>>> TONIGHT, TRACKING THE EXTREME WEATHER. HISTORIC HURRICANE HILARY THREATENING THE WEST COAST, AND RARE TORNADOES STRIKING NEW ENGLAND. THE HEART-STOPPING VIDEO, A TORNADO CROSSING THE HIGHWAY IN RHODE ISLAND. THE IMAGES SHOWING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND COMES AS HURRICANE HILARY, NOW A MONSTER CATEGORY 4 STORM, BARRELS TOWARDS MEXICO AND THE WEST COAST. THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER WARNING OF LIFE-THREATENING FLOODS AND ISSUING THE FIRST EVER TROPICAL STORM WATCH ON RECORD FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE THE NEW TRACK. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE WILDFIRE DEVASTATION IN MAUI. MAUI'S TOP EMERGENCY OFFICIAL ABRUPTLY RESIGNING A DAY AFTER HE DEFENDED THE DECISION NOT TO SOUND EMERGENCY SIRENS AS THE FIRE SPREAD. OUR TEAM IN MAUI. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN'S HISTORIC SUMMIT AT CAMP DAVID WITH THE LEADERS OF JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA ON THE AGENDA CONFRONTING THREATS FROM CHINA AND NORTH KOREA. >>> DONALD TRUMP DECIDING TO SKIP NEXT WEEK'S FIRST GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, AND NEW REPORTING TONIGHT, WHEN WILL HE SURRENDER ON NEW CHARGES IN GEORGIA? >>> NBC NEWS REPORTS ABOARD AN F-16 FIGHTER JET, THE U.S. APPROVING THE SHIPMENT OF THEM TO UKRAINE, BUT HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO TRAIN UKRAINE'S PILOTS TO FLY THEM? >>> AFTER LOSING HER RESTAURANT IN THE FIRES, THE TOP CHEF STILL COOKING WITH COMPASSION FOR MAUI. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME. NORMALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR, PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH AND THE EAST ARE KEEPING AN EYE OPEN FOR POTENTIAL HURRICANE THREATS. TONIGHT, HOWEVER, IN A HISTORIC WEATHER TWIST, AMERICANS ON THE WEST COAST ARE ON ALERT WITH AN EYE ON HURRICANE HILARY AS IT RACES NORTHWARD OFF THE BAJA PENINSULA. PARTS OF CALIFORNIA ARE UNDER THE FIRST TROPICAL STORM WATCH EVER ISSUED FOR THAT STATE. HILARY, A MAJOR CATEGORY 4 STORM NOW, BUT EXPECTED TO WEAKEN BY THE TIME IT REACHES THE U.S. FORECASTERS WARN, THOUGH, IT COULD STILL MAKE A DIRECT HIT ON CALIFORNIA LATER THIS WEEKEND AS A TROPICAL STORM. THAT WOULD BE A FIRST IN 84 YEARS. PARTS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, AND NEVADA TONIGHT BRACING FOR HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING. FEMA TONIGHT PRE-POSITIONING PERSONNEL AND SUPPLIES IN THE REGION, AND IT'S NOT THE ONLY WEATHER WHIPLASH WE'RE FOLLOWING TONIGHT. AFTER RARE DAMAGING TORNADOES STRUCK NEW ENGLAND EARLY TODAY. ANTONIA HYLTON IS COVERING IT ALL. >> Reporter: TERRIFYING MOMENTS DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE. THIS TORNADO TEARING ACROSS A RHODE ISLAND HIGHWAY. ONE OF AT LEAST THREE TO TOUCH DOWN IN NEW ENGLAND. THE STORM ALSO RIPPING MASSIVE TREES FROM THEIR ROOTS LEAVING HOMES DRENCHED AND BACKYARDS REDUCED TO A TANGLED MESS. >> ABOUT 30 SECONDS OF HELL. THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, ANOTHER HISTORIC STORM IS BARRELING TOWARD THE WEST COAST. >> IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPERIENCING. >> Reporter: HURRICANE