Maui's Resilience

Maui, a Hawaii island synonymous with paradise, was transformed into a real-life horror film in the wake of the deadliest weather-related disaster in state history.

The wind-whipped flames turned the fire into a roaring inferno that overtook entire neighborhoods hour-by-hour – destroying historic buildings, forcing fleeing residents into the Pacific Ocean for refuge and taking the lives of dozens who could not make it out in time.

In some neighborhoods, all that is left are the charred remains of the charming structures that once drew millions of visitors each year.

A desperate and grueling search for those who are unaccounted for continues.

And yet, amid the devastation, hope prevails.

The spirit of Aloha will raise the community up as the cleanup and rebuilding begins.

These are the locals’ stories.

Multiple blazes ravaged the island of Maui, leaving more than 100 people dead and thousands of homes destroyed.

A perfect storm of strong winds and dry conditions left Maui vulnerable to what officials say was the deadliest natural disaster in the state's history.

The situation grew increasingly dire hour-by-hour on Aug. 8, as residents in Lahaina were forced to make life-or-death decisions to escape the deadly blaze taking over the historic town.

ABC News chronicled the blazes, the evacuations and the harrowing scenes residents were forced to confront as they watched Lahaina burn.

This is Lahaina, before and after:

The island of Maui is in mourning.

And the search for those who perished in the wildfires has not stopped.

So much was lost in the flames, none more valuable than the human lives from a community described by locals as tight-knit.

With hundreds still missing, officials are warning the community that the death toll will likely continue to climb.

Among the dead are beloved family members, friends and neighbors, each with a story to tell.

The wildfires have completely devastated the historic town of Lahaina, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1962.

Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii in the early to mid-1800s and became home to several cultural landmarks throughout its time.

Several Hawaiian monarchs are buried within the town’s limits and a 150-year-old banyan tree located in the center square symbolizes the historic locale.

Many families, particularly Native Hawaiian families, have lived in Lahaina for generations.

From beach landings to parking lots to front lawns, resident-led distribution efforts swiftly took over Maui following the devastation of the wildfires.

Some residents organize the necessities -- gas, diapers, water, fish and food -- delivered by boats from nearby islands to Maui's shores. Others haul goods into pickup trucks waiting to take the goods to those who need them most.

The community runs like a well-oiled machine. For the Native Hawaiians, or Kanaka Maoli, it's as if they've been preparing for this moment.