Privacy Policy | About Our Ads This article brought to you in partnership with the Hawai‘i Journalism Initiative — a Maui-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization the first official event was held inside the burn zone The day was so special to Chrislyn Simpson-Kane and her extended surfing family that she broke into tears The event included competitors from 12 MIL schools Get more stories like these delivered straight to your inbox Sign up for the Hawai‘i Journalism Initiative's weekly newsletter: choppy conditions under a baking hot Lahaina sun a world-ranked big wave surfer and two-time MIL champion had just finished second in her final high school event.  The Old Lahaina Courthouse stood — with braces holding it up — a block away The world-renown Banyan tree in front of the courthouse also showed the perseverance of the town with many destroyed branches cut off but leaves now growing on what survived The boathouse near the entrance of the harbor stood with burn marks and a little bit of debris still scattered around it the harbor had another crane sitting in it to help dredge the facility near where the Lahaina Library stood before being destroyed by the fire officials and school administrators were allowed to witness and compete in the daylong event that organizer Kim Ball said was “the first anything in Lahaina since the fire.” once a bustling hub of whale-watching tours fishing charters and ocean adventures, has been closed since the fire It is expected to cost at least $30 million to rebuild and will not reopen until next year at the earliest no one was allowed past the security guard on Front Street without an official parking pass conquered enough solid waves in the girls final to beat Simpson-Kane The rest of the final six girls: third place Angel Jardine, a junior at Maui Christian Academy just in front of Maui Prep’s Zolten Poulsen (10.97) Kahlili Pineres-Schooley of Seabury Hall was third (10.40) Kai Nelson of King Kakelike was fourth (10.26) Kanoa Kuailani of King Kekaulike was fifth (7.77) and Ezra Offergeld of Maui Prep was sixth (5.30) Simpson-Kane was nursing a sprained ankle and strained Achilles in her right foot as well as her emotions on this special day She suffered the foot injuries playing water polo for her high school team a little over a week ago I showed up this morning and I had no emotion … sorry,” Simpson-Kane said as tears started to flow “But being able to surf my last high school event here Ball said his emotions also ran the gamut from the opening traditional Hawaiian blessing at 7 a.m to the final boys heat that ended past 3 p.m “It was only fitting that the first activity here the first event was surfing,” Ball said The surf community also received news it was waiting for on Wednesday when Bill 133 that will fund high school surfing passed both the state House of Representatives and the Senate The bill appropriates $685,870 for each of the next two school years to fund the sport for Hawai’i Department of Education schools that wish to participate “I don’t know when he’s going to sign it but to me that’s just the cherry on top of the sundae,” Ball said “We’re still going to have MIL surfing no matter what, but when the governor signs it it’s really an opportunity for these kids to participate in a state tournament.”  Three of the state’s five high school leagues must sanction the sport to hold a state tournament The all-private-school Interscholastic League of Honolulu has said it will sponsor the sport next year meaning just one of the Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation Big Island Interscholastic Federation or O’ahu Interscholastic Association need to join the MIL and ILH to hold a state tournament The MIL officially sanctioned the sport in 2014 the first high school league in the nation to do so “I’ve learned not to get my hopes up too high,” said Ball who has been working on making surfing a statewide sanctioned high school sport for more than 30 years He spearheaded the beginning of surfing as a club sport in high schools here in the early 1990s “But yeah that (state tournament) would be awesome.”  When Wilmont Kahaialii gave the tradition Hawaiian blessing to start the festivities Saturday We had several people here involved in the contest and participating in the contest who lost everything in the fire,” Ball said ‘This is the beginning of the healing.’ So it was awesome. We had waves all day and everybody was real respectful of Lahaina town and all the protocol that was involved in even having it be here.” Ball credited the County of Maui, the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Maui Emergency Management Agency with helping the event take place “They were all so supportive and a big thank you to them,” Ball said “Basically everybody had to stay in this footprint in front of the old library no trespassing especially in the banyan tree area where everybody wants to walk They had to stay on the sidewalks and on the side of the roadways, which they did.” the sports task force chairman for Green and executive director of the Hawai’i High School Athletic Association from 1998-2010 gave credit to Maui legislators and Olympic gold medalist Carissa Moore for helping move Bill 133 to the governor’s desk “We’re so grateful for the Legislature’s funding of high school surfing,” Amemiya said in a text message on Wednesday from Japan this is the last hurdle removed so that surfing can finally be adopted as an official high school sport statewide.” is hopeful to be able to compete in a state tournament in her final year in high school next year “I think it’s super awesome,” Jucker said “I’d love to go to states with other high schoolers … It’s really cool to be a part of MIL surfing because we’re starting the charge on this.” a junior who plans to pursue a professional surfing career said he was happy to win after finishing second last year.  so it means a lot to win this one,” Jardine said Just because it’s getting in the way with my school traveling, but I hope to compete next year. I want to make the (world championship tour) This is definitely a confidence booster for me. This means a lot Simpson-Kane plans to enroll at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo in the fall to study Marine Science and Hawaiian Studies but also plans to compete in professional big-wave events whenever her schedule allows But she will leave high school knowing she helped Bill 133 over the finish line She testified in support of the measure several times before the state legislature despite knowing it will be too late for her to compete in it “I’m overall just stoked that I had a part in being that extra step to getting the bill passed and I look forward to the many years ahead and being able to actually watch states,” she said American Savings Bank celebrates the grand opening of its new Lahaina Branch at Lahaina Cannery Mall on Monday reaffirming its continued commitment to serving and uplifting the Maui community This new location was designed with the community’s needs of convenience and accessibility in mind and replaces ASB’s former Lahaina Branch on Papalaua Street As part of its continued commitment to the Maui community ASB is making a $10,000 donation to Maui Economic Opportunity which empowers and supports individuals and families in need through vital services ASB has contributed approximately $550,000 toward relief and recovery efforts The grand opening ceremony will feature a Native Hawaiian blessing followed by comments from ASB President and CEO Ann Teranishi and Maui Councilmember Tamara Paltin American Savings Bank now operates 36 branches across five islands – including five on Maui – and offers service seven days a week through its Customer Banking Center Residents are encouraged to attend the County of Maui’s in-person Lahaina Community Meeting at 5:30 p.m at the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria In order to provide residents more individual assistance from various agencies representatives from several departments and agencies will be available to offer support at resource tables at the community meeting They include: County of Maui’s Office of Recovery Department of Fire and Public Safety; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hoʻōla iā Mauiakama Disaster Long Term Recovery Group Representatives from the State’s Disaster Case Management Program will also be available The meeting will be livestreamed on the County of Maui’s Facebook page; no account is needed to view A live broadcast of the meeting will also be shown on Akakū: Maui Community Media A Hawaii boat captain captured video of her golden retriever barking excitedly as a humpback whale swam near them and poked its head out This photo provided by Chrissy Lovitt shows Macy were in a fishing boat about 2 miles (roughly 3 kilometers) off Lahaina on Saturday when they spotted a humpback whale in the waters “And he heard her barking and he just swam over to meet her,” Lovitt recalled Tuesday Macy is seen barking frantically as the whale nears the boat The whale’s head emerges and it appears to turn and look at the excited dog “She’s been barking at whales her whole life but they haven’t wanted to do anything with her,” Lovitt said Macy is Lovitt’s trusty companion when she leads a boatload of tourists to marvel at whales Macy is “obsessed with sea life and whales,” Lovitt added “She’s 11 and I know we don’t get forever with her But this has been on her bucket list so I’m just super happy for her.” They relaunched their business in December and have been setting aside free seats on tours for fire survivors hoping whale-watching will help them heal from the tragedy Lovitt said she hopes business continues doing well until the end of this month A crushing regulatory burden and anti-growth policies have stymied efforts to rebuild homes and businesses lost in the 2023 wildfires A year and a half since fires devastated the historic town of Lahaina on the island of Maui only six houses have been rebuilt—six out of more than 2,000 The main challenge now is dealing with a crushing permitting regime that slows or outright bans construction But local political dysfunction has discouraged state and local leaders from taking emergency action to cut through this red tape you need several to build a house from scratch The Maui County Council attempted to speed up permitting by passing Bill 21 in February 2024 establishing a consolidated permit for rebuilding disaster-affected homes Even after the county took the extraordinary step of opening a dedicated Recovery Permitting Center in April—hiring private contractors to process permits—approvals still took over 50 days Homeowners with houses older than five years still had to apply for a new permit and those without floor plans on record still had to hire an architect to draft new ones These long delays are a consequence of Maui’s deep political dysfunction. Maui residents have long been furious at their leaders for allowing housing prices to quadruple over the past 20 years The issue is not complex: a hostile regulatory environment has kept homebuilding from keeping pace with population growth The only homes that do get built are typically large vacation properties for global elites as those are the only projects that can turn a profit split five-to-four between rival visions for the future One side wants to keep Maui rural and closed to outsiders The other recognizes that allowing luxury tourism is the best way to expand the economy quickly and pay for public services Tight electoral margins discourage bold action. The most recent election, last November, saw a close race in which incumbent councilman and self-described “builder” Tom Cook won his seat by only 97 votes out of more than 52,000 cast The political divide has only grown wider since the fires Aside from activists seeking Internet fame by provoking viral confrontations at public meetings radical councilmembers have called their pro-building colleagues names like “colonizer,” openly questioned what would happen if they defied Hawaii state law promoting homebuilding and advocated for secession from the United States A general spirit of conspiracy and bad faith pervades the island’s politics This polarization stems from the County of Maui’s complex political geography which has fostered overlapping layers of mistrust toward “outsiders.” Some residents resent the U.S federal government for the annexation of Hawaii in 1898 while many even distrust the state government Since 70 percent of Hawaii’s population lives on Oahu Maui residents—who make up just 10 percent—often feel that state decisions are made without understanding their needs The County of Maui also governs two smaller islands where Oracle founder Larry Ellison owns 98 percent of the land through a hotel and resort company an island hostile to tourism and accessible only by propeller plane Two of the county council’s nine seats are reserved for residents of these vastly different islands West Maui and East Maui are separated by a two-and-a-half-hour drive and have distinct local identities They also have their own designated seats on the county council Social and ethnic divides add further complexity: Maui is home to low-income residents and descendants of Japanese sugar plantation workers These local dynamics discouraged Governor Green from taking aggressive action Suspicious residents interpreted his initial promises to rebuild Lahaina quickly as a plot to redevelop the historic town to profit “outside” developers Even Mayor Bissen has avoided taking strong actions or asking for strong state assistance for fear of looking like an outsider dictating terms to West Maui These problems are not particular to Maui. Local political dysfunction continues to manifest in post-wildfire recovery efforts across the United States. Though California did well in quickly issuing environmental-review exemptions in L.A., it now hosts at least nine recovery organizations that have failed to coordinate effectively with one another L.A.’s own history of decentralized local politics is similarly reasserting itself.  The first is what it can do to mitigate future wildfires power lines in West Maui remain exposed above dry brush and many wonder who will pay to bury these lines underground and the island’s housing crisis has made it tough to attract qualified workers Hawaii’s unions have long prevented the Maui Civil Service from issuing private contracts or even paying differential salaries the need for fire mitigation will prompt residents to support extraordinary measures Another significant question is how—or whether—to grow Maui’s economy The fastest path to growth is to ease the housing crisis by making it easier to build The island desperately needs zoning updates and streamlined permitting Permitting can be sped up through outright simplification or hiring more staff—as post-disaster actions have proven The county has not only resisted updating its zoning code for 65 years but also added more layers of regulation and review one can perhaps empathize with local feelings of conspiracy and mistrust It’s a situation formed by both negligence and design.  Alex Hu is a Marshall Scholar at King’s College London Photo by Mengshin Lin for The Washington Post via Getty Images City Journal is a publication of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (MI) Are you interested in supporting the magazine donations in support of MI and City Journal are fully tax-deductible as provided by law (EIN #13-2912529) Copyright © 2025 Manhattan Institute for Policy Research Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox The Deals are the first oceanfront property owners on Front Street to try rebuilding in an area that scientists say is at risk due to sea level rise Graded gravel lots line the shore along Lahaina’s historic Front Street more than 20 months after wildfires razed most of the town and killed 102 people relentless weeds and scorched foundations of houses in this wealthy subdivision in West Maui The stone steps that worshippers climbed for more than 100 years are all that remains of the Lahaina United Methodist Church Wood beams prop up the walls of the historic U.S a rock wall with an electronic keypad and no-trespassing signs encircles a vacant lot the wall rimmed the modern multimillion-dollar home of former Boeing executive Stanley Deal and his wife The couple bought their slice of paradise — where they could sit by their pool and watch whales and boats make their way across the channel between Maui and Lānaʻi — for just over $2 million in 2016. Now, the Deals are the community’s first oceanfront property owners in Lahaina seeking approval to begin reconstruction of their home, one that Zillow estimates once was worth nearly $9 million in an environmentally sensitive area with special protections from the state and county.  floods and other disasters fueled by climate change have forced communities around the world to grapple with how — or whether — to rebuild But the fire that tore out the heart of downtown Lahaina on Aug has exposed long-simmering tensions that reflect a wide range of visions not just for the future of Lahaina where working-class locals often resent wealthy transplants who only live part of each year on the island Those tensions have pitted the rights of individual property owners against the values of those who see the fire’s devastation as an opportunity to move Lahaina back from the shoreline safeguard precious natural resources and preserve what’s left of the town’s historic character While more than 300 property owners have been issued permits allowing them to rebuild their houses on the mauka side of Front Street farther from the ocean not a single permit has been granted so far to someone who lost a coastal home in the fire More stringent restrictions on shoreline development instituted to address future risks posed by climate change have complicated the permitting process for coastal properties and prompted some landowners to question whether they will be able to rebuild at all The Deals are an exception because they applied for a special management area permit generally required by the state and administered by the counties for all construction near the shoreline just three days before more stringent coastal zone management rules went into effect on Aug seven other property owners had also filed applications — only one of them before the rule change The Deals are the first to make it to the Maui Planning Commission That process got underway earlier this month with two hours of emotional debate that often dwarfed the specifics of the Deals’ own permit application pointed to the benefits of restoring the homes they once loved Opponents argued that now is the moment to address historical injustices and ensure Lahaina’s longterm sustainability The Maui planning director anticipates that 167 of these special management area permit requests will be emerging in the coming months and years according to a letter between the county and state health officials Many of those oceanfront properties’ owners are likely monitoring the Deals’ permit process closely for a sign: An approval would renew their faith that their beloved neighborhood may not be forever lost.  “It would mean somebody got through the process and is rebuilding a health care entrepreneur and public health advocate from Washington who purchased a home neighboring the Deals’ in 2022 “I just wish it would set a precedent we could follow going forward.” The Deals lived in their home roughly four months a year before the fires and plan to live there on a more permanent basis now that they are retired, according to the Maui Planning Department’s staff report on the permit Aside from additional safeguards to protect against rising seas and future fires two-story home with a pool and attached garage would look and feel just about the same as the home that was destroyed The estimated cost of rebuilding: $1.85 million which is about how much it cost to build it the first time around At the first public hearing on their permit application Stanley Deal told the planning commission that he and his wife are “deeply committed” to the community and their plans are consistent with the county’s vision for a “stronger embracing sustainability and support of the local economy.” and I’m dedicated to ensuring its reconstruction benefits not only my family Each approved project is a step toward healing.”  The Deals declined requests for an interview a Native Hawaiian community activist who told the commission that her family had been pushed out of Lahaina while more people moved in from the mainland said it was against the community’s best interest to rebuild such homes.  “Let’s be honest: These beachfront homes haven’t benefited our local families,” she said flipped and swallowed by out-of-state investors The couple requesting this permit doesn’t even live on Maui And they definitely won’t be the ones dealing with the flooding and the loss of access once this home is built in a sea level rise zone.” The planning commission deferred its decision on the Deals’ permit request for two weeks to hear further testimony. The hearing is scheduled to resume Tuesday Much of the debate over rebuilding 1045 Front St is centered on research from the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa which relies on science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change It shows this property and others along the coast would be vulnerable to damage if sea level rises by 3.2 feet by 2100 as expected But some of the oceanfront property owners reject the modeling behind that science saying it doesn’t account for the protections against erosion and waves provided by their existing seawalls They say they have never seen any changes to their properties and they are unwilling to accept it as a reason to abandon their dreams of rebuilding said his parents owned an oceanfront house on Front Street for about 30 years before it was destroyed in the fire While he believes that climate change and erosion threaten other communities he questions research suggesting that his parents’ property — which for decades sat behind a seawall — had experienced or would continue to be at risk because of erosion and sea level rise that “hasn’t been noticeable.” A small beach on the other side of the seawall had been sandy at times and rocky at others “It’s always been cyclic,” he said The lifestyle and history that were encompassed in that place are irreplaceable,” Burkhalter said and we would be willing to take some risks to have that special place.” Sea levels around Maui are estimated to rise between 4 and 6 feet by the end of the century and coastal properties like the Deals’ are increasingly likely to be threatened by erosion and flooding interim dean of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa While many homeowners are deeply attached to their oceanfront properties there is an opportunity to build a more resilient Lahaina but it’s actually sort of a rule of thumb.”  