To clarify, Oprah was able to visit our shelter and we thank her for instructing media journalists and camera crews to remain outside.
We welcome Oprah to continue to uplift our community’s spirit and give her aloha to victims of the tragic disaster.
Her visit inside of the shelter today was truly heartwarming and we appreciate her understanding of our policy of having no camera crews or reporters accompanying dignitaries and celebrities in our emergency shelters.
Mahalo.
Winfrey was pictured at the Wailuku shelter last week delivering “cots, pillows, and toiletries,” according to the caption on the non-profit group Kāko’o Haleakalā’s Instagram.
Winfrey shared her experience visiting the shelter on her Oprah Daily account in a video posted Sunday, saying that what this week taught her is: “When you don’t know what to do, you do whatever you can.”
“At some point I will make a major donation after all of the smoke and ashes have settled here and we figure out what the rebuilding is going to look like,” she said. She described families sharing cots and air mattresses with nothing left to their names, but who are nonetheless grateful to have each other. “Long after the camera crews are gone and the rest of the world has moved on, the rebuilding will just begin,” said Winfrey, promising that, “you’re going to see a lot of phoenix stories rising from the ashes here.”
According to the most recent figures, the death toll of the Maui wildfires has risen to 96.
- Meanwhile, the Honolulu-born Jason Momoa has a message for all: “DO NOT TRAVEL TO MAUI.” In case you missed it. [Instagram]
- In a recent interview, Billy Porter has more to say about Harry Styles’ Vogue cover: “Non-binary blah blah blah blah. No. It doesn’t feel good to me. You’re using my community — or your people are using my community — to elevate you.” Porter also called Anna Wintour a “bitch.” Well, he’s certainly not the first. [Page Six]
- Reading the beginning of this headline was breathtaking: “Idina Menzel Says Playing Lea Michele’s Mom in Glee ‘Wasn’t Great.’” (!) But then I read the rest of it: “For Her Ego.” Oh. [People]
- Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are doing the social-media equivalent of slapping each other with white gloves over their proposed dudefight. [Deadline]
- Barbie’s domestic gross has surpassed Frozen II’s, making Greta Gerwig the highest-grossing woman director of all time at the North American box office. She’s also now the highest-grossing woman director of a live-action movie globally after Barbie beat out Captain Marvel’s gross. Behold, the power of plastic. [The Hollywood Reporter]
