Dozens dead from Maui wildfires: What we know about the victims
Devastating wildfires that erupted on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Aug. 8 have claimed the lives of at least 115 people while many more remain missing, according to authorities.
Officials on Maui have repeatedly warned that the death toll is expected to rise as they work to contain the active blazes and assess the damage.
Maui Strong: Charities to directly support wildfire relief efforts
Here's what we know about some of the victims.
Franklin Trejos, 68
Franklin Trejos, 68, died in the historic town of Lahaina on Aug. 8 after a wildfire broke out, his friend Shannon Weber-Bogar confirmed to ABC News.
Trejos, who was originally from Costa Rica, had been living for several years with Weber-Bogar and her husband, Geoff Bogar, at their home on Maui. When the inferno began in Lahaina, Trejos and Bogar stayed behind to try to save the house and help their neighbors, Weber-Bogar said.
Eventually, Trejos and Bogar tried to escape in separate cars. Bogar's car wouldn't start, so he broke a window to get out and was later rescued by police and taken to a local hospital. The next day, Bogar returned to find Trejos' remains inside another car on top of their beloved dog, a 3-year-old golden retriever named Sam, according to Weber-Bogar.
Trejos' niece Kika Pérez Grant told ABC News that her uncle, whom she called "Frankie," was a "huge animal lover" and would always think of others before thinking of himself.
"And so even in his very last moments, he thought to protect," Pérez Grant said.
"He was just a loving man. He was a free spirit, he was an adventurer, a nature lover, an animal lover, an artist," she added. "He was just a great person to be around. Energetic, he had so much gusto."
Pérez Grant also recalled her uncle's great smile and love for chocolate milk.
"He was such a wonderful human," she said. "The best uncle, brother and friend."
Trejos was very close to his older sister, Pérez Grant's mother, who has been living with stage 4 breast cancer. He always worried about her and "checked in on her quite often," according to Pérez Grant.
"She never imagined losing her brother," Pérez Grant said of her mother. "She always thought she would pass first."
Trejos would have turned 69 in September.
"This has been a tragic and heartbreaking loss for our family," Pérez Grant told ABC News "To know that he must have been so scared or to imagine him suffering, there are no words."
Carole Hartley, 60
Carole Hartley, 60, died in Lahaina on Aug. 8 after a wildfire broke out, her sister Donna Hartley confirmed to ABC News.
Carole's body was found by her longtime partner Charles on their property there. The couple were separated as they tried to flee the flames, Donna said.
Charles told Donna that he and Carole were about to get in their truck when it exploded in front of them. He said he told Carole to "run" and he thought she was in front of him running but he never saw her again, according to Donna.
Charles survived but suffered third-degree burns. He returned to their property on Aug. 12 to find human remains alongside Carole's watch and dental bridge, Donna said.
"It has to be her remains," Donna told ABC News. "Nobody else has been at our house."
Donna, who lives in Alabama, said she has struggled to sleep ever since and has been having nightmares.
"I have dreams my sister is on fire," she added.
Donna described her sister as a "beautiful" person. Carole would have turned 61 later in August.
"She had a heart of gold and she cared about other people more than herself," Donna said. "She was always that way."
Joe Schilling, 67
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 67-year-old Lahaina resident Joseph Schilling was among those killed in the wildfire.
Based on accounts from those who interacted with Schilling on Aug. 8 as well as text messages he sent to a friend that afternoon, Schilling's loved ones believe he chose to stay behind at his apartment complex, Hale Mahaolu Eono, with several elderly residents who were unable to evacuate due to mobility issues.
In texts to his friend Corie Bluh, reviewed by ABC News, Schilling said there were "multiple houses on fire right across from me" and that he "can't leave can't see."
"We are trapped can't see a thing plus when u try to breath it burns ur lungs," he wrote.
"Breathing through wet towels," he added. "6 of us in one unit."
Schilling also sent photos to Bluh showing a nearby home on fire with thick smoke billowing into the air. In his last text message, Schilling warned: "Cars parked on the road now exploding."
Schilling had lived on Maui for the last 25 years and became known as "Uncle Joe." He met Bluh through her late husband at work years ago. When Bluh's husband, who she said suffered bouts of mental illness, took to to the sidelines of parenting, Schilling stepped in to mentor and help raise their five children.
"We were not the only people that knew him as Uncle Joe," Bluh told ABC News. "His name tag at work was Uncle Joe because he was just that guy that was there for everybody."
Schilling's pronounced role with the Bluh family and the larger community in Maui came as no surprise to his younger brother, Dan Schilling.
"His life, I would describe it with two words: It was selfless and without convention," Dan Schilling told ABC News.
"What Joe did allowed these people not to die alone," he added. "That's the great gesture he did that he sacrificed himself for."
Buddy Jantoc, 79
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 79-year-old Lahaina resident Buddy Jantoc was among those killed in the wildfire.
Jantoc was originally from Honolulu and had lived in Lahaina for 30 years, his granddaughter, Keshia Alakai, told ABC News.
He most recently lived at Hale Mahaolu Eono, a senior housing complex, but was very independent and still able to drive, she said.
To Jantoc, "his family and his music was everything," Alakai said.
Jantoc is survived by two sons as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, according to Alakai.
"We were all close with him, we all had a special bond with him," she said.
"My Papa usually calls me for any little thing, you know? Just if it was raining a lot, or whatever, he would let me know. So not hearing from him for a couple of days, I already knew something was wrong," she said.
"I knew my Papa was older, but for him to be taken from us that way, I think that's what's the hardest to come to terms with," Alakai said.
She said she'll miss "his calls for the silly stuff," like birthday wishes and helping him place orders online.
"Just little simple stuff that we'll never get again."
