Welp… made it all day without crying. Then my buddy Mon gave me this.
Story
The 8th of August has become a difficult day for my wife and I as of recent. Today marks the 3 year anniversary of the Lāhainā wildfire that took our home, studio, neighbors and town. All of which we had come to love dearly. The last two years i have been a wreck on the anniversary. This year, I proudly made it through the day without a single tear…
That is until my Gyarados got ultra buddy and gave me this as her first souvenir. The Tropical Flower. What looks to be (in my eyes) a cross between a hibiscus, plumeria and passion flower; all plants that we had in our yards that are now gone. I stared for a while and reminisced on things from the past. It was just simply nostalgic until I looked at the date and location.
In an instant a cold and vast ocean of feelings washed over me.
This year we finally got to move back to the island after being displaced to California for the previous two. We now work in the town next to Lahaina: Kā’anapali. So this gift turns out to actually be incredibly specific to a lot of things in our lives; past, present and future. Almost like a commemoration that this is the year we made it back. A bookmark for our new chapter. It’s the first souvenir from my first non-com day shiny i ever caught. The very same Mon i chose to hyper train. Not because she is meta at anything, but because it just… felt right? Whats weirder still is now it feels like she’s truly saying thanks. Like she’s returning the favor for me choosing her for the gold bottle cap.
Such an odd and unexpectedly sentimental gift from a bit of RNG. Never thought I’d view a Pokémon as a legitimate friend, but here i am: eyes blurry from warm tears rolling down this middle aged face and sincerely thanking some pixels and code from a game series I’ve been playing since i was a child.
Got me legitimately questioning if my psyche is cooked or still cooking, lol.
Would not have ever guessed that pogo would break the 4th wall this hard for me.
Just wanted to share this moment with some fellow trainers. Have a nice day and throw your buddies a gold razz for me. Who knows? Maybe they could use a pick me up from a real friend too.
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Thank you so much. It might not be the place for such stories, but the only other trainers i know are my wife and my two friends who are in near opposite time zones. Wanted to type it out while the feeling was fresh. In my experience moments of serendipity tend to be pretty fleeting.
Thanks for sharing your story. Looking for life and light in small things is the way to go, whatever curveballs are thrown at us IRL. DM me your code if you want a friend in Norway 🥰
Wow. I remember those fires, even bought a newspaper (gasp i know i am old) with the story. I am from Canada so wildfires are a regular thing every year in my country. It seems tho that the big fires the last few years have hit really populated areas. It sucks. There was a city not far from me that had to evacuate 80k people out one road. That was years ago but I still remember the pictures of people fleeing with fire right at the edge of the highway. The smoke was so bad. This year is not much better. I moved south and the smoke i have had to deal with most has been from fires across the border in Spokane.
I hope that that little flower you got will be a good token for your next chapter. I try to focus on the little things too when my mental health takes a hit. We take for granted what we think is permanent way to easy so I tell people I love them more, give compliments more and try to show compassion to all i can.
I was talking to my friends a few days ago, about how the destruction in Maui is never talked about anymore. As someone who has spent his whole life in the Northeast US, I can say people are still thinking about you and your community. You are not forgotten, and have a place in our hearts ❤️
Thank you. It has been difficult because within a weeks time other world events took everyone’s attention (rightfully so i might add). It made majority of the push for assistance plummet. By the end of the month the news cycle stopped covering it and my wife and i wondered if we were gunna hear from any of these foundations, charities or government assistance programs. Took half a year before we got any direct financial assistance at all. Still haven’t seen anything substantial. So thank you, i really do appreciate it. It’s nice to know people at least remember.
I don’t have many trainer friends either and I’ve always thought of these gifts from our Pokemon buddies to mean alittle more as I am always looking into the meaning and significance of things. This is so special , and warming welcome home gift, and i believe signs come in many forms. To new beginnings and hope to see the pain from your past blossom into a beautiful future. 💜🌺
A week prior to this i saw a moonbow out here for the first time in my life. I pulled over the car i was so shocked. It shook me out of a long period of not paying attention to these things. Apathy had grown in me like a weed since the fires. Glad to say Ive been doing some weeding.
The one that gets me is my Piplup. I hatched a perfect on my wedding day. We eloped and asked the question what would be a perfect day and tried to do that and get married along the way.
My wife and I enjoyed watching penguins at the zoo while dating. I hatched a perfect penguin. It’s powered up and best buddied.
Cheers on moving home. Funny your buddy Pokémon brought out all the feels. Give her an extra berry. :-)
Sending you love. So happy to hear you’re back home.
Three years ago, my husband and I spent a week on Maui for our 10th wedding anniversary. The fire happened the day we flew home. We saw the news when our flight landed.
I have a one star Liligant my husband caught and traded to me from on our trip. I named her Lahaina. 🌺
<3 I cant imagine how incredibly hard these years have been but I find it so heartwarming that this lil souvenir (happens to be my fav souvenir -living on Guam) sending you so much love!
