Boise State cornerback Kaonohi Kaniho has more than football on his mind these days.
Kaniho, a native of Hawaii, has watched from a far as nearly 40 family members in and near Lahaina were displaced from their homes following the deadly wildfires in Maui.
“My family actually lost their houses and cars and everything they had,” Kaniho said Thursday.
Kaniho’s immediate family lives on the island of O’ahu, but his family’s history originated in Lahaina – and many of his extended family still lives there. Or at least did. The town is mostly destroyed now following the fires, which have killed 99 people as of Thursday afternoon. It’s now the deadliest U.S. wildfire in the last 100 years.
Maybe the only positive? Everyone in his family is accounted for.
“Everyone is safe and that’s the biggest thing and all that matters,” Kaniho said.
Family photo contributed by Kaonohi Kaniho of the damage done by the wildfires in Maui.
Kaniho tugged at the heartstrings as he described trying to text and call his loved ones as the fires spread – only to not hear from them for hours.
“There were definitely scary days and hours after we saw what was happening because the communication was down,” Kaniho said. “But we knew they were taking care of themselves and would find a way through it, which they did.”
But as confident as Kaniho was his family would be OK, several of them weren’t so sure.
“They didn’t think they were going to make it,” Kaniho said.
Kaniho said his parents and those on O’ahu are doing what they can to send supplies to those in Maui. Many of his family members found refuge at the house of Kaniho’s uncle on the other side of the island.
“It’s a hard time right now,” Kaniho said. “Everyone is helping out. My family on the other islands are sending them stuff and doing whatever they can to help.”
Kaniho was so worried for his family as the events unfolded that he contemplated asking coach Andy Avalos if he could return home to offer his help and support. His dad eventually talked him out of it, telling him things were OK and his focus needed to remain on football.
“When I first saw it I definitely had that thought in mind,” Kaniho said. “I’d obviously love to be there to help them out and be there for them, but I’m texting them every day and calling them and making sure they are OK now.
“My mom and dad are shipping them generators, electric stoves, all kinds of stuff – whatever they need. They are doing their part and I’m trusting in them to help them out.”
When I first saw it I definitely had that thought in mind, but my fad made sure I was able with them and knew they were taking care of them and he told me to stay here and keep working hard.
Kaniho has a young daughter back in O’ahu, but she was not impacted by the fires on the nearby island.
He estimated he had “at least 40” family members living in Lahaina who were impacted by the fires. His brother, former Boise State safety Kekaula Kaniho, is living in Boise and wasn’t back in Hawaii when the fires struck.
Kaniho said his great grandpa was one of 16 kids and that he has a very large family back home, nearly all of which were affected by the tragedy.
“It’s pretty unfortunate, but if there’s anyone that can get through it, it’s us,” Kaniho said of his family. “Everything is family and everyone is going to help out. It’s unfortunate but we’re blessed to have our family still alive, and we’re helping out those who lost family members too.”
Kaniho, who is fighting for a starting spot at cornerback, said he’s thankful for his coaches, teammates and others around the program who have tried to help support him the past week.
“They’ve all reached out and let me know if there’s anything I need they are there for me and I’m very thankful for them being there for me in this time,” Kaniho said.
And in a way, he’s thankful for football. The long hours and days of fall camp have at times helped him take his mind off things back home – at least slightly.
“But they are always in the back of my head I’d say,” Kaniho said. “I have a reason to play, even more than just for my daughter, now it’s playing for those guys and I know they want me to do my best in everything I do.”