HILARY IS CURRENTLY A CATEGORY 4 STORM WITH WINDS OF 130 MILES AN HOUR. THOUGH IT'S EXPECTED TO SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKEN, OFFICIALS WARN THERE COULD BE EXTENSIVE RAINFALL, FLASH FLOODING AND MUDSLIDES. >> FEMA HAS PRE-POSITIONED PERSONNEL AND SUPPLIES IN THE REGION AND ARE READY TO RESPOND AS NEEDED. >> Reporter: A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR THE FIRST TIME. >> WE HAVEN'T SEEN HURRICANES OUT HERE, AND I'VE BEEN CALLING MY FRIENDS IN FLORIDA TO TRY TO GET SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO HANDLE IT. >> CALIFORNIA HAS NOT THE BEST TRACK RECORD WITH DRIVING IN THE RAIN. >> Reporter: SOME AREAS LIKE DEATH VALLEY AND PALM SPRINGS COULD SEE TWO TO THREE YEARS' WORTH OF RAIN IN TWO TO THREE DAYS. HOW DIFFERENT WILL THE IMPACTS OF THIS ON THE WEST COAST BE COMPARED WHAT WE SEE HAPPEN IN THE EAST COAST, THE SOUTHEAST? >> IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE VERY DRY DESERT-LIKE SURFACES THAT DON'T ABSORB THAT WATER, SO AS SOON AS THAT RAIN STARTS HITTING, WE'RE GOING TO START SEEING FLOODING. >> Reporter: IT'S BEEN 84 YEARS SINCE A TROPICAL STORM HIT HERE. A REGION ACCUSTOMED TO FIRES AND EARTHQUAKES, NOW BRACING FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF NATURAL DISASTER. >> ANTONIA, HOW ARE OFFICIALS THERE PREPARING? >> Reporter: THE SHERIFF SAYS SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAMS AND AIRCRAFT ARE AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. PARTS OF JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK ARE CLOSING, AND THEY'RE DOING OUTREACH TO HOMELESS POPULATIONS HERE TRYING TO KEEP EVERYONE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE, LESTER. >> ANTONIA, THANK YOU. >>> LET'S GET RIGHT OVER TO BILL KARINS. BIL, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE TRACK AND TIMEING? >> WE'RE FOCUSING ON SUNDAY EVENING, AND WE HAVE TROPICAL MOISTURE FROM A MAJOR HURRICANE HEADING INTO 10,000-FOOT PEAKS IN DESERT AREAS OF THE SOUTHWEST. THAT'S A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SAYING, THIS COULD BE CATASTROPHIC FOR SOME AREAS. NOW, THE STORM ITSELF AT ITS PEAK INTENSITY AND WILL WEAKEN AFTER THIS AND MOVE FROM WHAT HAS BEEN WARM WATER, ALMOST LIKE 90-DEGREE WATER AND THEN HEADING OVER WATER THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE 80s AND EVENTUALLY THE 70s AND THAT'S WHEN IT GETS COOL ENOUGH FOR IT TO WEAKEN. AGAIN, SUNDAY EVENING, THIS STORM WILL BE FLYING, MOVING AT LIKE 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN IT GOES THROUGH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IN AND OUT IN A HURRY BUT WILL LEAVE ITS MARK OUTSIDE OF SAN DIEGO NEAR PALM SPRINGS. THAT'S WHERE I'M AFRAID A FOOT OF RAIN, LANDSLIDE, MUDSLIDES ALL POSSIBLE. >> WE'LL BE WATCHING THROUGH THE WEEKEND. >>> TEN DAYS AFTER THE MAUI DISASTER, THE TOP EMERGENCY OFFICIAL HAS RESIGNED AFTER CRITICISM OF HIS DECISION NOT TO SOUND EMERGENCY ALARMS AS THE GRIM SEARCH FOR THE MISSING GOES ON. HERE'S MIGUEL ALMAGUER. >> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO DO A FULL ONE DOWN HERE. >> Reporter: AS THE GRIM SEARCH FOR THE MISSING APPROACHES ITS 11th DAY, AND THE DEATH TOLL CONTINUES