Pets

Lahaina Captain Offers Free Trips To Fire Survivors

This photo provided by Chrissy Lovitt shows Macy, a golden retriever dog, whale-watching off Lahaina, Hawaii on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
(Chrissy Lovitt via AP )

A Hawaii captain who has rebuilt her whale-watching tour business after three boats she owned perished in the deadly 2023 Lahaina wildfire is offering free seats for fire survivors, hoping whale-watching will help them heal from the tragedy.

On the fateful day that the historic town went up in flames, Chrissy Lovitt was working in Lahaina Harbor. She told Hawaii News Now that she left her own boats to burn, using a friend’s skiff, which was easier to maneuver quickly, to rescue people, including children.

“It was a tough night, but I’m grateful that I was there to help, and I’m grateful that I’m still here to try to continue to help, heal people,” Lovitt said.

Some fire survivors find that the free whale watching trips help them escape from reality. “We always say it’s our therapy session. It’s time to just smile and just forget for a minute about what’s going on, and just really enjoy with good company and beautiful animals and it just fills your heart up,” a Lahaina fire survivor named Shannon Blakey told Hawaii News Now.

“To hear that come from a fire survivor is the most fulfilling thing that I can hear,” Lovitt says. “It’s more fulfilling than any amount of money or running boats filled with paying passengers. To me, that’s what I’ve always wanted as a business owner is just to contribute to people in the community.”

Lovitt’s whale-watching business currently operates out of Mala Wharf in Lahaina.

Senior writer Chris DeWeese edits Morning Brief, The Weather Channel’s weekday newsletter.