who also owned a house near the Deals before the wildfire She acknowledges that climate change is dangerous but she thinks that the seawall along Front Street is capable of protecting the majority of oceanfront properties She said a company called K2N Crest inspected the seawall bordering her property and determined it to be in good condition The Climate Resilience Collaborative at UH submitted testimony to the planning commission that directly challenged several of Barr’s statements and said sinkholes were likely to occur inland of seawalls even if erosion was not visibly evident on the shoreline “Sinkhole-related structure damage is already occurring in several areas of West Maui and is expected to worsen as sea level continues to rise,” according to the group’s testimony The county has also determined that some of the seawall along other parts of Front Street needs to be repaired and extended to protect from erosion a project expected to cost over $10 million.  Property owners’ efforts to rebuild their oceanfront homes will be a major test for how the county balances its new rules and a desire to plan for the predicted effects of climate change with growing pressure to more quickly rebuild Lahaina.  Lahaina — once the capital of the Kingdom of Hawai’i a major hub for Pacific whaling and home to many of the island’s sugar plantation workers — was a bustling largely immigrant town in 1929 when a humble plantation home was built on the property that is now considered 1045 Front St The Deals demolished that home in 2018, two years after they bought the property, and built in its place a contemporary house reminiscent of the boxy architecture popular in California Front Street and much of Lahaina’s Historic District lie within the special management area where most properties are required to have special permits that require developers to follow rules intended to protect the fragile coastal environment and preserve public access to the waterfront Maui Mayor Richard Bissen announced in February that 636 destroyed structures would be exempt from much of the process of acquiring those permits But the exemption did not extend to shoreline properties like the Deals’ The county also recently adopted stricter shoreline setback rules for new coastal construction Those rules cite research related to projected sea level rise and the effects of erosion on Maui according to Maui Planning Director Kate Blystone “You want your regulations to evolve as you learn new things,” Blystone said the proposed construction at 1045 Front St. which will adhere to the previous 40-foot setback requirement isn’t bound by the more prescriptive rules because the Deals submitted their permit applications just days before the new rules went into effect While the Deals managed to narrowly circumvent the new regulations their neighbors will have to specify plans to address any parts of their properties that could be impacted by sea level rise The planning director then must consider the anticipated sea level rise and likelihood the properties will suffer damage from floods or erosion when determining whether to issue a permit Oceanfront property owners said they worry they also will have to follow new rules prohibiting construction inside the “erosion hazard line,” where most of their homes previously stood “We all would want to get home as quickly as possible,” Blystone said The planning department has a responsibility to protect health That’s what our community plans do,” she said.  The Deals’ proposal outlined several features in the rebuild to mitigate the effects of coastal hazards including extending the home’s concrete footing 3.5 feet underground and encasing the water gas and electrical lines in concrete to protect against erosion comments at the public hearing and the ongoing buzz make it clear that no amount of mitigation measures will end the ongoing community uncertainty and frustration stirred up by this first project Barr said she had fulfilled a “lifelong dream” when she purchased her home on Lahaina’s coast in 2022 and she was traumatized when her property was destroyed in such a violent and unexpected manner and the only way we get it back is to build it,” she said While she was sympathetic to the frustrations of Native Hawaiians and others who feel like they have been pushed out of Lahaina she said she also really wants to return to the life she lost when her house burned down “I don’t think people understand how painful it is to have lost everything and not to be able to move forward and to have all these people hating you,” she said Lahaina resident Jackie Keefe said she was frustrated by property owners like the Deals expressing a love for the community they call home a few months each year while simultaneously requesting to rebuild their oceanfront properties “It infuriates me when I hear folks asking for Lahaina back the same way,” she said “That just shows me a different level of entitlement … This is our one chance Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation and its coverage of environmental issues on Maui is supported by grants from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and the Hawai‘i Wildfires Recovery Fund the Knight Foundation and the Doris Duke Foundation Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More The Maui Marathon made its return to its traditional route on the West Maui coast last weekend for the first time since the August 2023 wildfires forced its relocation more than 2,200 runners participated spanning the 55th annual marathon and the half marathon 10K and 5K races along Honoapiilani Highway The full 26.2-mile course started in Kaanapali went through the remnant of historic Lahaina town a little over two minutes ahead of runner-up Jake Kaslewicz (2:56:08) Gibbs posted on his Instagram account that it was his first time going for sub-3 hours "I was perfectly content (actually ecstatic) to get 2nd I zoomed past him in amazement and had a mini-panic attack as I realized I might win the damn thing I floating along on cloud 9 that last mile I couldn’t feel my legs and I couldn’t stop smiling." A post shared by Jake Gibbs (@jakeagibbs) Grace Chow of Honolulu was the first female finisher in 3:01:09 more than eight minutes clear of runner-up Macy Putman (3:09:24) Kristen Maxwell (3:11:10) placed third among females what an incredible day for all the runners and walkers It was such a beautiful tribute to Lahaina,” race director Jim Lynch said in a release “Everyone seemed so grateful to have this event back on the West Side but that didn’t stop over 2,200 runners from being at the start line — pumped up and ready to conquer their goals after months of hard training we want to thank everyone who participated You all made the 2025 Maui Marathon an unforgettable experience.” Last year’s race was reduced to a half marathon and was relocated to Kahului Maalaea and Waikapu just a handful of months after the fires in Lahaina and Kula caused the deaths of more than 100 people and damaged or destroyed thousands of structures Matthew Underwood (1:23:46) and Sofia Carias (1:28:03) were the male and female winners of the half marathon Trevor Turner (37:03) and Madeline Hanley (41:33) won the 10K and Jacob Fure (17:07) and Dakota Grossman (21:35) claimed the 5K The Maui Marathon claims the distinction of the longest consecutively held running event in the state and the oldest marathon west of the Mississippi River with its origins dating to the early 1940s Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com Report for America corps memberMaui County wants to drill another well to combat Lahaina’s water shortages.But the real issue is the unconstitutional water management system that direct 77% of Maui’s water to private developers and leave 23% for Maui’s people “We all say that water is life,” Lahainaluna High School junior Kuheleloa Kapu Kekona said “So why do you keep letting it fall into the wrong hands?” Hundreds of residents and dozens of local students packed Lahaina’s Civic Center this week to testify against the well and to return water to the people They grieved their brown and drying homelands as hotels down the road flaunt green golf courses The Commission of Water Resource Management hosted the meeting to rule on the new well While residents were curious why the request was pulled and when it would come back the commission was not able to answer on behalf of the county It’s time to return water back to the people Shim pulled out a cream pie cut to symbolize 77% and 23% She held up the smaller slice in front of the commission “If we can’t all share this 23% we got to start eating the plate,” Shim said The Hawaii State Constitution says water is a public trust and prioritizes water for Native Hawaiian practices like kalo cultivation Next on the priority list are affordable housing Resorts are the lowest priority.But locals are not seeing that water Formerly a lush wetland carefully tended by Native Hawaiians the colonial plantation system diverted Maui’s water to private properties leaving the rest of Lahaina a tinderbox of brown and drying grasses Lauren Palakiko is the wife of a kalo farmer She said the kalo crops are rotting because they don’t get enough water an important fish in Hawaiian culture are endangered and dying as streams dry up After the Lahaina fires, affordable housing developments that want to break ground cannot because they don’t have enough water Glenn Gazman said he’s frustrated that generational Lahaina residents have to follow water restrictions while the hotels and luxury homes do not He used to grow his own vegetables and make poi at home my kalo are struggling to survive,”  Gazman said He wants stronger restrictions on private water owners who hoard the water.“I feel that if the residents have to adhere to any restrictions then those people there need to follow the same restrictions that we have.” Chris Furumoto testified on behalf of Kapalua Golf saying they have followed Hawaii Water Service restrictions since September 2024 Furumoto wants to collaborate with the state on irrigation.“We understand the irrigation of golf facilities is not a public trust use of water,” Furumoto said Maui native environmental attorney Mahesh Cleveland said even with water shortages, another well is not the solution. Lahaina’s aquifers are already over-stressed and turning salty as a result Another well could have large consequences on the entire water system, Cleveland said.The commission’s Deputy Director Ciara Kahahane proposed a tiered permitting system where all water uses have to apply to use water and cannot exceed a certain amount Others also advocated for standards to set a minimum amount of water that must stay in the streams residents advocated for changes immediately so their kids don’t have to keep testifying at water meetings to access their basic rights Ku’ulei Palakiko said his late father stood before commissions testifying about water “And now I introduce you to my grandson,” Palakiko said patting his grandson on the back as he testifies.  “Hewa if he’s going to be a 20-something-year old man having to sit in front of a commission and talk about the continuation of our fight for us to be pono with our wai We are currently funded by our readers and such charitable foundations as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AARP, Report for America/GroundTruth Project & Koo and Patricia Yuen of the Yuen Foundation.’ You can make your tax-deductible donations here via credit card Stock donations and donations via DAFs are also welcomed Contact us at info @ asamnews dot com for more info.  We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info A number of Maui residents testified Tuesday against a proposal by a Lahaina property owner to substantially rebuild a two-story house to what it was before the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire Several objected to the continued use of a swimming pool citing concerns over the limited availability of water in the area Others raised questions about the seawall fronting the property which is owned by the Stanley and Dilara Deal Trust nobody needs this,” said Maui resident Ua Aloha Maji at a public hearing before the Maui Planning Commission Maji said his statement wasn’t intended to push anybody out but he wants to make sure there’s enough water for the community Opponents also warned the decision could set a precedent for other residential shoreline properties in Lahaina seeking to rebuild after the Lahaina wildfire An analysis by county staff found the lot is within Maui County’s service area and the proposed construction of the home will be substantially similar to the prior home without any increase in water demand anticipated The analysis said the planning department granted a shoreline permit and setback for the repair of a seawall in 2017 and the owner received approval for a special flood hazard area development permit in 2018 “The project is not anticipated to result in significant adverse impacts to coastal ecosystems,” according to the analysis The analysis said the owners resided at the home about 120 days per year as well as holidays and the property was never used as a short-term rental before the fire Deal and his wife have both retired and intend to rebuild and live at the property on a more permanent basis,” the report said Commissioners agreed to take a recess on the application after finding there were at least eight written testimonies presented in time for the meeting April 22 at the Kalana Pukui building in Wailuku The application calls for building a living space of 3,617 square feet with a 351-square-foot attached garage The total estimated valuation of the project at 1045 Front St Construction of the project is expected to be completed a year after receiving permit approvals A grant information session for Maui County’s recycling grants program will be at 2 p.m In light of increased property values driving up tax payments the Maui County Council’s budget committee has .. Copyright © 2025 Maui News Publishing Company LTD | https://www.mauinews.com | 100 Mahalani Street The Legislature is exempting properties destroyed in a disaster from certain permitting requirements to speed up recovery efforts More than 20 months after wildfires razed most of Lahaina, nearly 1,400 residential lots have been cleared of debris but only nine homes have been rebuilt, according to data from 4Leaf the California-based contractor the county hired last year to expedite its permitting process State lawmakers passed a bill last week to try to speed things up by exempting several hundred properties from the special management area permit required for construction in delicate coastal zones but it would apply to any such area in Hawai‘i affected by a natural disaster through July 1 While there was strong support for the measure, which removes an often lengthy and expensive regulatory hurdle for people devastated by these extreme situations, it’s unclear whether Senate Bill 1296 will significantly expedite Lahaina’s rebuild In February, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen exempted from an SMA permit nearly 800 properties mauka of Front Street — the main thoroughfare that runs along the coast — but not the 251 parcels on the makai or ocean side within the erosion hazard line The bill the Legislature unanimously passed on Friday similarly excludes makai properties though it’s not clear if the state law extends exemptions to any properties that were not previously granted through Bissen’s action During final House and Senate negotiations in conference committee lawmakers amended the bill so it does not apply to shoreline parcels or properties “impacted by waves said it was incredibly difficult for lawmakers when they ultimately decided to amend the bill to exclude properties on the shoreline there were numerous oceanfront homes that likely would have lasted for at least a few more decades “But now that they’re destroyed does it really make sense to rebuild in an area where sea level rise is going to make it uninhabitable in the next 50 years I think the answer is probably no,” he said “This is our chance to retreat without actually knocking down habitable structures and I understand why people who live there would be unhappy.” whose family had lived near the shore on Pualoke Place in Lahaina for the past 40 years urged lawmakers in his testimony to give them the opportunity to rebuild what they lost “That’s all we have ever wanted to do,” he said “Rebuild what was there pre-fire.” Others have similarly started speaking out publicly testifying in support of the Senate bill and on a neighbor’s SMA permit request that’s pending before the county Planning Commission Related: Lahaina Fire Stole Their Dream Home. Plans To Rebuild Reveal Deep Divides Stanley Deal, a former Boeing executive who lived part-time in a multimillion-dollar home on Front Street with his wife, applied for an SMA permit before the county updated its coastal zone management rules that make it harder to build along the shoreline due to rising seas and erosion hazards The commission has heard two long — and at times emotional — rounds of public testimony on his permit A heated debate has erupted over whether property owners on the coast should be able to rebuild their homes as they were or if the disaster should be seen as an opportunity to prepare for the threats posed by climate change protect Lahaina’s precious natural resources and preserve its historic charm Deal’s neighbors are hoping the commission approves his permit at one of its next meetings and that sets a precedent they can follow but some have questioned whether they will be able to rebuild at all and did not find any saving grace in the recently passed state legislation wildfires destroyed thousands of homes and businesses killing at least 102 people and displacing more than 12,000 others Many survivors are anxious to restart their lives in Lahaina and Upcountry Maui Nearly 400 have received building permits through 4Leaf to do so and another 300 permits are being processed Before the state legislation was amended to exclude oceanfront properties, Maui County officials, local business owners and prominent public figures testified in support of the bill including representatives from the Department of Land and Natural Resources the Lahaina Restoration Foundation and the Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce.  said he supported the bill and that the current legally required process to obtain a permit is expensive the legislation would ensure actions are taken to mitigate the negative effects of climate change without “burdening owners with the same procedural requirements as new development proposals,” he said.  property owners and those who were and will be employed in the fire affected areas and if in place before the next disaster will be of significant relief to those faced with reconstruction executive director of the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association said in written testimony that it would create a “critical pathway for businesses and property owners to rebuild efficiently” and give them “hope that they will be able to return to the place they love so much.” “It is an important step towards the economic recovery of beloved Lahaina town,” he said Lorraine Inouye and Angus McKelvey in January requires reconstruction to begin within six years of the date that a disaster is declared and that the new structure be “similar to its original footprint.” New rules will go into effect as soon as the governor signs the legislation or Even though it is unclear whether the legislation extends exemptions to any properties that were not already granted them through the mayor’s action Rhoads said it could still have some effect on the speed of Lahaina’s rebuilding efforts “There’s no legal cloud for when someone applies for mortgages or for building permits,” he said “You don’t want any legal ambiguities Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation Civil Beat’s coverage of environmental issues on Maui is supported by grants from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and the Hawai‘i Wildfires Recovery Fund Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter The Maui Hero Project has received $65,300 in funding from Rotary District 5000 to support mental health programs for Lahaina youth affected by the 2023 Maui Wildfires The funding will help provide trauma recovery and disaster preparedness programs for students at Lahaina Intermediate School Lahainaluna High School and other impacted Lahaina schools The PYCC Maui Hero Project is an eight-week rite of passage program designed around the traditional stories and teachings of the Hawaiian Hero Students register for the program as a closed pledge class and commit to attending twice weekly Disaster preparedness and other first responder skills such as search and rescue and CPR/first aid are taught by volunteer professionals while Hawaiian practices such as farming and canoe paddling are taught by cultural experts The Maui Hero Project is directed by its founder who holds a master’s degree in social work and has contributed to the program’s development as a national best-practice over the past 20 years. According to Lapow: “Rotarians will also play an integral part in supporting MHP’s Epic Day events contributing to community engagement and fostering healing through shared activities leading to a sustainable interconnected network of community leaders ensuring long-term disaster preparedness and resilience.” The funding provided by Rotary reflects the organization’s commitment to helping the Lahaina community recover Rotary District 5000 encompasses approximately 1,500 Rotarians across 47 clubs statewide For more information about the nine Rotary clubs on Maui contact Maui Island Resource Chair Joanne Laird at mamalrd01@gmail.com The community is invited to comment on eight homeowner recommendations developed by Hawaiʻi Community Lending and Ho‘ōla iā Mauiakama Long Term Recovery Group The recommendations aim to specifically benefit Lahaina homeowners with the goal of preventing the displacement of residents and supporting individuals and families who lack resources to rebuild The US Congress appropriated $1.6 billion in Community Development Block Grant –Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding to support recovery efforts from the 2023 Maui wildfires The funding will be provided to the County of Maui through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development The County deadline to provide comments for the Maui County CDBG-DR action plan has been extended to March 31 at 4 p.m. Comments may be submitted online at https://www.mauirecovers.org/cdbgdr or in-person at the Lahaina Resource Center or Kāko‘o Maui Relief & Aid Services Center The eight recommendations are based on data and feedback shared by 503 homeowners impacted by the fires who are enrolled in HCL’s Lahaina Homeowner Recovery (LHRP) and Ho‘ōla LTRG programs By gathering sufficient support and comments the goal is to get these homeowner-led recommendations included in the plan so that the needs of Lahaina families are met “This is a kāhea for community members to support families staying in Lahaina We encourage residents to review the recommendations informed by Lahaina residents and consider including them as part of your comments to the County,” said Jeff Gilbreath the CDBG-DR action plan can effectively address the challenges faced by Lahaina residents promoting equitable recovery and resilience in the aftermath of the wildfire.” “Rebuilding Lahaina will take all of us working together—nonprofits the families who call this place home,” said Rhonda Alexander-Monkres “These homeowner-led recommendations for the CDBG-DR Action Plan reflect the real needs on the ground and we’re proud to stand alongside our community partners to ensure residents have the resources and voice they deserve in this recovery process.” Maui County CDBG-DR Action Plan Recommendations 1.     