TO CLIMB, TONIGHT MAUI'S TOP EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL HAS RESIGNED. CITING HEALTH REASONS, HERMAN ANDAYA HAS STEPPED DOWN AMID WITHERING CRITICISM HE LITERALLY FAILED TO SOUND THE ALARM. >> DO YOU REGRET NOT SOUNDING THE SIRENS? >> I DO NOT. >> Reporter: AS THE NATION'S DEADLIEST FIRE IN MORE THAN A CENTURY RIPPED THROUGH LAHAINA, ANDAYA NEVER ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY SIRENS MOST OFTEN USED FOR TSUNAMI WARNINGS SAYING HAD HE DONE SO, HE FEARED THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE MOVED TOWARDS THE FIRE IN THE HILLS. >> IN HAWAII THEY WILL TELL YOU SIRENS HAVE NOT BEEN USED FOR BRUSH FIRES. >> Reporter: BUT THEIR WEBSITE LISTS WILDFIRES AMONG THE VERY HAZARDS SIRENS CAN BE USED FOR. >> INSTANT, IMMEDIATE, IT'S GOING OFF, SOMETHING IS GOING ON. I'M ALERT. IT'S SORT OF DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD BE COMPELLED TO RUN TOWARD FLAMES. >> Reporter: AMID THE GROWING FRUSTRATION, A NEW NBC NEWS REVIEW OF PUBLIC MEETING RECORDS FOUND ANDAYA REPEATEDLY DOWNPLAYED THE USE OF SIRENS, CALLING THEM A LAST RESORT. >> IF I WOULD HAVE HAD ACCESS TO THAT BUTTON, I WOULD HAVE PUSHED IT. >> DO YOU THINK THE SIRENS GOING OFF WOULD HAVE SAVED LIVES? >> I DO, YEAH. >> Reporter: ANDAYA'S RESIGNATION COMES AS HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC FACES MULTIPLE LAWSUITS ALLEGING THE UTILITY IS TO BLAME FOR IGNITING THE FIRES. THE POWER COMPANY SAYS IT DOESN'T COMMENT ON PENDING LITIGATION, STRESSING THE CAUSES OF THE FIRES HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED. IT COMES AS THE DEATH TOLL BALLOONS TO WELL OVER 100 WITH MORE THAN HALF THE BURN ZONE SEARCHED. >> I'M HEARTBROKEN, BRO. I'M HEARTBROKEN. WORDS CAN'T EXPLAIN BECAUSE I KEEP HEARING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE I KNOW THAT I CARE ABOUT IS STILL UNATTENDED FOR. >> Reporter: WITH UPWARDS OF A THOUSAND PEOPLE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR, THE FEW WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED SO FAR ARE MOSTLY THE ELDERLY. THE LATEST, 71-YEAR-OLD DONNA GOMES, KNOWN FOR HER TOUGH LOVE AND BIG HEART, PERHAPS CLOSURE FOR ONE FAMILY AS SO MANY OTHERS BRACE FOR THE SAME. >> I WANT ACCOUNTABILITY. IT DESTROYED MORE THAN HALF THE PEOPLE WE KNOW, AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THE PICTURES OF -- WE'RE SEEING THE FACES, PICTURES OF PEOPLE WE LOST. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE PAIN HERE UNIMAGINABLE AS IS THE LOSS. >> MIGUEL, IT'S BEEN SO LONG NOW. THESE STORIES OF THE MISSING ARE HEARTBREAKING. I KNOW BEHIND YOU THE SEARCH CONTINUES IN THE BURN ZONE. >> Reporter: IT DOES, LESTER, AND NOW THE ATF IS ON THE GROUND. THEIR JOB IS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT STARTED THIS FIRE. BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND AUTHORITIES HOPE TO HAVE THE ENTIRE BURN ZONE SEARCHED, BUT WE ALSO EXPECT THE DEATH TOLL TO SPIKE DRAMATICALLY, LESTER. >> THANK YOU. >>> MEANWHILE, A HUGE WILDFIRE IN CANADA'S NORTHWEST TERRITORIES IS THREATENING THE CAPITAL AND FORCED THOUSANDS TO EVACUATE. IT'S 1 OF MORE THAN 1,000 FIRES BURNING ACROSS CANADA. THE SMOKE IS CONTINUING TO AFFECT