bedroom house in Lāhainā, which they purchased through a workforce housing program aimed at helping local families.
The house came at a steep price of $761,645 with a $3,300 monthly mortgage, but it felt hopeful, representing a secure future for their family.
Tragically, on August 8, 2023, a devastating wildfire engulfed their home and the town of Lāhainā, killing over 100 people and displacing the Burke family among many others.
As they grappled with the loss of their home, they found themselves among more than 800 families left homeless, struggling to decide whether they could rebuild their lives amidst skyrocketing insurance costs and new financial stressors.
Local organizations revealed that many homeowners in Lāhainā faced mortgage balances far exceeding national averages, further complicating their ability to recover.
In the immediate wake of the fire, Burke found shelter with family and friends but had to juggle devastation with her work responsibilities and care for her children.
Struggling to navigate the bureaucratic aftermath, she constantly dealt with mortgage servicers, emphasizing her need for clarity amidst uncertainty regarding payments and forbearance terms.
Burke’s determination to rebuild and maintain ties to her ancestral homeland highlighted a larger issue regarding the displacement of Native Hawaiian families as a result of natural disasters and ongoing housing crises.
The Maui housing market, already challenging for locals before the fire, became increasingly unattainable, with estimates predicting sharp increases in property sales and ownership changes following the disaster.
Compounded with rising insurance costs and the lack of homeownership support for Indigenous peoples, families like the Burkes face overwhelming obstacles as they seek to reclaim their place on the land.
Mikey Burke, standing resolute in her fight for stability, views home as more than just bricks and mortar; it’s about preserving her children’s heritage and future.
In light of her family’s struggle, she represents countless Native Hawaiians encountering the dire intersection of climate change, housing insecurity, and the enduring fight for ancestral land rights.
image source from：grist