Request to Adjust Income Limit for CDBG-DR Upfront. While CDBG-DR seeks to benefit low-and-moderate income households below 80% area median income (AMI) the County of Maui should request to adjust the income limit upfront considering that Lahaina residents are being forced to leave the island due to rising costs of food Puerto Rico successfully requested and secured from the Department of Housing and Urban Development an adjustment above the 80% AMI limit to meet the urgent need of reducing outmigration caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017 2.     Direct Grants for Rebuilding. Allocate funds to provide grants to homeowners through nonprofits for rebuilding their primary residences covering predevelopment costs such as architectural designs 3.     Contract Nonprofits. Establish policies that prioritize contracts with nonprofits experienced in disaster case management and streamline application processes so Lahaina residents do not have to complete multiple applications to receive assistance.​ 4.     Zero-Interest Deferred Payment Loans. Expand the County of Maui’s deferred payment loan program to offer zero-interest loans with deferred payments that do not require repayment as long as the family resides in the home helping families qualify for construction and mortgage financing that is affordable.​ 5.     Allow for Owner-Builder Projects. Expand the Single Family Reconstruction Program to include owner-builder projects which includes volunteer build programs such as Habitat for Humanity and the Ho‘ōla iā Mauiakama LTRG 6.     Allow for Reimbursements of Grants and Loans. Include the following language to reimburse funds that families have paid already toward rebuilding or from grants and loans provided by nonprofits and/or the County in accordance with CDBG-DR regulations Consider this specific language to be inserted into the action plan: Maui County recognizes that private nonprofit entities leverage private sector resources to provide grants and short-term bridge loans to impacted homeowners for rebuilding single-family homes as well as for multi-family developments These organizations are familiar with CDBG-DR regulations and can assist homeowners in remaining in their homes and completing rebuilds promptly Homeowners collaborating with these entities may be eligible for reimbursement of money they have paid toward their rebuild or for grants and short-term bridge loans provided through the Single Family Reconstruction Multi-Family Rental Housing Reconstruction New Housing Opportunities for Disaster Impacted Renters and Infrastructure and Public Facilities Programs.​  7.     Ensure Families Qualify for Homeowners Insurance. Provide grants to homeowners enrolled in nonprofit programs to incorporate fire-resistant design elements into their rebuilding plans ensuring homes are insurable and better protected against future fires.Establish a program in partnership with the State to provide basic fire insurance coverage when traditional insurance companies will not or costs are too high offering homeowners financial protection during the rebuilding phase and once the home is completed Invest in constructing a new fire station in Lahaina and allocate additional resources for firefighters to improve emergency response capabilities.​ 8.     Ongoing Community Engagement. Continue to hold public meetings to share the progress of the action plan and partnerships and programs that have been developed Use community feedback and program data to refine and improve programs ensuring Lahaina residents have a say in the redevelopment of Lahaina To comment and for more information, visit https://www.mauirecovers.org/cdbgdr.  With hurricane and wildfire season coming up Hawaiian Electric is hosting two emergency preparedness open house events to help prepare residents and their communities Each event will feature presentations by Hawaiian Electric Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization and the Maui Fire Department along with resource tables representing various community partner agencies who will share vital information on how residents can plan and get ready in the event of an emergency To keep customers and communities safe, Hawaiian Electric implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program in 2024 as part of its Wildfire Safety Strategy it is important for residents to have an action plan so residents know what to do when they see a PSPS Alert residents should be prepared to be without electricity for an extended time Learn more at www.hawaiianelectric.com/psps As Lahaina begins to rebuild in the wake of the August 2023 wildfire disaster residents and visitors of the beloved historic town are asking whether it will retain the historic character that went up in smoke and ashes Now, an answer to that question is ready for review on May 6 by the Maui County Urban Design Review Board which advises the Department of Planning on design-related matters Draft residential design standards for the Lahaina National Historic Landmark District address a broad spectrum of design issues The board’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Department of Planning and ultimately inform decision-making by the Maui Planning Commission the architectural stylebook may be too late for the first application for the precedent-setting commission decision on a special management area permit for reconstruction of a two-story oceanfront Front Street home and its modern design there’s more to come: owners of 11 other oceanfront properties are seeking SMA permits to rebuild which is nearly 13% of the 86 similarly situated properties destroyed or damaged in the wildfire disaster Maui Planning Commission concluded public testimony and postponed a decision on the special management area permit application submitted by Stanley and Dilara Deal in August 2024 During the public comment and in some remarks from commission members a prevailing sentiment appeared to be in favor of the Deals revising their contemporary design to better align with Lahaina’s historical architectural style a direction now supported by the specific details outlined in the draft residential design standards The commission is expected to take up the permit application a retired Boeing executive and resident of Mercer Island and his wife plan to spend $1.85 million to reconstruct their home at 1045 Front Street to substantially the same structure as before the Aug which destroyed or damaged structures on 8,461 properties 3,617-square-foot home had a contemporary design which some have likened to homes in Malibu The 8,668-square-foot lot still has a swimming pool and a rock seawall The draft Lahaina post-fire, single-family residential design standards pending before the Urban Design Review Board The first page of the draft design standards says that “previously permitted dwellings and outbuildings may be rebuilt if they accurately duplicate buildings that were extant on the date of the Lahaina wildfire.” If the original building permit is not available property owners and architects could use photos and tax assessor’s records and surveys with building diagrams doors and other openings) must reproduce the original design,” the draft says The design guidelines will direct what’s allowed and not allowed for rebuilding homes in Lahaina’s Historic Landmark District The Maui County Board of Supervisors established two non-contiguous historic districts in Lahaina in 1967 and the boundaries of those do not correspond with the Lahaina Historic Landmark District While the Deals’ oceanfront Front Street home project — located near the US Seamen’s Hospital and Baker Street — is within the Lahaina National Historic Landmark District it’s not within the county’s historic district boundaries This adds another layer of complexity to the decision pending before the planning commission The draft residential guidelines recognize different eras of Lahaina’s history “plantation vernacular,” “Neo-plantation,” modern ranch and two-story “modern” homes dating from the early 1970s The board may provide its comments to the Department of Planning The board is chaired by Paul Areus of Haʻikū and vice chaired by Ashley Otomo of Wailuku The board has six members and three vacancies The Urban Design Review Board’s meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 6 In-person testimony using audio/visual technology will be available at the Current Planning Division Conference Room participants are encouraged to attend via Webex video conferencing The meeting ID is: 2660 012 4995; Password: 050625 The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation notifies highway users of potential traffic delays as modular homes for wildfire survivors are transported from Kahului to the state’s Ka Laʻi Ola housing site in Lahaina The transport will involve trucks in a caravan that will move the homes from the staging area near the Kahului small boat ramp the trucks will head south on Kahului Beach Road and turn left heading east on Kaʻahumanu Avenue (Route 32) then turn right onto Hāna Highway (Route 36) The trucks will then turn right onto Elmer F linking with Kūihelani Highway (Route 380) At the intersection with Honoapiʻilani Highway (Route 30) the trucks will turn left and head west to Lahaina the trucks will continue on Honoapiʻilani Highway and make a right turn onto Leialiʻi Parkway near the Lahaina Civic Center and head to the site the modular homes will be hauled from Kahului Harbor to the temporary staging site near the Kahului small boat ramp from 8 a.m The trucks will proceed onto Kaʻahumanu Avenue from the harbor and head west and turn right onto Kahului Beach Road which is adjacent to the Kahului small boat ramp For hauling schedule updates or changes, see HDOT’s social media pages on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiDepartmentOfTransportation and on Twitter/X @DOTHawaii Motorists may encounter traffic slowdowns and stops in both directions along the route due to the size of the modular units There will also be escorts during the transport Highway users should heed all signs along with directions from traffic controllers The Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi hailed the 2025 Legislature’s passage this week of bills intended to increase the state’s housing stock speed up the recovery of Lahaina and increase government accountability The measures were among more than 200 bills the Legislature approved on Wednesday in advance of its final session day for the year Among the housing measures supported by Grassroot were: Grassroot President and CEO Keli’i Akina said the Legislature’s actions represent progress in addressing the state’s housing crisis Josh Green to follow through by enacting all these measures into law “Anyone who has applied for a building permit knows how long and frustrating delays can be,” Akina said “Reforming the building permit and historic preservation review processes would be a major win for folks looking to build new homes.” Akina said reducing such fees will cut costs for most homebuilders including existing homeowners interested in adding a second home to their properties.  “I am glad to see lawmakers have reduced the fees,” he said “especially since not a penny of the fees collected has been spent since 2007 But the measure still could be extended to all homebuilders and I look forward to when school impact fees can be fully repealed.”  Regarding Lahaina, the Legislature approved SB1296 which would codify Gov. Josh Green’s emergency waiver of Special Management Area rules for current rebuilding efforts in Lahaina and after future disasters.  Akina said the Lahaina-related bill “unfortunately does not provide everyone in Lahaina with relief from these burdensome SMA regulations but it definitely will add certainty to the rebuilding process for many of our Maui ʻohana.” Other Grassroot-supported bills approved by the Legislature include:  Akina said that the civil asset forfeiture bill is important because “the government should not be allowed to take anyone’s private property without the strictest of rules in place to protect against abuses This bill takes Hawaiʻi a step closer to protecting the rights of those who have yet to be convicted of any crime.”  Akina applauded that almost all of the major tax increases proposed this year failed including bills to increase the capital gains tax and the unemployment insurance tax which in its final form aims to increase the state transient accommodations tax from 10.25% to 11% and apply the tax to cruise ships I am concerned this bill might harm the state’s tourism economy as well as have unintended consequences for those of us who live here — for example when neighbor island residents travel to Oʻahu for medical care,” Akina said but many historical buildings are making a comeback in the burn zone Kirstin Downey, a former Civil Beat reporter, is a regular contributing columnist specializing in history, culture and the arts, and the occasional political issue. A former Washington Post reporter and author of several books, she splits her time between Hawaiʻi and Washington, D.C. Opinions are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Civil Beat’s views. You can reach her by email at kdowney@civilbeat.org. Bit by bit, slowly and haltingly, the Lahaina Historic District is being brought back to life More than a dozen old buildings burned in the 2023 fire — representing hundreds of years of Hawaiʻi’s rich cultural heritage — are being restored, providing anchor points in the historical town’s resurrection. Meanwhile, a new county proposal to expedite building permits within the historic district could help spur things along “We’re marching forward,” said Dora Millikin The wooden interiors of these buildings may have burned but their stone walls survived Solid bracing systems have been installed to stabilize their shells making them ready for the next round of work Debris surrounding the old Lahaina jail has been stripped away revealing the pale yellow coral enclosure that served as the prison yard Two vintage railroad locomotives have been relocated to a central site near Baldwin House and the Masters’ Reading Room Three feet of toxic debris that fell into the basement was meticulously sorted by archaeologists at the Old Lahaina Courthouse allowing preservationists to cull for artifacts that survived Much of this initial work was done by the federal government. Cultural monitors who were employed to supervise the sites helped local people who were not allowed on site to specify what was important and needed to be preserved “They were our eyes and ears in the burn zone,” Neizman said The most visibly precarious of the structures is the Baldwin House whose end walls are visibly cracking and is at risk of collapsing inward One victory for historic preservationists is that a building that was nearly lost an important watering station for visiting ships appears to have been unaffected by the fire and now has survived the post-disaster wrecking ball Waiola Church, which burned to the ground, needs to be entirely rebuilt, a process that trustees hope will begin this year. They are seeking a project manager to begin the work. The rock walls surrounding the property are already being reconstructed, thanks to a Hauola grant from Lele Aloha a nonprofit group founded by Hawaiʻi waterman Archie Kalepa Waiola is one of the most significant historical structures in the state housing the graveyard where Queen Keōpūolani King Kaumualiʻi and Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena were buried surrounded by some of their missionary friends Although the church and its community hall were destroyed The grounds have been beautified with the help of a $50,000 grant from Maui’s Rotary clubs The money was used for lawn maintenance equipment and a new irrigation system that will help keep the lawn green and maintain flowering trees on the site Historic grave markers at the cemetery, placed there in 2023, identify the many members of the aliʻi families buried there, including the ancestors of the people buried at Mauna ʻAla the elders of the people at Mauna ʻAla,” said state Rep “These people are lesser known but they are more important.” In late January, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced he had secured nearly $10 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support historic restoration efforts the Masters’ Reading Room and Waiola Church as recipients a Chinese social and fraternal organization have told foundation officials they also intend to rebuild The leaders of the Lahaina Cultural Center, Nā ‘Aikāne O Maui Native Hawaiian groups have proposed reconstructing Mokuʻula a 1-acre royal compound on an island surrounded by a spring-fed fishpond that once served as the home to Queen Keōpūolani and her son The island was abandoned in the late 1800s and later turned into a trash dump and then a park Supporters have long dreamed of it being rebuilt and the fire is providing momentum in that direction But supporters of all these projects recognize there are real obstacles standing in the way Many expect to receive federal disaster relief funding so the owners of the properties are watching presidential cost-cutting initiatives with considerable worry “The present administration — Donald Trump — is really messing with things so we don’t know what will happen,” Millikin said “We are all sitting here wondering what will happen tomorrow or next week or next month,” said Kent Stewart who is chairing the Waiola Church’s rebuilding committee officials at the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency have told church leaders they should assume all is well One new county initiative that would help projects proceed more quickly is a proposal that would allow historic properties that are being restored, like for like, to get building approvals more quickly. This would ease the workload on the Maui County Cultural Resources Commission the agency that oversees construction in historic districts The commission has struggled to handle its workload. Its board has only met a handful of times in the past year and a half because of a repeated failure to gain a quorum but its last two meetings have been canceled the bigger question is what will happen to the remainder of the properties in the Lahaina Historic District there are 106 lots in the district where reconstruction may be needed they may end up marooned within a very different context than what was there before “We’re going to restore everything if we can,” said Penny Wakida “Getting that restoration will be beneficial to the town It will give people a sense of place we are losing The historic sites will help restore the feeling.” Honolulu Civil Beat is a nonprofit organization