AIR QUALITY IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN. >>> A STRONG SHOW OF UNITY TODAY AMONG THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN, AND SOUTH KOREA AS PRESIDENT BIDEN MET WITH THEIR LEADERS AT CAMP DAVID AS THREATS FROM CHINA AND NORTH KOREA PLAY OUT IN THE PACIFIC. HERE'S KELLY O'DONNELL. >> Reporter: FOR THE FIRST TIME, PRESIDENT BIDEN HOSTED AN INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT AT CAMP DAVID TODAY. >> WE MEET IN THIS HISTORIC PLACE TO MAKE AN HISTORIC MOMENT. >> Reporter: BRINGING TOGETHER JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA, EACH LONGTIME U.S. ALLIES, BUT NOTABLY THE TWO NEIGHBORS ONLY RECENTLY SOFTENED THEIR OWN DECADES OF TENSION. TOGETHER NOW FACING COMMON RISKS FROM NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR PROVOCATION AND CHINA'S MORE AGGRESSIVE SHOW OF MILITARY STRENGTH IN THE REGION WHILE ALSO RECOGNIZING ALL THREE COUNTRIES TRADE WITH CHINA. >> TODAY IS A DAY THAT IS NOT ABOUT BEING AGAINST ANYTHING. IT IS ABOUT BEING FOR SOMETHING. >> Reporter: TODAY'S SUMMIT ANNOUNCING A RANGE OF SECURITY AND ECONOMIC AGREEMENTS INCLUDING A NEW DEFENSE PARTNERSHIP TO SWIFTLY CONSULT ON URGENT THREATS. >> THAT MEANS WE'LL HAVE A HOTLINE TO SHARE INFORMATION AND COORDINATE OUR RESPONSES WHENEVER THERE IS A CRISIS IN THE REGION. >> Reporter: WHILE STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH WORLD LEADERS, A MORE PERSONAL MATTER SURFACED. AFTER ONE FULL WEEK OF SILENCE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL COUNSEL INVESTIGATING HIS SON HUNTER'S BUSINESS DEALINGS, THE PRESIDENT WAS PRESSED TO RESPOND. >> I HAVE NO COMMENT ON ANY INVESTIGATION THAT'S GOING ON. THAT'S UP TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> Reporter: TODAY'S SETTING HERE AT CAMP DAVID IS ITSELF A MESSAGE ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MEETINGS. PRESIDENTS PAST HAVE ALSO USED THIS RETREAT AT PIVOTAL MOMENTS. >> A PLACE THAT HAS LONG SYMBOLIZED THE POWER OF NEW BEGINNINGS AND NEW POSSIBILITIES. >> KELLY JOINING US NOW FROM CAMP DAVID, AND, KELLY, BOTH VISITING LEADERS ACKNOWLEDGED THE HAWAII FIRES. >> Reporter: THEY DID, LESTER. JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA ARE EACH DONATING $2 MILLION IN RELIEF EFFORTS FOR MAUI, AND ON CHINA, PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS HE EXPECTS TO SPEAK WITH XI JINPING AGAIN THIS FALL. LESTER. >> KELLY O'DONNELL, THANK YOU. >>> WITH THE FIRST REPUBLICAN PRIMARY DEBATE DAYS AWAY, THERE'S WORD FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL SKIP IT AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TIMING OF HIS EXPECTED SURRENDER IN ATLANTA. BLAYNE ALEXANDER JOINS US. BLAYNE, WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW? >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, MR. TRUMP WILL NOT BE ON THAT DEBATE STAGE NEXT WEEK. THAT'S ACCORDING TO TWO PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH HIS THINKING. INSTEAD, HE'S SEEKING A SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW WITH TUCKER CARLSON. NOW, THIS WOULD BE A SNUB TO BOTH THE RNC AND FOX NEWS, WHICH IS BROADCASTING THE DEBATE. MEANWHILE, GETTING NEW GUIDANCE ON