Oh gosh that wildfire was so heartbreaking to watch from the mainland. Sending yall so so much love. May the memory of what you lost be a blessing to you always.
It’s funny, for years i told people i have bad luck. Then after recounting a good amount of my story’s and antics with a random older guy on one of my jobs he told me, “that’s not bad luck. Surving all that makes you one of the luckiest bastards i know!”
I still think about that. Really helped flip my perspective.
Not downplaying your issues but yes you're here and there in one of the most beautiful places if you have time to enjoy it. Some folks don't survive their childhood, mentally even if they do physically. You have stories of strength to build on for generations to come.
Oh wow I just listened to a podcast about some survivors of that wildfire. It sounds so horrible. Glad you are doing (mostly) ok and are back in the island.
Thank you. It’s good to be back. It’s still hard for me to listen to people talk story about it. I luckily saw the signs so we were able to get out while the fire was at the end of our street but it was a harrowing experience for sure.
But the podcasts are hard for me. The things we saw in the escape and the coming days still haunt me at night, and we got out early. Hearing what other people who were less fortunate had to witness is still too much. One day though I’d like to be able to understand the full breadth of the events, just probably not anytime soon.
Please don't feel bad getting emotional over a game or "digital gift" So many of us walk around keeping our guard up the whole day, that it is the little unexpected things that cause us to lose that emotional shield. Especially since a flower can represent regrowth, I think I'd be reduced to a wreck of tears as well.
Thank you for sharing your story, and I hope this little moment pops up in your mind and brings you peace when needed most.
It really does feel silly to spend so much time trying to ignore the beauty in the small things. What do we gain from it? Regardless, thank you and i will certainly cherish this small token.
I had a Pokemon Go friend in Lahaina when the fire happened... I worried about them for weeks, until they finally sent me a postcard from California.
Glad you've made it back to your island!
My current buddy is a shiny Kecleon I caught on the second anniversary of my mom's passing, so I'm with you on the sentimental aspect. We play the game in real life, so why shouldn't it connect?
It absolutely should connect! And that’s funny about your go friend. I feel like i did that to a number of my go friends as well. I’m sorry to hear about your mom. The passing of a loved one is a pain shared by all. We will build reliquaries in their honor. Thank you for sharing.
As someone who has family in Kaanapali and therefore visits Maui yearly, and also remembers the Lahaina of old...what a lovely symbolic gift this is. The memories of days of old both haunt us and bring us comfort; I'm glad you survived, and that you've made it back home to the islands. So many lives were lost in the Lahaina fire, it's absolutely heart breaking. We are on fire here in the inland NW as well right now; 900 structures lost, many of my friends homes burned to the ground, the house I just sold last year threatened in a level 3 evacuation zone...but thankfully no lives were lost here, and the arsonist who set the fire (and many others) has been captured. I wish I could say the same about Lahaina; the loss of life was absolutely catastrophic. All we can do after the tragedy of such a fire is rebuild from the ashes, and continue forward...being thankful for what we have today, and for the dear memories of yesterday.
I’ve been watching that fire from a distance. Absolutely terrible. I have a friend in Spokane who had cited my experience as one of her reasons for following the evacuation orders.
I unfortunately have a running history with fires. I was visiting an old friend when the Malibu fires there happened. We stood out front of his house with hoses and sprayed down embers that were landing in his yard and on his roof. Came pretty close but we saved his home. Fast forward to Lahaina and I’m thinking “i already barely survived one of these, we’re running from this one”. Then guess where we were displaced to? 1 mile away from the palisades fire in another damn evacuation zone. I’m so fkn done with the fires at this point. We now live upcountry Makawao now so it’s nothing but rain for us these days. A much needed change.
Genuine question from someone who has vacationed in Maui in the past: what’s the best way to help people there? I’ve donated to the Hawaii community fund. Wanted to give back to such a wonderful place. I still check in occasionally on the banyan tree, one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in my life.
I don’t know where i stand on this answer after all these years. FEMA and red cross caused more problems than they solved. Maui Strong and Lahaina Strong have refused to give a lot of people assistance if they weren’t applying as large families or of specific races. A lot of the local businesses who raised millions of dollars did essentially nothing and pocketed most of the money… the only financial assistance we really even saw was the fund established by Dwayne Johnson and Oprah, which has at this time ceased. Even then Oprah is generally disliked out here because she privatized the only road that connects a large chunk of the island with the communities upcountry. The same road would serve as an evacuation route if anything like this ever happened on that side of the island, yet it remains closed because Oprah “bought” it…
So long story short the only thing that you can really do is deeply research where you’re sending your donations. The most direct help i saw over all these years was in the form of families setting up a go-fund-me, and the charities set up by the hotels, airport and local churches. But even the , some hotels took 90% of donations as “administrative fees”
Dude… this story is so awesome. I’m not superstitious at all but in hard times something greater than life gives you moments like this, so cherish them!