and your donation helps us produce local reporting that serves all of Hawaii Ideas is the place you'll find essays, analysis and opinion on public affairs in Hawaiʻi. We want to showcase smart ideas about the future of Hawaiʻi, from the state's sharpest thinkers, to stretch our collective thinking about a problem or an issue. Email news@civilbeat.org to submit an idea Sign up for our FREE morning newsletter and face each day more informed Desiree Graham is pictured during an interview at Kahikinui homestead on Sunday Propane tanks and discarded tires are temporarily stored at Kahikinui homestead on Sunday Residents were asked to remove unused items to reduce fire risks Homes in Kahikinui homestead spread across the southern slope of Kahikinui are pictured on Sunday Unused refrigerators and generators are temporarily stored at Kahikinui homestead on Sunday a firewise community support specialist for the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization Palm trees stand in front of a house in Waikoloa Village An aerial view shows the landscape of Waikoloa Village a former fire research scientist for the U.S assesses the condition of the grass with Mike Mundon points to the drylands behind a house in her community Sheep graze at Kahikinui Homestead on Sunday gas generators and rusty appliances heaped on the side of a dirt road waiting to be hauled away filled Desiree Graham with relief “That means all that stuff is not in people’s yards,” she said on a blustery July day in Kahikinui a remote Native Hawaiian homestead community in southeast Maui where wildfire is a top concern but it’s pretty beautiful to me,” said Graham a member of Kahikinui’s Firewise committee part of a rapidly growing program from the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association that helps residents assess their communities’ fire risk and create plans to mitigate it The state has 250,000 acres of unmanaged fallow agricultural land nearly all of its buildings sit within the wildland-urban interface and two-thirds of communities have only one road in and out But experts say that even with so many factors out of communities’ control they can vastly improve their resilience — by transforming their own neighborhoods and we have a lot of say in that,” said Nani Barretto co-executive director of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) a 25-year-old nonprofit at the forefront of the state’s fire-risk mitigation former chair of the Firewise committee for Waikoloa Village an 8,000-resident community on the west side of the Big Island Shelly and her husband Dana Aina have done over 60 free assessments for neighbors since 2022 evaluating their properties for ignition vulnerabilities Volunteers removed kiawe trees last year along a fuel break bordering houses Residents approved an extra HOA fee for vegetation removal on interior lots Measures like these can have outsized impact as people in fire-prone states adapt to more extreme wildfires because those don’t stop the fire in extreme conditions,” said Cohen Direct flames from a wildfire aren’t what typically initiate an urban conflagration Wind-blown embers can travel miles away from a fire landing on combustible material like dry vegetation or accumulating in corners like where a deck meets siding The solutions don’t always require expensive retrofits like a whole new roof but targeting the specific places within 100 feet of the house where embers could ignite material making community-wide efforts like Firewise important “The house is only as ignition resistant as its neighbors,” said Cohen Even with renewed interest in fire resilience community leaders face challenges in mobilizing their neighbors Measures like removing hazardous trees can cost thousands of dollars because those who have them can’t afford to take them down,” said Shelly Aina like installing metal screening behind vents and crawl spaces to keep out embers It gave Kahikinui a $5,000 grant for a dumpster service to haul out its waste and helped Waikoloa Village rent a chipper for the trees it removed but even just a little bit of financial assistance can have an exponential impact “We can give them $1,000 and it turns into 1,000 man hours of doing the clearing.” HWMO was able to expand its grant program after the Maui fires with donations from organizations like the Bezos Earth Fund and the American Red Cross Another hurdle is asking residents to do work and make sacrifices as they watch others neglect their role ‘What about the county land?’ There’s no routine maintenance,’” said Shelly Aina Her husband Dana Aina said he reminds people that it is everyone’s kuleana Firewise communities have found that doing their own mitigation gives them more clout when asking for funding or for others to do their part After the 66-residence community of Kawaihae Village on Hawaii Island joined Firewise they were finally able to get a neighboring private landowner and the state to create fuel breaks and clear grasses “Without that we wouldn’t have been on anyone’s radar,” said Brenda DuFresne “I think Firewise is a way to show people that you’re willing to help yourself.” Andrew Amano in a still from the FRONTLINE documentary "Maui's Deadly Firestorm." The Hawaiian town of Lahaina experienced the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century in August 2023, which killed 102 people, displaced thousands and turned the town into ashes. FRONTLINE’s latest documentary Maui’s Deadly Firestorm investigates concerns raised in the years before the fire about preparedness and wildfire prevention and critical missteps in the response while also featuring the stories of Lahaina residents affected by the fire Here we take a look at what has happened in their lives since the documentary was filmed and examine efforts to rebuild and prepare for future wildfires FRONTLINE spoke to the residents featured in the film again about how they’re recovering from the fire Many still grapple with the aftermath of the tragedy with some facing difficulties rebuilding their homes while others have had to relocate out of Lahaina Kuhua Camp resident Peggy Balisco said her family is still renting a home in Maui She said she is conflicted about rebuilding their home in Kuhua Camp because she’s not sure if enough has been done to prevent another tragedy but they “realized there is no place like Maui.” She feels rebuilding seems to be their only choice U’i Kahue’s family and another lived in Kuhua Camp in gazebos with inflatable mattresses using solar lights and a generator for electricity She said they were the first ones to return to live in the burned remains of their neighborhood Their living conditions improved when their RV arrived but she anticipated there may be some challenges Andrew Amano said his family is also planning to rebuild in Kuhua Camp and that they already have house plans and a layout Amano said many of his neighbors also plan to rebuild but some have already bought new houses elsewhere Sanford Hill told FRONTLINE he had to relocate to Kauai He said the transition has been difficult — especially dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder Hill fears that without proper preventative measures similar disasters might occur again Lahaina resident Lily Nguyen has moved to various locations She said the Hawai‘i Interim Housing Program provided her with a place to stay in Kihei in Kihei — but she’s waiting for a permit Read more: How Filmmakers Documented the Response and Aftermath of ‘Maui’s Deadly Firestorm’ state and local authorities have taken steps to address the chaotic nature of the response to the 2023 wildfire and have begun to implement measures to prevent a future disaster the Maui Emergency Management Agency has added staff and appointed a new administrator Hawaiian Electric has launched a power safety shutoff program across the state which would allow them to preemptively switch off power ahead of extreme weather and upgraded more than 2,000 utility poles to reduce the chance that their equipment would ignite fires Read more: Responses From Maui Authorities Regarding the Devastating August 2023 Wildfire In July, the Maui Planning Commission, a body that, among other things, advises the county’s leadership on land use, recommended the approval of a bill that would convert more than 7,000 short-term rentals to long-term housing The move would help address the acute shortage of housing for displaced wildfire survivors families may be required to pay rent — determined by their financial situation — to stay in FEMA’s temporary housing FEMA’s housing assistance program is currently set to expire in February 2026 On the rebuilding front, the County of Maui consulted residents affected by the fire to create a guide to long-term rebuilding and recovery that includes projects on affordable housing health and social services and economic recovery wrote that the plan “will serve as a crucial tool to identify funding sources and ensure that recovery efforts are carried out in a sustainable and resilient manner.” It is not yet clear whether Hale Mahaolu Eono, the senior housing complex where Sanford Hill used to live, will be rebuilt. Many of its former residents have scattered across different parts of the island and the state In August 2024, a $4 billion settlement was announced by the Hawai‘i governor’s office which would settle over 600 cases brought against various defendants — although there was no admission of liability who already paid out over $2 billion in claims are fighting the settlement in Hawai‘i’s Supreme Court arguing that the proposed settlement would bar them from seeking reimbursement for their payouts from the state Hawaiian Electric and several large landowners Koralie Barrau and Kelsey Rightnowar contributed reporting to this story Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L concrete pilings along Front Street in Lahaina have been removed — totaling approximately 500 tons of material A press release announcement from the County of Maui described the achievement as “a significant step forward in Maui wildfire recovery efforts.” The County worked in partnership with lead agency US Army Corps of Engineers the US Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources to complete the piling removal ahead of schedule The project was initially slated to take about 90 days but the removal was finished in less than a month “due to the collaboration and dedication of all partners.” “Clearing the debris was a vital step in ensuring public safety and marks significant progress in Maui’s ongoing recovery,” said Mayor Richard Bissen “We are deeply grateful to USACE and other dedicated partner agencies for their unwavering support throughout this major effort This milestone reflects the power of hard work and collaboration in building a safer future for our community.” While the project had engineering hurdles in the water and on land cultural and archeological specialists carefully monitored work and ensured preservation of any historical pilings “This project presented unique engineering challenges requiring specialized expertise and a quick response,” said Donald Schlack Chief of Staff for the USACE Recovery Field Office are proud to have played a key role in safely and efficiently removing these hazardous obstacles paving the way for rebuilding efforts in Lahaina.” the pilings supported commercial and residential structures built over the water The devastation of buildings left hazardous debris which presented safety risks along the beach and seawall the public can expect to see equipment along Front Street while the contractor is completing demobilization which is expected by the end of this month For more questions or more information about the project, contact the Maui County Office of Recovery at 808-270-4343 or email officeofrecovery@co.maui.hi.us  The USACE Debris Hotline is 877-214-9117 Court documents filed in a wildfire compensation lawsuit give an unprecedented look at the struggles fire survivors continue to face Perry Allen left Maui with little more than the clothes on his back desperate to get to the Honolulu hospital where his wife had been airlifted after running through fire to flee their Lahaina neighborhood Allen still hasn’t returned to the island they called home for 13 years Kevin Baclig has journeyed back and forth between Maui and the Philippines several times since the Aug First to ask his wife’s relatives for DNA samples to help identify her body and then to bring her ashes — along with the remains of her brother and parents — back to their homeland.  Folau Tone spent the last year trying to pick up extra restaurant shifts and stay strong for his children but the grief and despair of losing his parents sister and 7-year-old nephew is often overwhelming Dozens of survivors were preparing to share their struggles during a wildfire compensation trial scheduled to start last month but they never got the chance: The trial was averted before anyone took the stand Written statements filed with the courts by more than three dozen people offer rare insights into the night of the fire “The emotional weight of this loss often feels unbearable I worry about the effects my experience and suffering will have on my children.” The declarations focus on individual loss and suffering but woven throughout them is a strong sense of community: what it was like to be welcomed to Lahaina as an immigrant what it meant to live in a home that housed five generations of your family how the feel of a neighbor’s hand in the dark and choppy waters off Front Street offered an emotional lifeline on the night of the fire More: Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Clears Way For $4 Billion Maui Wildfire Settlement Many of the written statements came from survivors who have moved away from Maui or were unlikely to testify in person for other reasons People signed their declarations from Honolulu and Hilo and states as far away as Maryland they remain haunted by memories of that night and the ways it upended their lives “The fire is not just an event of the past; it is a relentless presence in my daily life.” even to people who had been monitoring it throughout the day Christine Nishimoto saw neighbors watering down their yards but thought the wildfire was still far away when she stepped outside her home to evacuate and was hit by a blast of heat She didn’t realize she was badly burned until she got to a nearby neighbor’s house and poured water on herself “I noticed brown discharge seeped out from all over my body and initially thought it was dirt but then realized it was my own skin.” Julius Limbaga knew he was in trouble when he opened the door to his Lahaina home and black smoke billowed inside but quickly realized too much of the neighborhood was on fire for him to be able to drive away I jumped out only to be greeted by darkness searing heat and embers that struck my face and body the only exit was through my backyard even though the bushes and grass were already ablaze.” Limbaga doused himself with water before running through the burning vegetation in his backyard he ran barefoot across the rocky ground toward the beach his skin bubbling and popping as his legs caught fire.  I helped a distressed elderly woman unable to reach the surf I lifted her onto my back and carried her into the ocean I felt searing pain as the saltwater engulfed my burns and wounds.” Thao Tran and her husband tried to evacuate their home near the Pioneer Mill with their 95-year-old landlady but the trio soon found themselves stuck in traffic on Front Street As the fire drew closer to the line of cars they joined others running toward the beach She decided to take her chances and swim away from shore to escape the smoke “After several hours of struggling to stay afloat I was exhausted and did not know how much longer I could stay above water … Eventually I would have drown if the man swimming nearby me had not pulled me back to the surface and thrown me onto a large piece of wood debris.” Tran’s husband stayed along the shoreline with their elderly landlady Many fire survivors wrote of facing the same difficult choice: Stay near the flames “I could not swim but was assisted by a young stranger who held onto to me through the night He urged me to sit in the choppy water to avoid the fire rationalizing that I’d rather have my family find my charred body than have my body lost at sea.” I held our 7-year-old and David held our 3-year-old Our two older children were treading water on their own I remember watching my 3-year-old spit out water as the waves continuously crashed on us She abandoned her car on Front Street after the building next to her caught fire She spent the night treading water with two neighbors one of whom died on a rock wall before morning squeezing periodically to ensure we were both still alive The water that had once protected us began causing hypothermia As the fast-moving fire quickly outpaced the capacity of emergency workers Lahaina residents made decisions borne of desperation They also put their own lives at risk to save friends and strangers “I had nothing to protect myself from the incredible heat when we reached the shore but fortunately a young man nearby gave me his shirt to protect myself.” Amber Sampson was in bed recovering from a C-section when the fire broke out As she tried to get out of Lahaina with her parents her car died in the backup on Front Street Flames inched closer to them as Sampson’s father tried in vain to restart the car When the truck bed in front of them caught fire Then another family stopped and pulled all five of them into their car I am almost certain we all would have died in our car that day.” Terry Wollenschlaeger remembers running toward Safeway when she fell and her hair caught fire A boy running with her stopped and put out the flames on her head Wollenschlaeger and her husband hopped into a truck owned by someone they knew they stopped amid flying debris and embers to pick up others we saw a man covered in soot who was lying down and crying We helped him into the truck and kept driving.” Shaun Saribay stayed behind to try to save a house that had been in his family for generations It quickly became clear he’d made the wrong choice Saribay pulled into the parking lot of the Lahaina United Methodist Church and joined a group of men who were trying to keep the building from catching fire The church burned anyway but Saribay said the group was able to save two other structures and lead 17 people to safety Though he spent the night fighting the fire burning his town it wasn’t until the next morning that he realized the extent of the disaster I saw the harsh reality of my hometown: Lahaina was gone I found an abandoned bicycle and rode around Lahaina looking for other survivors and bringing them food I saw bodies in every state: charcoal bodies and bodies that didn’t have one speck of burn I felt like I was the only human on earth who had survived the apocalypse I had to remind myself that I promised my kids I would make it home.” The written declarations of fire survivors are part of a process to decide how victims should be compensated for their loss A clear message from the testimonials is that no amount of money will make people whole again “I lost someone in every generation of our family I no longer have my parents and their love.” Hadassah Stevens circumvented police barricades the day after the fire to look for her mother When she reached the remains of her mother’s house she found the remains of a badly burned body in the driveway There are no words to describe how traumatizing that continues to be whose wife weighed just 61 pounds when she died two months after the fire “I miss Laurie every day,” he wrote in his testimonial “and my life will never be the same without her.” spent more than two hours in the water off Front Street he has yet to get back in the ocean and finds it difficult to cope with memories of the fire “I still hear the little girl screaming for water I still hear the elderly woman screaming for her husband who had died just feet away from her I still see buildings and cars burning all around me Joseph Pluta is in therapy to deal with his sadness and anger at losing friends and neighbors in the fire I felt as though I did not care whether I lived or died.” Even though Kevin Baclig brought the ashes of his wife his brother-in-law and their parents to their native home in the Philippines even though it tears at my heart every time.” Ashley Lagazo stayed in a Walmart parking lot with her two children before moving to a temporary shelter at a school Lagazo has had so much trouble finding the stable housing and medical care her children need that she is now planning to move out of state “While relocating to Nevada is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make I must do whatever it takes to ensure my children have access to the care and support they need to have a chance at a better future.” “This fire has taken more than just buildings and belongings — it has taken our sense of security I will carry this loss with me for the rest of my life as will my family and the community of Lahaina.” While Folau Tone hopes that one day his family can rebuild and feel safe again other survivors have little expectation of returning to West Maui Less than a week after the home she’d built in the 1960s burned to the ground 87-year-old Lillian Suter decided to leave Maui Now she faces “the impossible task of starting over.” knowing that I would never return to the life I once had I caught one last glimpse of what remained of my home — a charred shell of the place where generations of memories had been made.” Jessica Terrell is the projects editor for Civil Beat. You can reach her by email at jterrell@civilbeat.org “we didn’t know we were going to start a nonprofit,” says Eric Arquero the executive director of Kaibigan ng Lahaina (KnL) But what started out as a concerned