WHEN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP MIGHT COME TO GEORGIA AND TURN HIMSELF IN AFTER BEING INDICTED HERE EARLIER THIS WEEK. THREE SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SOURCES AND OFFICIALS TELL NBC NEWS THAT OFFICIALS ARE PREPARING FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO COME DOWN AND SURRENDER AT THE FULTON COUNTY JAIL LATE NEXT WEEK, NO EARLIER THAN THURSDAY THOUGH THEY STRESS PLANS HAVE NOT BEEN FINALIZED YET. NOW, REMEMBER, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HERE HAS GIVEN MR. TRUMP AND HIS 18 CO-DEFENDANTS UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY AT NOON TO TURN THEMSELVES IN. LESTER. >> BLAYNE ALEXANDER, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO KENTUCKY WHERE THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL CAME MORE THAN A WEEK AFTER THE FIRST IN LOUISVILLE. IT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT'S BEING CALLED A TRANSPORTATION DISASTER AND THE BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE IMPACTING SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE. HERE'S MAGGIE VESPA. >> Reporter: BUSES ARE ROLLING ONCE AGAIN IN LOUISVILLE WITH AN ESTIMATED 40,000 ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS RIDING TO THEIR SECOND DAY OF CLASSES IN KENTUCKY'S LARGEST DISTRICT, THIS AFTER LAST WEEK'S SO-CALLED TRANSPORTATION DISASTER FUELED BY A SHORTAGE OF DRIVERS. >> STILL WAITING ON THIS BUS AT 9:10. >> Reporter: ITS SLOWED ROUTE SO MUCH THAT SOME STUDENTS NOT GETTING HOME UNTIL DARK. SCHOOL CANCELED FOR MORE THAN A WEEK RESUMED TODAY. >> IT WAS BAD. >> Reporter: BUT THE SHORTAGE LOOMS. SOME PARENTS DROVE THEIR KIDS AFTER BUSES WERE LATE AGAIN THIS MORNING. >> THEY'RE INCONVENIENCING US ALL AROUND. >> BYE. >> Reporter: OTHERS SAY THE BUS CAME ON TIME. >> HOW NERVOUS WERE YOU GOING INTO TODAY? >> PRETTY NERVOUS. I DID GO OUT AND GET SOME AIRTAGS SO I COULD KEEP TRACK OF THEIR BACKPACKS. >> Reporter: JEFFERSON COUNTY'S SUPERINTENDENT NOTES THE DISTRICT HAS CLOSE TO 600 DRIVERS DOWN FROM 900 A DECADE AGO. >> WE'VE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED THE PAY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. I MEAN, WE HAVE BUS DRIVERS MAKING UPWARDS $30 AN HOUR. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME DEEPER ISSUES. >> Reporter: THEY'RE LEANING ON SHORT-TERM FIXES LIKE CUTTING STOPS AND TAPPING U.P.S. FOR HELP STREAMLINING ROUTES AND SOON RELEASING AN APP LETTING PARENTS TRACK A BUS' LOCATION. SIMILAR SCRAMBLES UNDER WAY COAST TO COAST WITH A STAGGERING 92% OF SCHOOL LEADERS NATIONWIDE SHORT ON BUS DRIVERS. >> IT HAS NOW REACHED CRISIS LEVELS. IT WAS REALLY EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC. >> Reporter: BACK HERE IN LOUISVILLE, TODAY ACTUALLY MARKED THE START OF A STAGGERED RETURN. NEXT WEEK HIGH SCHOOLERS WILL ALSO COME BACK TESTING THIS DISTRICT EVEN MORE. LESTER. >> MAGGIE VESPA, THANK YOU. