(NewsNation) — One year ago, a devastating wildfire killed more than a hundred people and destroyed most of the Maui community of Lahaina.
Marked as the deadliest fire in more than a century, the flames destroyed thousands of homes and forced Hawaiians to relocate.
Many of those who survived and were left homeless had found themselves living in Las Vegas, which is now being nicknamed the “ninth island” of Hawaii.
More jobs, more affordable housing in Las Vegas
Before the Lahaina fire, thousands of Hawaiians had relocated to Sin City largely due to the abundance of hospitality jobs and more affordable housing.
But since the fire, Las Vegas has become home to more Hawaiians.
“We’re going to be aloha no matter where we are,” Kehau Johnston, a Hawaiian who relocated to Las Vegas, said.
While this desert city is nowhere near the ocean, tropical vibes are everywhere.
The Las Vegas Hawaiian community was quick to support and welcome families impacted by the fire.
According to Hawaiian estimates reported by the Associated Press, more than 1,500 Maui households have moved away.
“Our people have no place to go but outside of Hawaii. So, of course they’ll gravitate here because the majority of our friends move here,” Johnston said.
The ‘ninth island’
The “ninth island” has been drawing Hawaiians for decades, bringing the total Pacific Islander population in Las Vegas to over 40,000.
The Hawaiian chain Zippy’s opened a location in Vegas just a few months ago.
“The way I see the ninth island is, it’s in the desert and the sand is our ocean,” Tieri Pa’ahana Bissen said.
Tieri Pa’ahana Bissen, the mainland council representative for the LV Hawaiian Civic Club, moved from Maui long before the fire but still has family there, including her brother, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen.
For many, joining the pipeline to Las Vegas is easy.
“From Lahaina, the hotel industry. For here, we have the hotel industry, so the matching of the jobs is a lot easier for the families to come over and secure a job,” Tieri Pa’ahana Bissen said.
Hawaii’s cost of living skyrocketing
Vegas realtor Randy Hatata said jobs and affordable housing will keep islanders coming.
“For roughly about one-third of the cost of Maui, you can be a homeowner here and probably for a larger home,” Hatata said. “There’s a lot of excitement from that, a lot of motivated people looking to relocate for that reason.”
“Hawaii, the cost of living is just going up and up. The cost of food, everything is just being driven up. Out here, there’s a chance for you and your family,” said Isaiah Ahmow, a Hawaiian now living in Las Vegas.
A Lahaina survivor who lost her home and moved to Las Vegas said she was just too emotional to interview with NewsNation but said she was hoping to move back to her hometown someday.
For now, the housing crisis and unemployment rate continue to worsen in Maui, where tourism has been down since the fire, with an estimated $1 billion lost in revenue.