Astronaut Warren “Woody” Hoburg captured from ISS Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. In August 2023, a wildfire destroyed approximately 80% of Lahaina town. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragic event.
Lahaina was originally called Lele in Hawaiian and was known for its breadfruit trees. Lahaina has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh) with warm temperatures year-round. In fact, Lahaina town is one of the driest places in Hawaii, because it is in the rain shadow of Mauna Kahālāwai (West Maui Mountains). Lahaina was once an important destination for 19th-century whalers, whose presence frequently led to conflicts with the local missionaries. On more than one occasion the conflict became so severe that sailors rioted. The British whaling ship John Palmer in 1827 shelled Lahaina. In response, Governor Hoapili built the Old Lahaina Fort in 1831 to protect the town from unruly sailors.
The local scenery on the ground is as follows.
Reference: Warren “Woody” Hoburg’s Tweet
See earthview photo gallery: LiVEARTH