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, A >>> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH A POTENTIAL MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH GIVING NEW HOPE TO PEOPLE WITH BLINDNESS. A STUDY OUT ON AN EXPERIMENTAL SURGERY TO RESTORE VISION TO ONE DAMAGED EYE WITH STEM CELLS FROM THE OTHER. KRISTEN DAHLGREN EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: NICK KHARUFEH ALWAYS DREAMED OF BEING A PILOT. >> I FIGURED THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT CAREER PATH FOR ME. >> Reporter: AND HE WAS WELL ON HIS WAY UNTIL A FREAK ACCIDENT ON JULY 4th, 2020 NEAR HIS HOME IN CALIFORNIA. >> WE WERE WATCHING THE FIREWORKS, BUT INSTEAD OF SHOOTING UP IN THE AIR, IT EXPLODED ON THE FLOOR. I UNFORTUNATELY TOOK A DIRECT HIT TO MY LEFT EYE DEAD CENTER. >> Reporter: THE EYE BLINDED. >> THOUGHT MY LIFE WAS DONE. I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS GOING TO EVER GET BETTER. >> Reporter: UNTIL HE HEARD ABOUT A COMPLETELY NEW PROCEDURE BEING DONE AT MASS EYE AND EAR. >> IT LOOKS VERY GOOD. >> Reporter: DR. ULA JURKUNAS AND HER TEAM PIONEERED A PROCEDURE THEY CALL CALEC USING STEM CELLS TO RESTORE THE CORNEA IN THE DAMAGED EYE. IT'S FOR PATIENTS WITH SEVERE INJURIES. >> IT IS POSSIBLE TO TAKE A SMALL BIOPSY OF THESE STEM CELLS, GROW LABORATORY, AND THEN TRANSPLANT THEM ONTO THE PATIENT'S EYE TAKING IT FROM THE HEALTHY EYE TO THE DISEASED EYE. >> Reporter: IN A PHASE 1 STUDY, ALL PATIENTS SAW MARKED IMPROVEMENT TWO SAW SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER WITHOUT ADDITIONAL TREATMENT, AND THE OTHER TWO WERE ABLE TO GO ON TO GET ARTIFICIAL CORNEAS. >> LOOK A LITTLE BIT UP AND DOWN. >> Reporter: NICK MOVED TO BOSTON AND IS NOW ONE OF A NEW GROUP OF PATIENTS RECEIVING THE SURGERY. >> AT WHAT POINT DID YOU REALIZE IT HAD WORKED? >> NOT TOO LONG AFTER THE FIRST SURGERY, I WAS ABLE TO SEE. IT WAS THIS WHOLE THING, I WAS CRYING. >> Reporter: WHILE STILL IN ITS EARLY STAGES, DOCTORS CONSIDER THIS A STEPPING STONE AND SAY STEM CELL THERAPIES MAY SOMEDAY GO BEYOND CORNEAL INJURIES TO THINGS LIKE GLAUCOMA, MAYBE EVEN OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY. NICK IS NOW FLYING AGAIN FOR FUN. >> ESPECIALLY TO SEE JUST THE BLUE SKY OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE IS SO CRAZY BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER SEE THAT EVER AGAIN. >> Reporter: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, SEEING HOPE. KRISTEN DAHLGREN, NBC NEWS, BOSTON. >>> AND UP NEXT HERE TONIGHT, AN UPDATE ON AMERICAN F-16s HEADED FOR UKRAINE AS WE RIDE >>> MONTHS AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN PLEDGED F-16s FOR UKRAINE, THE U.S. TODAY GAVE THE FINAL OKAY, BUT IT COULD BE NEXT YEAR BEFORE THEY SEE ACTION. ELLISON BARBER WITH OUR REPORT FROM THE AIR. >> Reporter: IT'S THE JET EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE TALKING ABOUT. >> WE SHOULD SELL THEM THE F-16 JETS. >> THE UKRAINIAN F-16 PILOTS. >> THE F-16. >> THE F-16s. >> F-16. >> Reporter: UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS THOUGHT THEY'D HAVE PILOTS TRAINING ON AMERICAN MADE F-16s BY NOW, BUT IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. A SPOKESPERSON WITH THE AIR FORCE SAYS THE FIRST GROUP OF PILOTS WILL BEGIN TRAINING IN DENMARK, BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE COMPLETE BEFORE SUMMER 2024. ACCORDING TO A U.S. OFFICIAL WHO SPOKE TO NBC NEWS ON THE CONDITION OF ANONYMITY SAYING UKRAINE