group of community members—meeting to coalesce their individual efforts to help their neighbors and families impacted by the fires—has today grown into a robust 501(c)(3) serving the needs of the Filipino community in West Maui and beyond The group takes its name from a Tagalog word which can mean “friend,” and has a root word which translates to “love.” The nonprofit’s primary goal is to serve the significant portion of fire-affected Lahaina Filipino residents who have not been accessing recovery resources due to unique challenges including language barriers and cultural norms relating to things such as Westernized mental healthcare services With the financial support of a $1.6 million grant from the Maui Strong Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) in late 2024 KnL is providing culturally connected services in four main areas: community case management “KnL is filling a gap in services for the Filipino community—a community that data shows is not engaging in most resources available to those impacted by the fires,” says Kehau Meyer HCF’s senior program officer for the Maui Recovery Effort “We’ve learned that the recovery of Lahaina is both an individual and a communal experience and KnL is one of a few organizations uniquely positioned to help navigate the obstacles facing the Filipino community.” Arquero points out that the Filipino community in West Maui is not a monolith: “There are people who have been here for generations and then people who have immigrated within the past 10 years and our challenge is to meet all those needs.” The group also seeks increased visibility and a better more nuanced understanding among the general public of what it means to be Filipino in Hawai‘i “We represent a variety of professions,” notes Arquero “We’re not just working in the service industry We have someone with a PhD on our board; a lot of us on the board have master’s degrees We want to do work that speaks to our Filipino community and to our cultural values but also rewrites the narrative of what people expect about our socioeconomic status.” While KnL is very much boots on the ground at this point Arquero says the group is working to evolve moving from recovery efforts into building resiliency and revitalization “We have no intention of closing shop,” he says and plan to evolve our programming accordingly We want Filipinos to feel like Lahaina is home that they can share what they have to offer whether that is educational or economic or cultural As long as there are Filipinos in West Maui 90 Companies and Nonprofits Where Employees Thrive you reduce the homeless population,” says HomeAid Hawai‘i’s executive director Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker VOYAGING CANOE LOST IN LAHAINA WILDFIRES BEING REPLACED and the DLNR are helping Hui O Wa‘a Kaulua replace a voyaging canoe that burned in the Lahaina wildfires was birthed 50 years ago and was in a park along the ocean Timothy ‘Timi’ Gilliom is a captain and the builder of the Mo‘okiha O Pi‘ilani and the new canoe that’s replacing the Mo‘olele and had gone to the boat hale where the Mo‘olele was being restored As he was evacuating the burning town he looked back and recalls which explains the kōkua his group received through a series of connections and donations land and ocean shipping and fiberglass hulls – all donated – has Gilliom and his crew of three working to try and have Nāleilehua finished this year And we moved from Lahaina (to Kahului) which is where our nonprofit was the group of the double hull canoes,” Gilliom explained He said they didn’t know if they would be able to use koa for the new canoe “Then we got ahold of David Tsuchiya (Kaua‘i Branch District Superintendent for the DLNR Division of State Parks-DSP) and he ended up sending us a container load Some of the koa was salvaged from tree fall from lessees but most of it was collected in Koke‘e State Park when it falls across roadways and other common areas of the park It is stored for potential future public auction “There was no question that State Parks preferred to donate this koa for Nāleilehua.” drove the long shipping container to the harbor where Pasha-Hawai‘i loaded it onto a container ship for the voyage to Maui “The trucking was free…the shipping was at the discounted employee rate from that area where Mo‘olele lived before,” remarked Makaio Lorenzo as he sawed and cut fiberglass hatch covers I’m sure back then our kūpuna had something like storage containers it’s the sense of tradition and ancestry that has Lorenzo all in And it doesn’t stop with Timi and Mo‘olele and it’s continuing that genealogy through our canoes.” Lorenzo looks forward to sailing on the Nāleilehua “I dream about it every single night and I just keep thinking about her I don’t know if I’m going to just stand there and be like HD video – A New Wa‘a for Lahaina (web feature): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ullxynnaa514qkh8f9rbr/A-New-Wa-a-for-Lahaina-x.mov?rlkey=wcai2jc6nifhcqsbddl96nvvr&st=lsd5s6v1&dl=0  HD video – New wa‘a for Lahaina media clips (Feb https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/a2yqbwx2852oz5x7bb942/New-Wa-a-for-Lahaina-media-clips-Feb.-19-2025.mov?rlkey=j6zf39npth3pvopjjpn9xrech&st=pwcuoh9e&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/iacc0ic3vexhs5zvffdka/ABYFZYpXQ_ihpxQqboKDVqs?rlkey=7ripzvh88hclphdlito6kbr4u&st=pdlv7w8k&dl=0 Dlnr.comms@hawaii.gov Kaiser Permanente recognized Lahaina Clinic team members with the 2024 David Lawrence Community Service Award HONOLULU — Kaiser Permanente recently honored its Lahaina Clinic staff members with the 2024 David Lawrence Community Service Award recognizing their dedication and service in the aftermath of the August 2023 Maui wildfires This annual award celebrates individuals and teams across Kaiser Permanente’s 8 regions for their exceptional volunteer efforts and commitment to embodying the organization’s values the Lahaina Clinic team received a $10,000 award to donate to a charity of its choice which continues to support West Maui residents affected by the wildfires Lahaina Clinic presents a check to Maui Food Bank’s Michelle Barrera the Lahaina Clinic team mobilized to provide essential medical care and worked tirelessly in temporary locations — shelters and tennis courts — providing care to more than 5,000 patients The team helped reunite displaced residents with family members "I couldn’t be more proud of our Lahaina Clinic team for the incredible dedication they showed in the wake of the wildfires," said Chris Martin assistant area medical director for Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii they remained a steady source of care and comfort providing support that they were uniquely suited for due to their shared experiences and deep empathy for the community." The team members volunteered more than 370 hours in shelters and temporary medical stations along with hundreds of additional hours at Kaiser Permanente’s Emergency Operations Center Their efforts extended beyond immediate medical care As Kaiser Permanente progressed from providing care through its mobile health vehicle to a temporary modular clinic the Lahaina Clinic team remained deeply engaged in recovery efforts recognized them for their service to the residents of West Maui after the wildfires In keeping with their commitment to supporting the community the Lahaina Clinic staff members have directed their award funds to the Maui Food Bank ensuring people most affected by the fires continue receiving assistance The David Lawrence Community Service Award is named for David Lawrence former chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente and a lifelong advocate for improving health Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and nonprofit health plans Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve We currently serve 12.4 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion and world-class chronic disease management Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday signed 50 bills into law one of them directing the National Park Service to assess the suitability of designating Lahaina The Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act was introduced by U.S The bicameral legislation calls for a study by the National Park Service in coordination with Maui County and other Hawai‘i state and local partners to determine the feasibility of the historic leeward Valley Isle community — which was destroyed in August 2023 by deadly wildfires — being designated as a National Heritage Area The National Park Service says benefits of receiving such a designation include: 4 and received unanimous approval in the Senate on Dec 16 before it was sent to Biden’s desk for his consideration “The devastating August 2023 wildfires that claimed over 100 lives and destroyed much of Lahaina shed light on how special this town is but also to Hawai‘i and the country,” said Hirono natural and cultural resources found in Lahaina tell a nationally significant story and this bill will help ensure that story can continue to be told and appreciated for generations to come.” The National Park Service currently oversees 62 National Heritage Areas throughout the country Hirono said it is therefore a fitting tribute that Lahaina is now under consideration to be one of the state’s first The House also passed Hirono’s Ka‘ena Point National Heritage Area Act in 2022 to study designating Ka‘ena Point on O‘ahu as a National Heritage Area “The Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act is about grounding its rebirth and rebuilding in the history culture and tradition of the ahupua‘a that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i,” said Tokuda “I am grateful and proud of the overwhelming bipartisan support our bill received in the House Hironoʻs leadership and insistence on getting this passed by the Senate before the end of this Congress.” The Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act was also co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Democrat U.S Full text of the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act is available online The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. Hawaii — It's nearing peak whale-watching season in Hawaii this means the daily sign of boats darting across the water carrying passengers eager to spot humpback whales The giant mammals arrive in Hawaii's warm waters between December and March each year to mate and give birth "Think: a disco and a daycare," Emma Nelson She estimates that 10,000 to 15,000 humpback whales come through the waters around Maui each year during whale-watching season "It's like Whale Soup out here," Nelson says a whale-watching excursion company founded in 2023 by her wife Though they have nearly three decades of boat captaining experience between the two of them this is their first season running their own tours "We actually got everything about ready to go two weeks before the Lahaina fires," Nelson recalls a wildfire sparked by what officials now know were downed power lines swept through the historic town of Lahaina Lovett and their crew were forced to flee into the water and board a vessel where they could do nothing but watch helplessly as their entire workshop all their vehicles and three boats became engulfed in flames "I would say boats alone were over $700,000 replacement value," Nelson says we were under-insured because no one expected the harbor to burn down." In all Lahaina suffered some $5.5 billion in damage The Maui Police Department says the wildfire also killed more than 100 people she and Nelson took every job they could to earn money to rebuild their business from scratch they finally saved up enough to buy their first replacement boat With the help of hours of volunteer labor by community members in honor of their Golden Retriever — ready to sail by the start of whale-watching season on Dec and rebuilding and restarting and just redoing," she says "It's a fresh start for the boat and for us." But while Maui Ocean Adventures is back on the water Lovett says they're still in a lot of debt from building up their business and then having to turn around and build it again following the fires which is the backbone of Lahaina's economy is not what it was before the fire – it hasn't fully recovered Lovett says she doesn't expect them to be in the black anytime soon but they have been sharing what they do have with the community "We save seats every single trip for the fire survivors to help with their healing and their trauma," she explains I didn't want to get back on a boat and I've been a boat captain for 25 years I found that it was definitely like healing." Maui Ocean Adventures has given away nearly 200 free seats to fire survivors Lovett says "It's more fulfilling than any amount of money in the world." whale-watching season is going better for them than expected They're even seeing baby humpback whales during excursions; the newest members of a species whose numbers have rebounded in the last decades The broadcast version of this story was edited by Ravenna Koenig Become an NPR sponsor LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio  Read more on what's being done here: Wildfire Today Hawaii officials have released their third and final report on Maui’s deadly Lahaina Fire in 2023 focusing on how each of Hawaii’s counties can prevent a similar tragedy from happening again The Fire Safety Research Institute‘s “Lahaina Fire Forward-Looking Report” is phase three of a three-part investigation into the catastrophic wildfire The group previously released the Lahaina Fire Comprehensive Timeline Report which presents a chronology of the fire’s events and the Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report which looked into the systemic causes and response to the fire directly responsible for the tragic outcome,” the Phase Three report said “The preconditions for these fires have been in the making for decades stemming from the changing landscape of Maui Nui and the increased frequency of vegetation-fueled fires It is important to note these same conditions exist across the State of Hawaii in numerous other locations throughout the United States The report identified 10 priorities for enhancing wildfire readiness throughout the state the top two of which focused on establishing an Office of the State Fire Marshal and creating an action plan for future wildfire events through working with the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization The eight remaining priorities are focused on how the State Fire Marshal can implement said action plan The report also breaks down how wildfire readiness can be enhanced at the county level specifically through risk assessment and data-driven investment The priorities were reviewed by each county fire chief “This streamlined approach provides a clear roadmap for the counties to initiate progress and take the critical first steps necessary to establish a solid foundation that supports future meaningful improvements,” the researchers said Click here to read the full report. Typos, let us know HERE, and specify which article. Please read the commenting rules before you post a comment I am glad to see this report list includes: communications fire weather conditions and evacuation planning In 1992 Hurricane Andrew hit Florida and 65 people were killed even though 26,000 homes were destroyed the people of Florida had 7 days to prepare or evacuate the conditions were extremely dry with 80mph winds before dawn local Firefighters thought they had contained the fire by 9:00am but by 3:30pm extreme winds re-started the fire and cut off local roads for evacuation The local tsunami siren warning system failed due to some faulty equipment and confusion by tsunami officials to deploy the sirens in a fire situation Cell service and communications systems failed due to lack of power caused by the fire By 5:45pm the fire had reached the shoreline and 2,200 buildings were destroyed and 102 people were killed in a bit over 2 hours In a wildfire situation with extreme winds you often have only or minutes or hours to prepare and evacuate Anyone living in a forest-urban environment where dry conditions and high winds are possible or predicted need to create defensible space and have an evacuation plan; even Hawaii were fire conditions have increased four fold in the past few decades I worked for this Research Institute in Columbia but will need to find the time to read all 62 pages Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email LAHAINA — Rebecca Lauricella’s Front Street neighborhood is quiet at sunset as she waters the plants lining the rock wall one of the few things left standing on her burned-down property She comes here daily to nurture the plants check on the progress of her single-family home’s foundation and monitor the properties of her neighbors who have left the island since the August 2023 wildfire in Lahaina empty of the neighbors who once cruised down the road in golf carts and the lights that once glowed from the business district Lauricella is hopeful for the day when the street will be bustling again but she and her neighbors have no idea when that will be She is one of the few on Front Street who has begun to rebuild her home after needing roughly eight months to nail down her final approvals Some property owners have yet to even start the process What Lauricella has done is not a blueprint for her neighbors There is no single process for homes being rebuilt along the shoreline or in historic districts the proximity to historic structures and the agencies involved Maui County is trying to expedite rebuilding by easing up on shoreline requirements proposing changes at the State Legislature and taking things off the plate of the Cultural Resources Commission which has struggled to meet for months over quorum issues.  But it’s a complicated balance of moving quickly while protecting the historic character of Lahaina “Our codes and laws were not designed for this moment,” Maui County Planning Director Kate Blystone said “They were designed for thoughtful contemplation of development and this current situation requires us to think more quickly and move more quickly we are moving faster than we’ve ever moved before but of course it’s still not fast enough for people who just want to go home.” Lauricella was serving as an interim deputy fire marshal in Redwood City when the wildfire broke out in Lahaina on Aug 2023 and her phone started blowing up with messages from her neighbors asking where to go Lauricella was used to seeing the devastation of disasters She spent 20 years in California as a fire marshal and investigator flew with the Air Force Auxiliary and for two years ran the Maui County Emergency Operations Center But she never imagined a fire of this magnitude would happen to her “I think that was the hardest part for me psychologically how is this so easy for you?” Lauricella said my family … I’m used to seeing burnt stuff I’m just not used to seeing my own burnt stuff an entire lifetime to have what I have.”  Lauricella was in her early 20s when she first moved to Lahaina in the 1980s and shared a house with a couple of fishermen It was a historic structure built in 1924 that formerly belonged to a prominent Native Hawaiian family — William Kaluakini deputy sheriff of Lahaina and Hāna and friend of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana’ole according to county documents and the historic plaque fronting the property The home eventually fell into disrepair and was restored in 2000 but its connection to the family and historic events as well as its architecture landed it on the Hawai’i Register of Historic Places in 2008 and the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 It felt like a full circle moment when Lauricella moved back to Maui and built a 2-bedroom single-story plantation-style home on the lot next door in 2012 She started an animal rescue program and got involved with the Lahaina Yacht Club that taught kids about sailing and the ocean.  her plans to rebuild next to a former historic home in the Lahaina National Historic Landmark District close to the shoreline meant she had a lot of hoops to jump through including an appearance before the Cultural Resources Commission and approval for a special management area use permit which applies to areas along the coast (in Lahaina this means anything makai of Honoapi’ilani Highway Lauricella applied for her rebuilding permit in April before the county opened a new permitting center with contractor 4LEAF to speed up the process She said she saw no movement on her application for three months After a lot of back-and-forth over the details with the county she finally got on the agenda of the Cultural Resources Commission in October only to see it cancelled because of a lack of quorum In December the commission finally held a full meeting and gave Lauricella’s plans the green light.  Lauricella said her building and Special Management Area permits were nearly ready to go and that the final stage held her back by three months.  with modifications that include raising her home by 4 inches to meet new county flood requirements as well as adding a second story to house her family when they visit.  her neighbor Mike Lodato is weighing whether he wants to rebuild he was off island and his wife Laura was at home in the historic Kaluakini house where they’d lived for about six years When the back of their neighborhood caught fire jumped into her Bronco and drove through yards and over power lines to safety.  “That’s a horrible way to leave a house,” Mike Lodato said so that was added to the impact of everything.” Mike Lodato was active with the local Rotary club and Laura Lodato was known around town for arranging musical events for Mana’o Radio on the west side Mike Lodato had recently got his certification to operate a charter fishing business when the fire destroyed his boat.  