HAWAII, USA — Tabitha Westmoreland and her boyfriend Chris Hege went to Maui to celebrate her birthday. It was her 10th trip to the island and his first. The vacation quickly turned from a luxury vacation to being forced to stay in their car.
"I was so scared the first night that we stayed because of the wildfires, I was afraid the fire was gonna break out and we had nowhere to go. We didn't know where to go," Westmoreland said.
A five day trip to Hawaii turned into a nightmare, Westmoreland and her boyfriend Hege say they only spent one night at their Hawaiian resort before they were forced to stay in their jeep for two nights.
"There were 60-70mph wind gusts, so you could imagine what it felt like sitting in a vehicle all night long," Hege said.
The couple parked close to the harbor with other people and saw things they could not unsee.
"There was people jumping in the harbor because they were over there taking pictures of stuff at front street because it was closed. They were jumping in the harbor to save their lives," Westmoreland said.
The couple says resources are low. and thankful locals helped with water, food and necessities. "They gave us a roll of paper towels. I can say I used for a pillow for two nights in the jeep," Hege said.
The couple secured a flight home and will arrive back in North Carolina Saturday afternoon.