ONLY RECENTLY SUBMITTED NAMES OF PILOTS WHO WILL UNDERGO TRAINING, AND OVER HALF NEED ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING FIRST. THE DELAYS HAVE CONFUSED AND FRUSTRATED UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS, AS WELL AS RANK AND FILE MILITARY MEMBERS WHO SPOKE TO NBC NEWS PRIVATELY. MAJOR JEFFREY DOWNING, "SIMMER" FLIES F-16s ALMOST EVERY DAY. >> THE G-FORCES THAT ARE EXERTED ON YOUR BODY ARE IMMENSE. YOU HAVE THE BLOOD RUSHING FROM YOUR HEAD TO YOUR FEET AND HAVING TO STRAIN TO KEEP THE BLOOD UP IN YOUR HEAD,SO YOU DON'T PASS OUT. >> Reporter: SIMMER IS PART OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE'S THUNDERBIRDS. IN PEACETIME THEY'RE KNOWN FOR DAZZLING CROWDS. >> WHY ARE F-16s SO ESTEEMED AROUND THE GLOBE? >> IT IS A FIGHTER SO DOES AIR TO AIR AND AIR TO GROUND, SUPPRESSION OF ENEMY FORCES. IT'S GOT IT ALL. >> Reporter: I WENT ALONG FOR A FLIGHT TO GET A SENSE OF ITS CAPABILITY. THE POWER, THE SEAMLESS TURNS, IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE. UKRAINE STILL BELIEVES THIS TYPE OF FIGHTER JET IS VITAL FOR THE COUNTRY'S DEFENSE, AND TONIGHT U.S. OFFICIALS MAINTAIN UKRAINE WILL GET F-16s AS SOON AS TRAINING IS COMPLETE. >>> FINALLY TONIGHT, SHE'S CARING FOR HER NEIGHBORS IN MAUI SHOWING THEM WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO BE A TOP CHEF. HERE'S STEVE PATTERSON. >> Reporter: AS THOSE RAVENOUS FLAMES CONSUMED LAHAINA STREET BY STREET, SOME SAY IT FELT LIKE THE VERY SOUL OF MAUI WAS BEING SWALLOWED. >> IT IS THE HEART OF HAWAIIAN CULTURE AND HISTORY. THERE'S SO MUCH THAT'S BEEN LOST. >> Reporter: SOMEWHERE BURIED AMONG THE RUINS, CHEF LEE ANNE WONG'S PRIDE AND JOY, HER RESTAURANT PAPA'AINA. >> WE'VE LOST AN ENTIRE TOWN. >> Reporter: SHE SAYS 80% OF HER STAFF LOST THEIR HOMES. >> COULD YOU DRAIN THAT FOR ME? >> Reporter: TO THE MAINLAND SHE IS AN EXCITING PERSONALITY, A FREQUENT CONTESTANT ON COOKING COMPETITIONS LIKE NBC'S SISTER NETWORK, BRAVO'S "TOP CHEF." HERE SHE'S A LOCAL TREASURE. AND NOW HEAD CHEF OF THE ISLAND'S EFFORT TO FEED HOT MEALS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST EVERYTHING. >> WE'RE HERE TO SAY, HEY, WE SEE YOU, WE WANT TO COOK FOR YOU. WE WANT TO FEED YOU. >> Reporter: EVERY DAY SINCE THE FIRE, THIS GROUP OF DEDICATED CHEFS, COOKS, AND VOLUNTEERS SERVE ABOUT 10,000 MEALS. >> TALK TO ME. >> Reporter: ANOTHER TOP CHEF ALUM, MAUI'S SHELDON SIMEON IS HEADING UP THE KITCHEN. >> WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED WHEN WE HAVE IT, RIGHT, THAT NOURISHING MEAL, AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN DO OUR PART BY GIVING FOOD, YOU KNOW, FOOD IS MEDICINE. >> Reporter: IT'S HARD, BUT WONG SAYS SERVING OTHERS IS HEALING. >> HAVE YOU HAD TIME TO REFLECT AND THINK ABOUT LAHAINA? >> NO. EVERYBODY ON THIS ISLAND IS OUR FAMILY, AND WE ARE ALL PULLING TOGETHER TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO LIFT EACH OTHER UP AND HOLD EACH OTHER UP. >> Reporter: THE TRUTH IS, HAWAII'S SOUL WAS NEVER IN THE BONES OF OLD BUILDINGS, BUT IN THE BEATING HEARTS OF ITS PEOPLE. STEVE PATTERSON, NBC NEWS, MAUI. >> THAT'S WHAT COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS FRIDAY, THANKS FOR WATCHING.