Robert Dyckman, 74
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 74-year-old Lahaina resident Robert Dyckman was among those killed in the wildfire.
Melva Benjamin, 71
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 71-year-old Lahaina resident Melva Benjamin was among those killed in the wildfire.
Benjamin's son-in-law, David Makua, told ABC News that their family "have other people still missing."
"All I know is just -- I love my mom. That's all," Makua said. "We're still waiting to hear about other family. So it's -- we're not over yet."
Virginia Dofa, 90
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 90-year-old Lahaina resident Virginia Dofa was among those killed in the wildfire.
Alfredo Galinato, 79
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 79-year-old Lahaina resident Alfredo Galinato was among those killed in the wildfire.
Donna Gomes, 71
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 71-year-old Lahaina resident Donna Gomes was among those killed in the wildfire.
Angelita Vasquez, 88
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 88-year-old Lahaina resident Angelita Vasquez was among those killed in the wildfire.
Conchita Sagudang, 75
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 75-year-old Lahaina resident Conchita Sagudang was among those killed in the wildfire.
Danilo Sagudang, 55
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 55-year-old Lahaina resident Danilo Sagudang was among those killed in the wildfire.
Rodolfo Rocutan, 76
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 76-year-old Lahaina resident Rodolfo Rocutan was among those killed in the wildfire.
When the fire broke out, Rocutan left his truck at his sister's house and tried to escape on foot, according to his grandson, Ian Rocutan.
Rodolfo Rocutan, who was from the Philippines, moved to California in 2007 and then to Hawaii about two years later. He was looking for a better life for his family and would send money back to the Philippines, his grandson told ABC News.
Ian Rocutan said his grandfather represented "dungngo," or unconditional love.
The last time they spoke, he said his grandfather reminded him of the advice he gave him as a child: "To always do good, be great at school and take care of our family."
"He reminded me how proud he is of me and how he's anticipating of who I'll become," Ian Rocutan told ABC News.
Jonathan Somaoang, 76
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 76-year-old Lahaina resident Jonathan Somaoang was among those killed in the wildfire.
Douglas Gloege, 59
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 59-year-old Lahaina resident Douglas Gloege was among those killed in the wildfire.
Juan Deleon, 45
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 45-year-old Lahaina resident Juan Deleon was among those killed in the wildfire.
Clyde Wakida, 74
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 74-year-old Lahaina resident Clyde Wakida was among those killed in the wildfire.
Todd Yamafuji, 68
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 68-year-old Lahaina resident Todd Yamafuji was among those killed in the wildfire.
Antonia Molina, 64
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 64-year-old Lahaina resident Antonia Molina was among those killed in the wildfire.
Freeman Tam Lung, 80
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 80-year-old Lahaina resident Freeman Tam Lung was among those killed in the wildfire.
Theresa Cook, 72
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 72-year-old California resident Theresa Cook was among those killed in the wildfires on Maui.
Narciso Baylosis Jr., 67
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 67-year-old Lahaina resident Narciso Baylosis Jr. was among those killed in the wildfire.
Vanessa Baylosis, 67
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 67-year-old Lahaina resident Vanessa Baylosis was among those killed in the wildfire.
Tau Ponali, 66
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 66-year-old Lahaina resident Tau Ponali was among those killed.
Valerie Kauffman, 78
Maui County officials confirmed that 78-year-old Lahaina resident Valerie Kauffman was among those killed.
Salvador Coloma, 77
Maui County officials confirmed that 77-year-old Lahaina resident Salvador Coloma was among those killed.
Carlo Tobias, 54
Maui County officials confirmed that 54-year-old Lahaina resident Carlo Tobias was among those killed.
Albert Kitaguchi, 62
Albert Kitaguchi, 62, of Lahaina, was among those killed, according to Maui County officials.
Lynn Manibog, 74
Lahaina resident Lynn Manibog, 74, has been identified as a victim of the fires, according to Maui County officials.
Todd Nakamura, 61
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 61-year-old Lahaina resident Todd Nakamura was among those killed in the wildfire.
Bernard Portabes, 75
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 75-year-old Lahaina resident Bernard Portabes was among those killed in the wildfire.
Tony Takafua, 7
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 7-year-old Lahaina resident Tony Takafua was among those killed in the wildfire.
Salote Tone, 39
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 39-year-old Lahaina resident Salote Tone was among those killed in the wildfire.
Faaoso Tone, 70
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 70-year-old Lahaina resident Faaoso Tone was among those killed in the wildfire.
Maluifonua Tone, 73
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 73-year-old Lahaina resident Maluifonua Tone was among those killed in the wildfire.
Bette Jo Dyckman, 73
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 73-year-old Lahaina resident Bette Jo Dyckman was among those killed in the wildfire.
Rebecca Rans, 57
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 57-year-old Lahaina resident Rebecca Rans was among those killed in the wildfire.
David Nuesca Jr., 59
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 59-year-old Lahaina resident David Nuesca Jr. was among those killed in the wildfire.
Poomaikai Losano, 28
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 28-year-old Lahaina resident Poomaikai Losano was among those killed in the wildfire.
Carolyn Ono, 73
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 73-year-old Lahaina resident Carolyn Ono was among those killed in the wildfire.
Eugene Recolizado, 50
of Lahaina
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 50-year-old Lahaina resident Eugene Recolizado was among those killed in the wildfire.
Mark Kaminsky, 59
of Lahaina
Maui County and the Maui Police Department confirmed that 59-year-old Lahaina resident Mark Kaminsky was among those killed in the wildfire.
ABC News' Peter Charalambous, Marilyn Heck, Christopher Looft, Sasha Pezenik, Alyssa Pone, Stephanie Wash and Jennifer Watts contributed to this report.
