The cheerleaders, the players, the coaches and the fans were all there. But something greater than a high school football game took place Saturday evening at Maui’s War Memorial Stadium.

A much-anticipated matchup between the Lahainaluna Lunas and the Baldwin Bears delivered a massive dose of catharsis to an emotionally shattered island.

Less than two months after a fast-moving fire destroyed most of Lahaina, killing at least 97 people and displacing thousands, Maui residents turned out in force at the Wailuku stadium, transforming the stands into a tapestry of red — Lahaina’s color. The t-shirts and trucker caps they wore came emblazoned with slogans like “From Ashes We Rise,” “100% Lunas,” “Love 4 Lahaina” and “Lahaina Strong.”

Fans hugged one another, waved banners and cheered wildly for their respective teams. Although the Lunas ultimately delivered a 42-0 rout over the Bears, the final score wasn’t really what the game was about. It was about healing and rising together post-tragedy.

“Everyone in my town was here. I was just so happy to see people come together,” said James Lukela-Kobatake, 17, who plays running back, defensive end and fullback. “When we’re united, nothing can stop us.”

Many fans said they turned out to support the Lahaina kids who have lost so much. This was their first game of the season due to the fires. That they were on the field, playing a game that many describe as the lifeblood of Lahaina, was in and of itself a win.

A few weeks earlier, it was uncertain whether the Lunas would even be able to play. Now, school is set to resume Oct. 16 at Lahainaluna High School, and later that week at two other Lahaina schools.

“We needed this,” said Lahaina resident Sue Arakawa, sitting in the stadium’s upper level. “I lost everything, but this brings back something to be happy about.”

After so much loss, finally, some joy.

Standing in long, serpentine lines to buy sodas, chow fun or plates of kalua pork with corn and rice, fans who hadn’t seen each other since the fires hugged and caught up. They traded stories about how they made it out of Lahaina the night of the fire, where they were living now, how they were battling with insurance companies and the assortment of other headaches with which they’re contending.

“We have suffered devastation. But we have come together. Our family is the whole island, the whole county, from kupuna to keiki,” said Helena Delos Reyes, who was at the game with her husband Joshua.

The two were waiting to buy Lunas t-shirts prior to kickoff.

The parents of a son who is a senior at Lahainaluna and a daughter who is a freshman, the Delos Reyes lost their home in the fire. They’re staying in a hotel room provided by the American Red Cross.

More than half of the Lunas team comes from families who lost homes or apartments in the fire, according to co-head coach Dean Rickard.

On Saturday morning, some kids on the team had to move out of hotel rooms because their families were deemed ineligible for further Red Cross-provided housing, said Felicia Johnson-McKenzie, who was selling t-shirts that said “Our Ohana Is Strong.”

“We’re here to show our love to the kids and to support them. We’re one ohana,” Johnson-McKenzie said.

Tryston Kalei, who lives in Wailuku, was sporting a Bears shirt but he said he wasn’t necessarily rooting for the home team.

“I’m here to support both,” said Kalei, whose brother plays for the Lunas. He also has a cousin who’s a Bear.

Prior to the fire, he would have been a diehard Bears fan. But what he saw the night of Aug. 8 while working at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, changed everything. He watched traumatized people who managed to escape the inferno with their lives pour into the Westin seeking refuge.

“It wasn’t a good night. It was very scary,” he said.

But Saturday night was the opposite. It was a time to rejoice and soak up some healing.

Blowing up red and white balloons in the women’s bathroom, Heather Baqui said she was feeling a range of emotions.

“Happy, sad, excited, grateful. Mostly I’m just grateful to be here,” said Baqui, who lives on Oahu but whose family is from Lahaina and lost property.

She was in Lahaina but left the day before the fire. Saturday was her first time back on Maui since then. She flew over specifically to attend the game.

Mayor Richard Bissen was also among the thousands of fans.

“I’m really proud of these kids. They’re representing the strength and resiliency of Lahaina,” Bissen said.

Many of the Lunas players seemed to know that too. At a Friday afternoon practice in Kihei, several reflected on the significance of Saturday night’s game, the first of the season.

“It’s the first step toward bringing our community back together,” said Kahi Magno, a 16-year-old linebacker for the Lunas.

Teva Loft, a Lahainaluna senior and tight end and linebacker, said he had some doubts about returning to football after the home he lived in with his mother and two sisters burned down. But he later realized there was no way he wouldn’t play if his team came back together.

“It means everything. It’s the heart of Lahaina, our team and our community,” Loft said.

Three days after the fire, co-head coach Rickard said he ran into three players in the Walmart parking lot. They asked him if the Lunas would play this season.

“I said, ‘You guys still feel like you can? You want to play?'” ‘Oh yeah coach. That’s all I think about.’ ” he said. “And they have. And they deserve the opportunity because they’re worked so hard.”

The kids were self-motived, Rickard said. “They actually motivated us. That’s the reason we said, ‘OK. Let’s come back. Let’s get it done.”

And get it done, they did.

After the game, Rickard said he was proud of his team but that there’s always room for improvement.

“Offensively we didn’t move the ball on the ground like we want to. We passed well. Defensively we swarmed good but not great so there’s a lot of things that need to be fixed as far as x’s and o’s are concerned. But we’re proud of them,” Rickard said.

Kanamu Balinbin, who played for the Lunas himself as a high school student and whose son is on the team, said it’s much more than chasing a ball around the field and tackling the opposing team. Football on Maui is about the culture of the place.

“They don’t just teach you about football. They teach about life. They teach you about being part of the community, helping the people of Lahaina whether they play football or not,” he said.

Balinbin remembers his high school football career fondly, but recalled how taxing it was.

At practice on Friday, Kalaeloa Tancayo, who plays right tackle on offense and nose guard on defense, didn’t seem to mind the tough physical workout he was enduring under a hot late afternoon sun. In fact, he seemed to relish it. The next day, he would be playing for his beloved hometown.

And Tancayo was ready.

“We rise up together. Lahaina is still one and we’re stronger than ever,” Tancayo said.

Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.