The couple has been living in California since the fire and is eager to return to Maui They want to rebuild the historic home the way it was But Mike Lodato is concerned about what he sees happening at his neighbor’s house with the added second story He worries that it’s the start of people building bigger homes and changing the character of the town.  condo-looking buildings that are pressed to the lot lines That’s not the charming town anymore.”  Lodato hasn’t applied for a building permit yet He says he wants to be sure the county will do its part to keep Lahaina the town that it once was “and that we won’t let it become this massive real estate juggernaut that profiteers are coming in and building maximum-size McMansions.”  Lauricella says she doesn’t want that to happen either She said her home is designed “wedding cake style” in an effort to limit the scope of the second story and is based on other houses in the neighborhood that didn’t burn She acknowledged that her home will likely stand out as one of the first to be rebuilt along Front Street but that eventually it will just be one of the homes lining the rebuilt neighborhood.  She said she’s been friends with the Lodatos for years — even their dogs get along — and she wants to see everyone get through the permit hurdles and return to Lahaina.  “We’re all here for the same reason — we all love Lahaina we want what we had back,” Lauricella said “We all have a little bit different ideology as far as how that’s going to happen but the process should not be what’s holding us up.” Some people are trying to find alternate ways of getting back to Lahaina. Steve and Diana Walton, who lost their home on Shaw Street in one of the county’s three historic districts applied to build a small ‘ohana unit on their property that they said would be a quicker and cheaper way to return home after a year and a half living in someone else’s place The commission approved their plans in December Nearly a year and a half after the fire, signs of rebuilding have popped up across Lahaina town. A total of 556 building permits have been submitted, with 207 issued as of Jan. 2, according to the Maui County recovery dashboard One of the earliest neighborhoods to see progress is Komo Mai Street a newer subdivision in a mauka area of Lahaina that’s not in a historic or shoreline area said Komo Mai Street is at the easier end of the spectrum to rebuild while neighborhoods on the shoreline like Front Street are on the more difficult end.  She said every individual property must go through a different process for approvals depending on their district and the historic properties on their lot or nearby.  Blystone said the Planning Department also will propose a rule soon to the Planning Commission that would exempt properties mauka of Front Street from shoreline rules even if erosion hazard mapping shows their property is expected to eventually be impacted by sea level rise the emergency rule would have to be reviewed again every 120 days.  “Let’s be real about it — sea level rise is happening and this is something we’re going to have to deal with eventually,” Blystone said it’s the county’s position that we are going to protect Front Street.” is that Front Street contains infrastructure that services all of Lahaina “and until we’re able to move that out of Front Street we’re going to have to protect that resource,” she said.  The Planning Department also is proposing to handle administratively some reviews that now are the responsibility of the Cultural Resources Commission The commission is expected to see at least 106 historic district assessment applications on top of its regular work of reviewing projects that affect other historic structures and sites around Maui County. Streamlining the process was on the commission’s agenda Thursday but the meeting was cancelled again — due to a lack of quorum Since the fire in August 2023, the commission, which meets monthly, has cancelled 13 meetings who chairs the commission and has also been involved in providing cultural monitoring services during the fire debris cleanup in Lahaina Blystone says she doesn’t blame the commission — like many other panels in Maui County it’s made up of volunteers who can’t always get the time off for the hourslong meetings making it harder to find people with the time and the knowledge to volunteer “We don’t want to get rid of the Cultural Resources Commission,” Blystone said … But we do need to figure out a way to make them work more to streamline there are things that they could trust us to review and approve that would be the best possible way to move forward.”  The Planning Department also has a short-staffing problem with a 25% vacancy rate that includes planners as well as the clerks and secretaries needed to help move permit reviews along.   said she’s planning to introduce bills this term to help with rebuilding in historic areas That could include one measure that would allow homeowners to use fire-resistant building materials even if it’s not in keeping with the historic materials used in the original structure Another could allow residents to rebuild with package homes in historic districts in hopes of getting them back to Lahaina more quickly “Not trying to say we should do away with the historic district,” Paltin said “That’s one reason Lahaina doesn’t look like Waikiki.” Rebuilding efficiently while still protecting the town’s character and bolstering it against future disasters like the fire or even the historic south swell that flooded West and South Maui businesses Paltin said the fire presented an opportunity for managed retreat in anticipation of sea level rise she said it’s up to property owners to decide if they want to take the risk when they rebuild The state also had said it’s trying to expedite the rebuilding process while protecting historic and archaeological resources State Historic Preservation Division Administrator Jessica Puff said the state is doing project reviews with Maui County and other state agencies keeping an eye out for archaeology or iwi kupuna (human remains) that could be found during the construction process.  The agency is considering developing sensitivity maps and one archaeological monitoring plan that all residential and commercial property owners can use so they don’t have to develop and pay for individual ones The sensitivity maps would help predict the likelihood of finding ‘iwi and whether additional monitoring would be needed “We envision a filtering mechanism where the county will decide projects that have a low probability of uncovering iwi cultural or historic artifacts and not send those reviews” to the state “Only projects with the highest sensitivity or most like to encounter iwi will come to us for review.”  Blystone said the county is constantly facing the difficult task of balancing the need to move quickly and get people housed while protecting the island’s resources and the town’s character.  “We really do need as much as help as we can get because this is a big job,” Blystone said we’re not going to focus on these other islands or the other parts of Maui just because we’re focused on Lahaina.’ Everyone’s trying to do everything all at once.” Preserving historic Lahaina means something different for many people from the time of the Hawaiian Kingdom to the whaling and plantation eras “So it’ll definitely be a challenge to reflect it all as accurately as possible with community buy-in.” and residents are growing increasingly frustrated as delays in its rebuild threaten jobs and Maui’s reputation as a premier destination the harbor now stands as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Maui’s recovery While officials cite permitting and infrastructure challenges those impacted say the slow pace of recovery is costing livelihoods and visitor experiences Lahaina Harbor has been a key launching point for ocean excursions for decades it supported over 200 jobs and generated millions in annual tourism revenue and Maui risks losing its competitive edge to destinations like Kauai or the Big Island which are already seeing an uptick in visitor interest Vessel owners argue that enough debris has been cleared for limited operations to resume but government officials insist that safety and infrastructure repairs must come first and our regulars are choosing other islands—or even other countries,” said a veteran operator Lahaina’s setbacks could have lasting consequences with potential allocations from state capital improvement funds and federal relief programs still under discussion Residents argue that if Lahaina Harbor were in Honolulu “This should be an emergency rebuild not another government backlog,” one resident said are not just bureaucratic—they’re costing Maui its economic future Maui County’s long-term recovery plan had a three-to five-year timeline for rebuilding Lahaina Harbor at an estimated cost of $30 million that puts the completion date close to the end of 2026 vessel owners and tourism operators insist the harbor should be at the top of the list rather than just one of many recovery projects They say the delay is unnecessary and economically damaging Officials say Front Street is still unsafe to reopen which would be necessary for harbor access Some advocate for shuttle service to the harbor to load and unload passengers to move the timeline up A fuel dock has already reopened so boats do not need to refuel at Ma’alaea Harbor The closure of the Lahaina Harbor has also left the Lanai ferry in limbo disrupting a critical transportation link between Maui and Lanai and visitors with a reliable connection between the islands operations have been significantly impacted Alternative docking arrangements in Maalaea have been inconsistent, forcing passengers to adjust to longer travel times and limited schedules. Meanwhile, Maui County has been exploring the possibility of purchasing the ferry service to ensure its long-term viability With no firm timeline on Lahaina Harbor’s rebuild questions remain about whether a county-owned ferry can operate effectively without its primary port the continued closure of the harbor has ripple effects across Maui’s tourism industry and local businesses reliant on ocean access without a functional harbor are losing critical revenue The concern is that prolonged delays will permanently shift visitor demand to other islands making recovery even harder than it is already Tourism operators warn that continued inaction could erode visitor confidence in Maui as a travel destination the harder it will be to bring people back,” one business owner said Maui’s visitor-dependent economy faces long-term repercussions Critics argue that Lahaina’s recovery is being mismanaged with tourism-critical infrastructure taking a backseat to less urgent projects Calls for federal intervention and greater transparency on fund allocation are growing louder as residents demand answers on why the harbor’s rebuild isn’t a top priority The future of Lahaina Harbor—and Maui’s tourism economy—hangs in the balance the question remains: Will officials rise to the challenge and fast-track the rebuild or will Lahaina Harbor become a lasting symbol of stalled recovery efforts The coming months will be critical in determining whether Maui can reclaim its place as a top-tier destination or risk falling behind We welcome your comments on today’s article Beat of Hawaii pre-fire photo of Lahaina Harbor Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply All l can think of is Coco Palms so good luck Maui While many here are blaming the government I’ll go in a different direction Native Hawaiians that claim that every inch of ground is Papahānaumokuākea Nothing can get done even though it’s been “desecrated” for decades The Governor is an elected representative and the vocal minority is calling the shots I’ll bet good money that if the Governor said that every inch of Lahaina will be rebuilt (hopefully with government sponsored upgrades) as it was before the fire (except obviously near and over the water) the locals would have a fit Sounds like a job for DOGE to expose the waste This is what happens in a democrat controlled “blue” state The investment that was supposed to relieve the suffering goes to the higher ups and the people suffering end up holding an empty bag What needs to happen in Lahaina also needs to happen all over Hawaii Get government out of the way and let private investors in to pave the way forward People in Hawaii think that the government is a savior the nine most terrifying words in the English language are “I’m from the government Maui has lost its magic—the resentment toward visitors is palpable Lahaina is only part of the problem; I really started noticing this shift after COVID I’ve always visited with respect and appreciation I understand wanting to protect the islands and culture but pushing tourists away is only hurting the local economy I’ll be spending my time and money in places where I feel appreciated like Mexico and other destinations that truly welcome visitors I know I’m not the only one making this choice Maui officials were warned numerous times about the extreme dangers of non native grasses overgrowth surrounding Lahaina and ignored warnings by locals and experts to take fairly simple measures to mitigate the problem This fire event happened after the horrible fires at Paradise and Northern California… Other than a few construction projects and roofing projects Sarasota FL is basically back to “business as normal” after a direct hit from a Cat 3 hurricane Maui County has completely rebuilt the water and sewer system in Lahaina and the US Army Corps has completely cleaned up the entire town and the state has not even started rebuilding the most prolific harbor in the state Also FYI there are 800 employees of the harbor (not 200) plus thousands of ripple effects for jobs and the economy I would think that Lahaina Harbor would be the first priority for rebuilding so materials can be shipped in over the ocean It makes no sense that they are stalling it’s reconstruction unless they are trying to choke the local small businesses out I hope this issue is taken to the federal government and they override Greene’s lack of urgency More than a year ago I met two engineers for the mainland who were hires in Maui for the repairs of Lahaina I asked how things were going and they simply said “They Are Not Going” They elaborated by saying there are too many groups fighting each other native hawaiians who want to take their time and in particular the Hawaiian State Government I asked how long they think it will take to get going and they said Many Years To Just Start building This is particularly true since the harbor has been cleaned out The only things lacking are an (air conditioned) office for DOBOR I’m both not surprised and deeply saddened that the state Continue to vote democrat and you will never see your harbor rebuilt Your senator Maxie Hirono is as incompetent as it gets It isn’t rude to state the truth and that is in spite of some of the highest taxes in the US Hawaii government is without question in the bottom of the list of responsible governance What a shame for those suffering businesses in Lahaina There are not a lot of people willing to pay more taxes to get rebuilding done I don’t hear a lot of ideas for funding all that’s needed Any efforts should include jobs and income for locals What happened to the money people including myself donated I don’t know where your donation went Mine went to a friend of mine whose son set up a go-fund-me account for his dad who lost his house and all his belongings including his guitars (he has been a musician in Lahaina for over 30 years) If you don’t know anyone personally who lost everything in the fire my suggestion would have been to do a little research there were plenty of residents who helped each other The 1st ones who arrived in Maui with what they had were locals from Molokai and many of my friends volonteered distributing food etc You expect things to change when you yourselves do not even entertain the concept of change as to the people (democrats) that you continuously vote for and somehow you expect them to act differently towards you! That is the textbook definition of insanity and only YOU can do things differently when you finally realize that they only have their own self interest that they are looking out for Hawaii used to be a magical place to visit after my visit to Maui last year it occurred to me that the expectations and attitudes of Hawaiian citizens and their government are now exposed to be no different than any other blue state on the mainland The rebuild of Lahaina Harbor should certainly be a top priority Access to the water is important to the Maui experience Delay will certainly erode visitor and potential visitor confidence Maalea is too far away to expect West Maui visitors to drive to in order to board a boat this would be the best time to introduce the seaglider by Regent it has not been certified for flight let alone passenger service Considering the time of year it is in Hawaii with humpback whales around and breaching everywhere exactly how would YOU protect the whales from the aircraft since it does not always fly at a very high altitude “Seaglider certification in the US follows a path led by the US Coast Guard as wing-in-ground craft are defined as maritime small passenger vessels requiring a Design Basis Agreement establishing design safety equivalence to certified vessels” I rather take the all electric seaglider than the ferry from Lanai to Lahaina The captain was speeding right into the waves and I was thinking of the whales the entire time …it wasn’t exactly a whale watching cruise or sailboat but a gas (oil) powered boat that was quite outdated I think the tourism is suffering because of the attitude s of the residents but didn’t realize how awful I was for admiring and developing a deep affection for your state After seeing the resident’s reaction to how awful visitors are I believe Maui’s tourism is suffering because they keep telling people not to come I don’t feel welcome in Maui and I’ve heard that from other people “doing what it takes with the budget they have” Better the clean up job done correctly than to see government dragged into court because something was rushed to Defending what was not done would cost much more than doing the clean up job properly the first time I know business operators are “hanging on” I believe government can provide some assistance until the clean up job can be done properly & it is safe for the public to return Ignoring fire & building codes is the reason Lahaina was the tender box it became I know the firefighter & inspectors who were threatened or discharged by business interest pressures who controlled city hall in the 1970’s and rushing will lead to inferior work and many more problems down the road which was comparably leveled by fire in 2018 Shuttles taking people through town to the marina might help but they will be disruptive to the rebuild process There are a few shortcuts (pre-approved floor plans) that help but the new “old Lahaina” will have many more fire safeguards built in Lahaina is too precious for a “rush job.” Better do it all correctly to last many lifetimes 10-15 years before we see a viable Lahaina – and another decade after that to fill in around the edges What we may see will be breathtaking if done right I am sorry but you are either part of the problem and a true local or you are just kidding The businesses that were there and their employees need this to be a priority I suggest accusations the County is slow is a misdirection The Governor and Mayor have announced intention to block rebuilding on the oceanside of Front Street and note surveys show the majority of residents favor rebuilding in the previous footprint the Governor and Mayor are influenced by minority interests and off island groups and blocking harbor rebuilding is part of the plan Maui needs to streamline the process of red tape to rebuild the harbor Unacceptable to not have started rebuilding by now They need to cut the red tape & issue residents their building permit within 30 to 45 days People end to rebuild their homes & businesses The endless rules & regulations make no sense I waited 9 months on the Big Island for our permit because we put in 2 ADA bathrooms and a ramp instead of stairs this Maui County gov’t is a ‘real inertia at rest’ shining example Their motto on rebuilding is truly motivating: “Let’s Think About It!” and they are Still ‘thinking about it’ Guess they must be trying to figure out how to spend all those new tourist dollars coming in thru new ‘fees’ it looks like this level of devastation is beyond their ability to deal with so maybe they are going to call in a contractor to do a study on the damage and determine how much it is going to cost to fix things up them someone sues the County alleging discrimination/prejudice/favoritism in the selection and then an investigation has to be conducted and the courts get involved Don’t expect and forward movement for at least another year Hawaii County knows we need an emergency road out of the Volcano Golf Course We had Hwy 11 collapse right outside our subdivision The road into it separated at the Kilauea & Mauna Loa crater junction last week we had a “talk story” with pathetic powers that be about what “could” be done We still don’t have an emergency road Hawaii is pricing itself out of tourism market Very sad that costs have risen so much in 8 years I too am greatly disappointed in the low priority of the harbor development I remember listening to President Trump state that he would wave any permits for the victims’ of the Los Angeles fires in an effort to speed up building on behalf of the victims of the Lahaina fire and the boat harbor!!!!!!! I love the old phrase “The squeaky wheel gets the oil” If you expect 47 to wave time for permits also be ready for him to build a resort and golf