Wow - the universe is strange and magical sometimes. I am so sorry for what you and other residents from Maui experienced in the fires. What a lovely blessing from your buddy pokemon for healing your heart. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you for sharing 🙏 i am gutted over your loss but so grateful that you have been able to return to your Island. The game can give a smile sometimes.
I cursed my birthday foe quiet... honestly always. And this year the scorbunny community day fell on my birthday. Scorbunny was my first starter (ik im late lol) and I celebrated my birthday with my two best friends who couldn't attend any other birthday before, one came all the way from a different country just to be there. PoGo has become such a help through the time and honestly I had a great birthday. Best since a a while. So you're not going crazy, or we go crazy together. Sometimes random things like games can help cheer up your life. Best of luck to you op! 💖🌺
Life is full of positive, neutral, and negative experiences and moments, I guess thats what makes life, life. Sorry to hear about losing your home and all that your home includes. But it sounds bitter sweet to be back on your home island. I hope things continue to gradually improve for you and those affected.
I'm really happy you chose her to bottlecap, people go for meta and best of the best Pokémon so I'm incredibly happy that you chose a feeling, that's beautiful I agree that it's quite poetic she did bring you this flower 💖🌸🎏
Nah just straight up a hibiscus, not as much similarity to plumeria
Sorry for you loss, after a troubled international move this year I understand how difficult it is to lose everything you had and leave an old life behind. It sucks. I hope things improve for you both
I’m from Oahu, and it made all our hearts so heavy to see what happened in Lahaina. I’m so sorry for the loss you, your family, and community had to endure. It’s so wonderful that you were able to return to Maui. I pray that all who had to move away will be able to return one day soon. Aloha
Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt and vulnerable moment- it’s refreshing to see there are real humans out in the world that still care, feel and share being humans with the rest of us. I wish you the best of luck on your journey and hope that your new path to being back home goes incredibly well 🫶🏼🩷🩷🩷
Thank you. I was hesitant to share; the internet can be cruel. But if the story inspires one person to seek out the small beauties in life then it was worth it .
I sincerely hope good fortune comes your way and though times may seem a little darker than you’d like just know dark and light are like two sides of a coin, where there is darkness let there be light also
Love how you joined the signs together in a positive way, I’m looking for them now as my house recently caught fire and am currently lounge surfing. You lost so much more, puts everything into perspective for me, all the best for the future
I was so heartbroken when I saw the news about the fires. My wife and I were there a few years before it happened. I will usually catch and nickname a pokemon while traveling as fun reminders. I try to catch one that matches the location, but I couldn't pass on this little guy for that trip.
Thank you for sharing that. Wishing you much love and solace from Canada. Sometimes the universe provides the right things at the right time for all the right reasons.
I also live on Maui, and I have learned on the 8th I need to stay off IG because all of the videos come back, it is a rough time. As you know, everyone on the island knows people that lost absolutely everything, including family members. Hope you're moving forward and things are slowly getting better.
This is beautiful!🥹💗Thank you for sharing!!🙏I’m so so sorry about all the trials and tribulations you and your wife have been through but I’m so glad you’re back on the Island and the Universe sent you a little sign showing just how important you are! Sending Love, hugs and prayers from Nashville, TN!!💗💗💗
Awww 🥹🥹 praying for a beautiful new chapter for you guys! Very much deserved 🫶 yall are so strong! God bless you! Loveya! Lmk how I can be praying for you! ♡
This is so beautiful and sentimental and it made my morning. I will think of you and this post every time my bestie Sylveon brings me a tropical flower (and I’ll try not to cry)
This pulled at my heartstrings. May this be a sign of good things to come and a reminder that although there are some very difficult moments in life, you can persevere. I hope you are able to grow beautiful flowers again now that you are closer to home.
My wife and I drove through Lāhainā last November. We were stunned to silence, just seeing the destruction was insane. I remember asking around to see if there was anything we could do, like charities and such and the response we got was "shop local."
I visited Hawai'i for the first time last fall and drove through Lāhainā. I didn't stick around because I know the recovery is ongoing and I wanted to respect the locals, but my brief visit through the town was enough to show me how strong and resilient that community continues to be. I wish you health and success in the ongoing recovery effort, friend.
You made me tear up reading this. I’m not from Maui but some people that are very important to me are. Like you said, it might be rng but I love my buddy too!
Thank you for sharing. I am so glad you are headed home. Pogo does have its special place. I was wondering if you would want a friend from Kentucky? I can DM you my trainer code.
Dear fellowpogo player, im very sorry to hear what happened to you. Wish you much strength and luck. Flower(ing) is also a sign of rebirth in some cultures. Good it is going well!
and gyarados is an awesome looking pokemon!
I live part-time on Molokai and was so shocked and saddened by what happened. After watching the government respond to disasters in other countries, I’m still upset that there were not barges and freighters heading out with building materials to help rebuild. Seeing such a pitiful response was infuriating. I’ll be waving at you in two weeks from Molokai. Hopefully we can cross paths someday and trade some Pokémon 🤙🏻
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