Clark County Task Force To Lend Help In Maui

Author Mike O'Brian

August 14th, 2023 10:35 AM

With the devastation on the island of Maui, a Nevada task force is there to lend help to the island. Arriving a couple of days ago, according to a report from Channel 3, the task force is a joint effort from a few local agencies. The task force is made up of members from the Clark County Fire, North Las Vegas Fire, Las Vegas Fire. Also joining in is the Boulder City Fire, Henderson Fire, and a few private civilians.

The local task force will help in search and rescue efforts on the island. The death toll already reaching almost 100 and over 1000 still missing. The task force will have their work cutout for them. But lending a hand to our friends and families in Hawaii is something they are looking forward to doing.

Nevada task force in Maui to help!

This has been recorded as the deadliest fire in U.S. history in over a century. Way deadlier than the fire in Southern California back in 2018. The destruction of property in Maui is overwhelming with over 2200 structures destroyed. And with the speed that the fire traveled at, there was little time for immediate response.

Nonetheless, the help sent from Las Vegas is dearly needed and something that a lot of Western States are providing. However, being considered the “9th” island, the city of Las Vegas feels even more of a need to lend a hand and support.

Considering California and the state of Washington both boast a larger Hawaiian population, Las Vegas alone has a huge Hawaiian population! Some would say it’s the entertainment, food, gaming or just the lower cost of living that makes our city so popular. For whatever reason, our city is proud of it’s “Aloha Spirit”!

If you would like to donate money or are trying to locate a friend or family member, we have posted all that information on the KKLZ website! We will keep updating the site with new information as it’s made available to us!

Mike O’Brian is the Program Director and Morning Show host on 96.3 KKLZ in Las Vegas, along with Carla Rea. He has been with the Beasley Media Group for almost 23 years. Mike was named one of the “Best Program Directors In America” by Radio Ink magazine. Over the years, “The Mike & Carla Morning Show” have been presented with a number of proclamations for their work in the community and numerous awards. Having lived in Las Vegas for over 35 years, he writes articles on living in Las Vegas, sports, and odd stories happening within the state of Nevada. Mike is the host of the morning show and program director of 96.3 KKLZ/Las Vegas. He has been doing mornings in Las Vegas for the past 38 years. Over the years, he has hosted a numerous amount of community events and has been the P.A. announcer for a number of sports teams in Las Vegas. He has written on living in Las Vegas, the sports teams here, as well as odd & little-known facts about Las Vegas & Nevada.

More People Are Moving To Las Vegas, And Here's Why

It may seem like Las Vegas is tapped out on new people moving here. Our water resources seem to be depleted with Lake Mead falling so drastically. Our roads aren’t big enough to hold on the traffic it suddenly needs to. Road construction is an ongoing thing lately.

But still we keep seeing more and more housing construction happening around the valley. And in more recent years, even up the side of the mountains. Because people are still relocating to Sin City. And it doesn’t look like that’s going to stop anytime soon.

And one specific demographic that is, more and more, calling Las Vegas “home” is the Pacific Islanders. More specific, natives of Hawaii. In fact, the community of Hawaiians in Las Vegas is flourishing so much, that Vegas is informally referred to as the “Ninth Island”.

I know what you’re thinking. Why would anyone leave Hawaii? The answer is pretty common. It’s too expensive to live there. According to dividendsdiversify.com, home prices are two and a half times the national average, rent is about 60% higher. Even utilities, groceries, and gasoline are much higher than you’ll find on the mainland.

But Hawaiians relocating to Las Vegas isn’t a new thing. And there’s a common denominator in many of the stories of why Islanders relocate to Sin City. There are a lot of targeted marketing specials aimed at the islands for getaways to Las Vegas. Some of our local hotels and casinos offer certain incentives for Hawaiians to visit. And a lot of times once someone is here to visit, they end up staying.

According to the New York Times, once such hotel was the California Hotel & Casino in downtown Vegas. It opened in 1975 with an intentional draw toward the residents of Hawaii. The dealers wore Hawaiian shirts. There was island cuisine on the menu. There was even a sign that read “Aloha Spoken Here” (nytimes.com).

So what specifically does Las Vegas have to offer that Hawaii doesn’t? Here’s a list of pros and cons about living on the islands versus living in Las Vegas.

– Wendy Rush, 96.3 KKLZ

CON: Cost of Housing
Photo by badmanproduction via Getty Images.

Many people who live in Hawaii aren’t home owners. The average cost of a home there is $800K, which is nearly double the median price of $460K in Nevada (nytimes.com). So, many who come to Las Vegas get to buy a home for the first time. That’s a pretty enticing perk.
PRO: Amazing Weather & Scenery
tobkatrina via Getty Images

Fun Fact: There is a rainbow in Hawaii almost every day. As if they needed to be more paradisiacal than they already are. The weather on the islands is like a mild summer, every single day. If they had a state uniform, it would be shorts and flip flops. That doesn’t mean they don’t have their issues too. If you consider humidity, bugs and volcanos issues.
CON: Isolation
splendens via Getty Images

If you’re the kind of person that likes to jump in the car and go somewhere else on a whim, Hawaii might be a hard place to live. You can’t exactly do that there (unless your car can float). After a while of living on one of the islands, it might feel like you’re pretty alone.
PRO: Super Nice People
Maridav via Getty Images

You know that warm smile you get when you visit Hawaii and someone puts a lei on your neck? That’s not pretense. Native Hawaiians have a laid back way about them. They are extremely friendly and compassionate. It’s like their state motto is love and compassion.
PRO: Low Crime Rate
Image Source via Getty Images

While they’re not completely crime free on the islands (especially Hawaii), it’s a much low crime rate than the rest of the country. Think about it. There aren’t many places to hide if you’re committing a crime. And with the friendly nature of Hawaiians, they’d probably jump in front of a criminal if it meant helping out a neighbor.
CON: Congested Roads
bee32 via Getty Images

Hawaii doesn’t have a lot of highways. And the roads they do have often have construction to keep them maintained. Plus, there aren’t a lot of bike paths or many public transportation options. That adds up to a lot of time sitting in traffic.
CON: Some Things Are Harder To Come By
Prostock-Studio via Getty Images

Like we said before, the cost of living in Hawaii is outrageous. And some products you just don’t have access to on the islands. And if you are able to get them online, shipping costs and delivery times can be crazy. And speaking of crazy, there are places on the islands where people run out of water if they didn’t do a good job of collecting it when it rained. So that’s fun.
PRO: Lots Of Outdoors Activities Available
Bicho_raro via Getty Images

Snorkling, diving, boating and surfing are just a few of the things you can do IN the water. And out of it you have plenty of options too. Including biking, golfing, or hiking. You’re never without something to do living in Hawaii.