course with his name on it The Democrats run Hawaii and have caused these problems as stated above When and where did President Trump even come in to the conversation about the Lahaina Harbor or is it just your TDS that causes you to post nonsensical vowel movements! The state and county are clearly dragging their feet They want to starve the ferry operators and other businesses out Then their “politically cprrect” and “politically connected” friends can come in and take over on the cheap We know things need to be safe for everyone But why can’t officials work with the operators and use some common sense Hopefully they can soon before it is too late the reopening of Lahaina should be a top priority Please identify the individuals / organizations that are standing in the way so that more action can be focused on understanding and resolving the roadblocks There’s more to fire removal than meets the eye I don’t have time to explain right now But there may be more posts on here that will explain to you As someone who visits Maui 3 – 4 times a year I doubt that the downtown Lahaina & Harbor area will be rebuilt in my lifetime fires will rebuild as Maui barely gets started Hawaii has not been able to develop a plan between the locals and develpers in the almost 2 years since the fires of Aug ’23 The Hawaii government’s slow permitting and lack of urgency to begin rebuilding makes me believe this to be true Coupled with Island style of life getting things done it’s just not going to happen any time in my life either and Always cried when it was time to leave was sad because the Maui I always longed for the feeling has disappeared and I Never In The World thought this would be how I would feel Without a harbor boats are dangerously moored offshore and likely to break free in heavy seas run aground damging the reef and polluting the water If Maui officials actually understood the situation and cared about our precious and sacred marine resources they would experdite restoration and expansion of all our harbors to reduce the number of boats relying on offshore moorings The goal should a slip for every boat and every boat in a slip especially during storms Prime Example: In two weeks we will be on our third visit to Maui (Ka’anapali area) since the Lahaina fire Every previous visit (once or twice for the past 15+ years) we purchased a Trilogy Captain’s Sunset Dinner Cruise out of Lahaina Harbor That cruise is still available out of Maalaea Harbor but I refuse to drive that return trip from Maalaea Harbor to the Ka’anapali area in the dark We have not replaced that cruise with anything else so that is money that is not going to a local business or taxes to Maui County Lahaina Harbor’s rebuild should be a top priority have different priorities then the common folks they are supposed to represent and work for I commented on a post right after the fire that It was my opinion that even 10 years after the fire the problems rebuilding Lahaina will still be front page news Nothing I’ve seen yet changes my mind on that prediction… Stay abreast of the latest island travel news Subscribe to our FREE newsletter and let Hawaii come to you Those who lost loved ones or were severely injured in the Lahaina wildfires could begin to receive compensation in the next month with larger payouts by the end of the summer through the One ʻOhana Fund settlement Josh Green explained the program would give survivors who lost family members up to $1.5 million “We announced the One ʻOhana Fund three months after the fire we reached the settlement at exactly a year and we got the Supreme Court to approve it at 18 months,” he said some of it in the next month when we have what's called the good faith settlement hearing in front of Judge Cahill we'll see large settlement payments go out.” A good faith settlement hearing is when the judge makes sure that the settlement is fair and properly reached and that will set the precedent for the other cases part of the One ʻOhana Fund that will all have to go through the same process It’s one of the final steps before people can begin receiving funds The $175 million One ʻOhana Fund is separate from the global settlement that got the green light from the state Supreme Court this week —although it’s often included in the $4 billion total This is the anticipated first round of the One ‘Ohana Fund which includes about 14 people the rest of the wrongful death cases will be included if it is determined that those who lost loved ones should receive more than $1.5 million then everyone could receive more — including those in round one LAHAINA — As Gene and Joann Milne rebuild the Wahikuli home they lost in the August 2023 wildfire one familiar sight has returned to the neighborhood — the towering wooden utility poles and power lines that toppled in the hurricane-force winds during the fire Like many others, the Milnes are wary of these new poles being installed around their neighborhood more than a year after a downed power line led to the devastating fire that burned through Lahaina town and killed at least 102 people and in some cases desperate to rebuild while insurance payouts and other money is available it’s a risk they will have to live with for now.  who recently finished the ‘ohana unit they’ll live in until their main house is complete couldn’t have imagined waiting any longer to get back home So while Gene Milne said it would be “wonderful” to have electric lines buried in the burn zone “at the same time it’s not realistic to think that it’s going to happen before people start rebuilding.” For Hawaiian Electric, which is already on the hook for half of the $4 billion settlement reached for the damages caused by the fire the priority is putting everything back in the same place in order to get residents back home more quickly But they say these installations come with changes that will address the risk their equipment posed before who serves as the West Maui community liaison for HECO and also lost her home in the fire said the company has “been hearing a lot of chatter from the community” about HECO reinstalling the same overhead lines and poles burying lines would take many more years and billions of dollars “We have heard you from Day 1 about your desire to underground electrical lines and we are committed to continue that conversation with the community our state and our local agencies about how we bring that vision to life for the Lahaina community,” Burke said at a public meeting earlier this month Lahaina residents and government officials have been talking about burying electrical equipment since a power line was caught on video snapping in hurricane-force winds and sparking flames in dry grass near Lahaina Intermediate School on Aug During a visit to Maui in September 2023, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said she would like to see electric lines underground but acknowledged that it would be “enormously expensive.”  In the months after the fire, Maui County Council Member Gabe Johnson proposed a bill that would require new utility lines to be placed underground in all subdivisions.  Underground lines are more reliable and less susceptible to high winds, but they can be at risk for flooding, and fixing a short circuit takes longer than it would above ground, according to Hawaiian Electric Permitting and construction of underground lines often takes 4 to 6 years compared to 2 to 3 years for overhead lines More than half of Maui already has underground electric equipment Hawaiian Electric’s director of government and community affairs for Maui County Converting the rest of the island to underground utilities could come at a rough estimated cost of $7 billion, including $2 billion just for the high fire risk areas, which span West Maui, Upcountry and other places in HECO’s public safety power shutoff plan rolled out after the 2023 wildfires HECO Maui County Director Mat McNeff explained.  Several areas of Lahaina already had underground power lines before the fire areas of Wahikuli close to the Lahaina Civic Center and sections of Front Street HECO is reinstalling either aboveground or underground systems depending on what the area had before the fire When asked if that was setting Lahaina up for the same level of risk McNeff said that the equipment is new and they’re building to different standards encasing them in mesh to protect from termites and changing the configuration of the lines to make them less prone to faults during strong winds.  “So in no way is it the same as it was prior to August (2023),” he said.  Because the company is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission they have to find the most economical way to serve customers if a developer of a subdivision wanted underground utilities and the cost of the homes would likely go up.  Getting permission is what makes installing underground utilities tricky in Lahaina Each homeowner or landowner would have to decide what they want and Hawaiian Electric would need to get easements to install transformers on the ground instead of on the poles Owners would also likely need to modify their home plans to allow electric equipment to be routed underground.  McNeff said it’s much harder and inconvenient to dig up sidewalks roads and yards to install lines once the homes are built out He said installing lines underground now “would be ideal” but that “the timeframe is not conducive to getting people back into their houses quickly.”  Decker and McNeff said they and other HECO employees are part of the community and are committed to the efforts to recover from the fires and improve resiliency They agreed the priority is rebuilding homes though they said the company will continue discussions with the community about what it wants to see in the long term “It is something that we are definitely looking at and want to work through with everyone,” Decker said.  Last week, Hawaiian Electric released an expanded 3-year safety plan that calls for $450 million of work and improvements including undergrounding about 2 miles of overhead power lines in critical safety areas of Lahaina based on input from a community working group upgrading and strengthening poles and equipment; expanding tree removal; and installing more weather stations and hazard-detection cameras Some of the funding comes through a federal grant HECO received in 2024 for grid resilience.  McKelvey worried about Lahaina ending up in the same position as before unless homes are hardened against fire risk and roads are widened to prevent evacuation issues should poles go down again He said it’s in both HECO’s and the community’s best interest to be as “aggressive as possible” in making the electric grid more resilient against disasters “We’re in such a precarious position,” he said “If we don’t move quickly to rebuild as fast and efficiently as possible people are going to lose their insurance to be able to rebuild materials are going to skyrocket even more … and the real fear of a Lahaina being owned by offshore entities exclusively could become a reality.” Many people in the community still want to heal “But now because of what’s happening in L.A we’ve got to move or we could be left with literally Some families from Lahaina don’t have the luxury of waiting for the lines to be installed underground before they rebuild.  Earlier this week, the University of Hawai’i Economic Research Organization reported that the 2023 wildfires reduced Maui’s population by at least 1,000 people according to an analysis of state income tax filing addresses The change was due in part to more people moving away and fewer coming in; at least 430 to 510 Maui residents are estimated to have left the state due to the fire.  The drop in population could cost the state’s economy at least $50 million in annual income but even more concerning for some is the potential change to the community.  “Really the most important thing to our administration is that we get you folks home,” Mayor Richard Bissen said at a community meeting in Lahaina earlier this month “If we build 1,000 homes and we don’t recognize the faces of anybody who lives in those homes Ariel Ah Hee was eager to return to Lahaina after months of squeezing into her parents’ home in Pāʻia with her husband and their two young children They were still paying a mortgage even after losing their home in the fire and they were commuting to the west side on a regular basis to rebuild what they’d lost.  “It was just a really huge strain on our family,” Ah Hee said With the help of their contractor and dedicated friends and family, the Ah Hees became the first family to finish rebuilding their home in Lahaina and moved in just before Thanksgiving.  But getting power back was one of the hardest parts Ah Hee said they requested electrical service in July and then went weeks without hearing any updates She said Hawaiian Electric didn’t call her back until she criticized them on Instagram and someone finally reached out The Ah Hees got temporary power in September and permanent power in November She said the company also overcharged them more than $1,000 and still haven’t given her a refund.  Ah Hee said the electricity issue didn’t delay the construction but it was more costly because they had to pay for gas and a generator and overall more frustrating at a time when they were already under a lot of stress thanks for burning down my house and not giving me power,” she said.  a newer neighborhood where lines were underground before the fire But there’s a big pole on a different property behind her house She said Hawaiian Electric lost the community’s trust “and it’s hard to regain it,” especially “when we see the same thing happening that probably wasn’t a good idea in the first place.” She says they need to find a way to install lines underground even as rebuilding is happening.  “life is so much better” now that she’s back in her own home.  “We’ve had the worst years of our lives and we’re happy to have overcome it but we want everyone else to overcome it also.” They had a time limit to use their insurance money to buy new furniture to replace what they lost and they decided if things weren’t moving forward within two years they would sell their property and move to the Mainland.  the Milnes got power back earlier than most because a handful of nearby homes survived the flames prompting Hawaiian Electric to restore power to the area.  After spending several months living with his mom on the Mainland following the fire, Gene Milne returned to Maui in May 2024 to start construction on the ‘ohana unit and main home that was 70% completed when the fire destroyed it. He was the first person in Lahaina to start rebuilding and is among a very small number of people who have completed a home since.  By July, he had temporary power, and in mid-November, he got permanent power. He’s routing the power underground on his own property, but his home is still surrounded by newly installed utility poles. When asked if he was concerned about the risk, he said, “no more than I was before.”  “They can be problematic. We obviously learned that,” he said. “And it’s really all about maintenance. Who’s going to maintain the poles and what is truly their responsibility when something on that pole is deemed not usable anymore, such as old phone lines?” His son works for a power company in Southern California, so he knows how long it can take for lines to be installed underground and said “it’s just not feasible for people to wait.”  Rebuilding his own home and getting power took a lot of polite phone calls and patience — “the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” he said — and now he and his wife are enjoying their cozy ‘ohana unit with blue-painted walls, vibrant green plants and homey touches like the wooden signs urging people to “relax” and “always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.” The Milnes love all 672 square feet of their newly built cottage, a spacious upgrade from the RV they lived in while rebuilding. There’s a spot for Joann to work from home, an astroturf yard for their dogs to roam and plenty of space in the living room for Gene to stretch out his long arms and not hit the walls. They know they’re among the lucky ones.  “Our heart still breaks for those that just won’t find their way back,” Joann Milne said. Get more stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for the Hawai‘i Journalism Initiative's weekly newsletter: Go to Home PageSubscribeAdvertiser disclosureSearch The Points Guy your tourism dollars go a long way both for you and for the people of Maui Here's what it's like to check in to this property Related: The best time to visit Hawaii for good weather, smaller crowds, deals and more Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows was one of the first resorts built on Maui way back in 1962 just as Hawaii was being developed as a major tourist destination It's a sizable hotel with a large main tower containing more than 330 guest rooms but the surrounding 127 private bungalows have recently been remodeled and provide a plethora of options for families who might be looking for something a bit different than your run-of-the-mill hotel room nestled on a long section of pristine Kaanapali Beach Previous slideNext slide1 of 3CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY012It's about an hour's drive to Maui's Kahului Airport (OGG) The cost of a taxi or a ride share from the airport to the hotel will hover around $90 - $120 depending on the time of day and the season Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows offers significant value You'll pay much less than at comparable resorts on the island which tends to be one of the most expensive places to stay in the U.S That doesn't mean this property is cheap but it is certainly more of a bargain than most of the surrounding upscale hotels Base tower rooms start at around $364 with bungalows starting as low as $499 a night in the low season (November through March) Base tower rooms in the summertime start at $422 bungalows begin at $557 and suites at $670 When it comes to booking, you can book directly with Royal Lahaina's website for the best rates and packages since this hotel is not part of any major hotel loyalty program up to a $100 credit to use on-property during your stay for things like drinks or meals complimentary daily breakfast for two and guaranteed late checkout During my stay, I used my new Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card to pay for incidentals at the hotel since at the time I was working on the minimum spend comes with a signup bonus of 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening plus an additional 10,000 bonus points after your annual fee renewal payment posts and is paid in full The card earns just 1 point per dollar on hotels and lodging There is a wide variety of room types at Royal Lahaina with everything from newly renovated bungalows to standard old-fashioned tower rooms You'll want to pay close attention when booking to make sure you are getting the room type that you want I got to see a variety of rooms during my stay and a great option for families since there is plenty of space and the added benefit of sofa beds You'll enjoy great views of the property Previous slideNext slide1 of 4CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY0123The furniture and appliances inside are brand new set among large kitchens and living spaces Previous slideNext slide1 of 6CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY012345The tower rooms at Royal Lahaina Resort & BungalowsTower rooms are more classic hotel rooms in a similar style to what you'll see up and down the coast of Maui Standard rooms feature small kitchen areas (with coffee makers) that lead to the compact bathrooms The rooms have not been gut renovated but have been refreshed and are still comfortable Previous slideNext slide1 of 5CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY01234Tower suites at Royal Lahaina Resort & BungalowsI got to enjoy a suite in the tower with two small balconies and a separate living room I was in one of the Molokai suites on the 10th floor The room had a king-sized bed and a sofa bed in a separate living room Previous slideNext slide1 of 5CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY01234The suite featured two flatscreen TVs rich wood accents and neutral-toned furniture though serviceable and spacious (the double sink vanity was convenient) and I enjoyed the addition of a fabulous standing tub The real selling point of the suite was the ocean views which were perfect for watching the sunset Suites like the one I stayed in cost $872 in the high season you'll want to book a room or a bungalow with a view of the ocean if it is available so even if you don't end up with a view from your room there's easy access to spectacular vistas all over the property I've been to Maui now close to 10 times and I've never had as good of a meal as the dinner I enjoyed at the resort's Lahaina Noon It's rare for me to be so excited about fine dining but I think the dinner at Lahaina Noon is worth making a trip to Royal Lahaina even if you aren't staying there Previous slideNext slide1 of 2CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY01This is the main restaurant where you'll find they serve breakfast where they have happy hour (or "pau hana") from 2:00 p.m One of the highlights for my guests and me at dinner was the little gem salad ($22) Among the incredibly fresh ingredients grown locally were string beans garlic and the gem lettuce served with a creamy miso Caesar dressing burrata and a chili crisp and red wine vinaigrette The main courses we loved included the seared tuna with a wasabi mash and bok choy ($44) the filet mignon steak served with a potato puree ($72) and the royal seafood cioppino with Kona lobster Fresh Catch sourdough bread and linguini ($48) Previous slideNext slide1 of 6CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY012345Unfortunately the Royal Lahaina breakfast buffet was disappointing (You can also order a la carte.) Service was good and be aware that gratuity is not included Previous slideNext slide1 of 6CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY012345Pineapple MoonPineapple Moon is the poolside option with cocktails You can also order salads and some plates like grilled mahi mahi with rice for $21 as I didn't see chair service during my stay Previous slideNext slide1 of 4CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY0123Scoops there's an attached ice cream/coffee shop called Scoops Previous slideNext slide1 of 4CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY0123There is plenty to do at Royal Lahaina Resort & BungalowsCLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUYRoyal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows offers a slew of amenities and lots for guests to do in and around the resort Royal Lahaina isn't perfect for those which accessibility needs the hotel has done a lot to improve accessibility offerings and the hotel amenities are connected with flat paths for wheelchair egress and the hotel can also provide wheelchairs upon request The elevators are fully accessible and have grab bars and wide entrances Elevator buttons are low to the ground and have Braille lettering Hallways are plenty wide enough for wheelchairs Previous slideNext slide1 of 6CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY012345There are 15 fully ADA-compliant rooms and several accessible room types are available a one-bedroom suite and an oceanfront bungalow Previous slideNext slide1 of 3CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY012Bottom lineCLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUYMaui is filled with notoriously expensive hotels and resorts. Booking at Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows can provide all the luxuries of more expensive resorts at a more moderate price point. While Royal Lahaina doesn't have the waterslides, heated pools and hot tubs that are sometimes found at other Maui resorts, it's got an incredible beach and small-scale amenities in a family-friendly and relaxed setting that can more than make up for the missing bells and whistles. Plus, the restaurant is well worth a visit, even if you're not staying at this resort. I look forward to coming back to Royal Lahaina, and next time I'd love to stay with my family in one of the newly made-over bungalows. The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach That’s why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality A bill to help with rebuilding historic Lahaina town advanced Monday afternoon out of the Senate Water and Land Committee Senate Bill 1296 would not require special management area permits for structures in Lahaina town if they were destroyed in the deadly Aug wildfire disaster and if planned reconstruction stays within the footprint of the structure as it stood before it was consumed by flames president of the LahainaTown Action Committee said the bill is essential for Lahaina’s rebuilding “The Maui wildfires devastated Lahaina, displacing families, shuttering businesses and halting our local economy,” he said in written testimony “Without streamlining the permitting process rebuilding efforts will face unnecessary delays we urge lawmakers to increase the SMA minor permit threshold to $1 million rather than $750,000 With construction costs exceeding $1,000 per square foot a higher threshold is critical to prevent further permitting roadblocks.” The committee advanced the legislation, introduced by West and South Maui Sen. Angus McKelvey by removing its Part 2 on Page 9 as that section was considered redundant and unnecessary for the bill overall The committee meeting on the bill and others can be seen on YouTube here would narrow the scope of the definition of the term “development” in coastal zone management law by excluding reconstruction of structures impacted by disasters No hearings have been scheduled yet on those measures McKelvey’s Senate bill would not exempt properties directly on the shoreline The bill also increases the valuation threshold of development subject to a special management area permit from $500,000 to $750,000 when it’s located within the area covered by a federal disaster declaration on Aug In written public testimony submitted to the committee Mayor Richard Bissen and Maui County Department of Planning Director Kate Blystone supported the bill They said it would not only expedite construction for non-shoreline structures but also increase the SMA minor permit threshold to $750,000 for federal disaster areas which is appropriate “given high construction costs witnessed after the August Lahaina wildfire This steep cost increase can be assumed for future disaster events.” Wailuku attorney Jeffrey Ueoka testified in favor of the Senate bill saying that “while there will be many more challenges and hurdles to overcome while rebuilding SB1296 provides some desperately needed relief from a very complicated regulatory process.” Ueoka is a land-use attorney assisting with Front Street Recovery a coalition of business owners dedicated to rebuilding and revitalizing Front Street Testifying on behalf of the LahainaTown Action Committee and the Front Street Recovery Organization Haloa Dudoit said: “This bill is critical to helping our community rebuild from the Lahaina wildfires Property owners within the SMA face not only devastating loss but also an overwhelming complex rebuild process that threatens their ability to restore their homes businesses and livelihoods; all essential to Lahaina’s recovery.” Dudoit added that nearly a year and a half has passed since the wildfires this bill provides a clear and necessary pathway for rebuilding before it is too late.” to control development near shorelines to avoid permanent losses of valuable resources and the foreclosure of management options The law also has safeguard to ensure adequate public access to publicly owned beaches Rebuilding efforts in Lahaina will face significant challenges from rapidly rising construction costs which are expected to escalate in light of the massive Los Angeles wildfires The bill says SMA valuation thresholds were established in 2014 and are outdated because of significant increases in construction costs the Department of Planning administers the Coastal Zone Management law Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi planning commissions are the decision-making authorities for SMA permits An SMA permit is the first permit required for developments within designated coastal areas No agency is authorized to issue other development permits within SMA areas unless approval is first received within SMA procedures provided in state law but real estate agents say sellers of burned-down homes have no other choice Nearly a year and a half after a wildfire destroyed more than a thousand homes in Lahaina sales of burned properties have increased as some people decide they can’t bear the emotional toll of rebuilding or simply don’t have the money to do so But the number of sales is small compared to how many homes were destroyed Some people who have put their burned lots on the market have set prices well above what the land alone was assessed for a few years ago Many property owners believe that if they must sell they’re not going to “just give it away,” said Tyler Coons a real estate agent who has lived and worked in Lahaina for decades “Everybody’s still very emotionally tied to their property and doesn’t want to take less than they could possibly get.” There have been more property sales in Lahaina overall in the past seven months than there were in the year after the fire About two dozen properties that burned down have been sold since the fire; of those 19 sales have occurred in the past seven months Many appear to be transactions between family members (Those figures do not include deed transfers for little or no money which are often used to shift ownership among relatives.) Real estate agents said few people have put their properties on the market As of last week there were only a handful of burned lots for sale in Lahaina residential properties in historic Lahaina were rarely put on the market and properties were passed down to younger generations over the years they’ve often asked for more money than the land alone was valued at before the fire Another plot of land listed for $599,000 had an assessed value of $339,500 in 2023 A third was assessed at $482,500 in 2023; it’s listed for $625,000 said sellers are setting prices after taking into account all that they’ve been through and what they would need to be financially secure in the future this is what we’ve been paid out from our insurance and this is what we need going forward,’” she said.  Most potential buyers haven’t been willing to pay what sellers want the high cost of construction and uncertainty about when and how Lahaina will be rebuilt land in the burn zone is not a good investment “I don’t see any smart person saying ‘I want to own a home in the burn zone today for maximum dollar,” Coons said “It doesn’t make any sense because of the high cost of building … The only way that could happen that could maybe make sense is if you were literally building the home yourself “I think as those (housing) programs start to run out then people are going to be put in a bind of whether they can afford to hold on to an asset that’s not livable for the next an assistant professor of economics with the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization said the fact that so few people have sold their land may be a sign that many of those who lost their homes have been able to find temporary housing through federal and state programs they’ve been able to get by while hanging onto their land “But I think as those programs start to run out Don and Andrea LaCaze said they decided to sell their property after they took stock of their finances They had been in Lahaina since the mid-2000s two-story house that was nestled in a lush yard full of fruit trees they paid off the mortgage with income from renting out a portion of the house returned to find the neighborhood leveled and the street littered with dead cats “I just broke down crying because it was so devastating Everything we had in the world was in that house,” he said Survivors’ stories: These Are The Stories Lahaina Wildfire Survivors Never Got To Tell but their insurance payout wouldn’t come close to covering the cost They struggled to find temporary housing that would allow their dogs they gave their chicken Molly to a friend in Kula and moved in with Don LaCaze’s sister in California They’ve since settled near family in North Carolina Deciding to sell the land where their home once stood was “heartbreaking,” said Andrea LaCaze but it’s necessary in order to recoup even a fraction of what they lost the lot alone had an assessed value of $401,400 but we know people are going to want to cut us down,” Don LaCaze said but the couple said they have been so low they didn’t even consider them The LaCazes said they are trying to deal with the psychological scars left by the fire find jobs and adjust to their new life on the mainland Andrea LaCaze said she’ll be sad when they eventually sell the property “Because it’s finally over and maybe we will be able to move forward,” she said Matthew Leonard is a senior reporter for Civil Beat, focusing on data journalism. He has worked in media and cultural organizations in both hemispheres since 1988. Follow him on Twitter at @mleonardmedia or email mleonard@civilbeat.org Investigators are using Civil Beat photos of a gate on Kuhua Street to prepare the third installment of their Lahaina analysis for the state attorney general The state attorney general’s latest report on the deadly 2023 Lahaina wildfire flagged various locked gates that blocked people trying to flee as flaws in Maui’s evacuation planning Yet a padlocked gate where the largest cluster of Lahaina wildfire fatalities occurred was not included in the analysis which therefore did not seek to determine whether lives could have been saved if it had been opened either by emergency responders – or anyone with a key 911 Dispatcher: Do you know how to get through the the industrial area across the street to get to the West Maui Center I think people are trying but we don’t we’re not too sure who’s following it That’s because the gate on Kuhua Street “was not mentioned” to investigators with the Fire Safety Research Institute according to attorney general spokesperson Toni Schwartz The nonprofit group is conducting a three-part investigation for the AG into what did and didn’t occur during the wildfire Some of the most harrowing 911 calls during the wildfire came from callers trapped in vehicles near that gate on Kuhua and nearby streets After Civil Beat reached out last month to ask about the gate – and shared photos taken by a staff photographer in March – the AG’s office asked for the data embedded in those digital images which includes their GPS coordinates and when they were taken as the institute’s investigators move into the third phase of their evaluation for the state Schwartz said they are using the photos to determine whether there’s anything more to learn about what happened there Locked gates impeded escape in several parts of Lahaina on the day of the fire. In Kelawea Mauka, a neighborhood just north of Kuhua Street, local residents worked with a Maui police officer to break down a locked Department of Water Supply gate and create their own path to safety via Lahaina Bypass Other residents who tried to flee town north along Old Cane Haul Road, also known as Oil Road, got stuck at a locked gate where the road runs above Lahaina Civic Center Many cars turned back toward town before a Lahaina resident who had a key to the gate as part of his job managing a zip line course arrived to open it was part of a metal fence that separated a dense residential neighborhood from the industrial property that used to be home to the Pioneer Sugar Mill the gate had a sign that read “fire access don’t block,” according to local residents there On the day of the disaster, as fire consumed the neighborhoods, some residents tried in vain to ram through the gate and fence to escape makai – seaward – toward Honoapiilani Highway Boes escaped the wildfire with his wife before their house was destroyed Nearly three dozen people died in the surrounding area including six who fled to a large industrial corrugated steel Quonset hut immediately next to the gate The latest attorney general’s report extensively covers the obstacles faced by evacuees trying to get out via Old Cane Haul Road and through Kelawea Mauka It features a map showing nine blocked gates that impacted evacuations during the fire The map does not include the gate separating Kuhua from the industrial area that they missed it,” Boes said Monday “I know these investigators do the best they can Schwartz said in an email Friday that the research institute aims to work with community members and other interested partners to develop plans that address what happened in Lahaina last year and try to prevent another devastating fire from occurring there The Kuhua gate is on the north side of several businesses housed in Quonset huts halfway down the street Even though a sign warned people not to block the gate It’s not clear whether any cars were blocking the gate during the fire As the fire consumed the Kuhua Camp neighborhood scores of residents tried to flee toward the only available way out by car or truck: Lahainaluna Road Many were blocked by fallen trees and a downed utility pole according to the latest attorney general’s report The report also provided new details about how many of the fire’s victims perished Eugene and Maria Recolizado along with their 11-year-old son left their car in the Kuhua Camp neighborhood and sought shelter in one of the Quonset huts The lightweight structure did not withstand the fire; their bodies were later recovered there along with three other victims While the recent report did not reference the fire gate next to those huts gated roads that impeded the overall evacuation effort in Lahaina Fire and police crews had to either use heavy-duty tools to cut through those locks and chains or track down people who had the keys to open those gates The report recommends that Maui’s emergency management officials create a system that gives all the island’s emergency responders access to open those gates at any time During a recent meeting at Lahainaluna Intermediate School Boes said county planners briefed the public on plans to rebuild the street grid in the Kuhua Camp neighborhood Those plans include making Kuhua a through street at its northern end so that it cuts across the industrial property and joins with Papalaua Street on the other side Boes said that planners told the audience that based on their models “that would have provided safe access for everybody.” Maui County officials did not respond to a request for comment on Monday Civil Beat Projects Editor Jessica Terrell contributed to this story Marcel Honoré is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can email him at mhonore@civilbeat.org A presentation on Hawaiian Electric’s wildfire safety strategies and new technologies will be given during the County of Maui Office of Recovery’s monthly Lahaina Community Webinar on Wednesday Hawaiian Electric’s senior vice president of planning and technology will share how the company has been deploying new technology fortifying infrastructure and minimizing fire hazards as well as expanding community partnerships to significantly reduce the risk of a wildfire started by its equipment as part of the company’s Wildfire Safety Strategy The webinar will also include updates from the US Army Corps of Engineers on current operations the County Department of Environmental Management on environmental monitoring at the Temporary Debris Storage site and the Office of Recovery on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Action Plan A live Q&A session will follow the presentations with panelists from the County’s Office of Recovery Questions may be submitted in advance by Monday, April 14, or during the webinar. Registration is required at MauiRecovers.org/events The webinar will also be broadcast live on Akakū Channel 53 and available for replay on MauiRecovers.org the following day Next-up after the webinar is an in-person Lahaina Community Meeting on Wednesday The long-awaited report by Maui County and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol Firearms and Explosives concurs with a body of reports pointing to Hawaiian Electric Co power line set dry grass on fire on the morning of Aug producing a smoldering ember that made its way to a nearby gully flared up in hurricane-driven winds later that day and grew to engulf the town of Lahaina Maui officials said Wednesday while releasing the long-awaited report produced in collaboration with federal investigators chief of the Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety said the investigation by the county and federal Bureau of Alcohol Firearms and Explosives had ruled out the possibility that there had been two separate fires “This in fact was one fire,” Ventura said The county’s release of its long-awaited origin and cause report comes three months after the ATF which conducted the technical investigation supporting the report first shared its findings with county officials narratives of what happened last year when wildfires swept through Lahaina Insurance losses have already topped $2.3 billion and are expected to cost $1 billion more A central question has been whether there was only one fire, started by Hawaiian Electric Co. and reignited by afternoon winds or two separate fires — a morning fire started by HECO that firefighters extinguished before it did much damage and another fire of unknown origin that destroyed much of Lahaina Also in question has been the responsibility of other parties whose alleged failure to cut back grass known to be a fire hazard fed the wind-powered firestorm The ATF shared its findings with Maui County in a series of meetings in late June After initially saying it was Maui’s decision when to publish the report the ATF later said the agency needed to do “additional formatting” to complete the report The agency never explained why the formatting took months But now the report is out: there was just one fire caused by a fallen power line and dry grass HECO expressed regret for its role in causing the fire “We deeply regret that our operations contributed to the fire that ignited in the morning,” Jim Kelly HECO’s vice president for government and community relations and corporate communications “Confronted by an extraordinary weather event and a chaotic situation our employees brought their best efforts to their jobs the morning fire was started after the downed power line was re-energized Firefighters contained the fire and stayed in the area for several hours to make sure the blaze was extinguished before firefighters left the scene But the prevailing hypothesis is that a piece of smoldering material was blown into a nearby gully where strong winds rekindled the material in the afternoon “The hypothesis was overwhelmingly supported by the data,” Ventura said While the the report assigns cause of the fire it doesn’t amount to a finding of legal liability for the deaths and property damage – or how much the liable parties would have to pay in damages Such questions typically would be determined in a jury trial where lawyers for multiple parties present mountains of detailed evidence which might include the ATF’s findings For the Maui fires, such a trial is unlikely because a pending $4.04 billion settlement would resolve hundreds of lawsuits filed by individual fire victims against HECO, Kamehameha Schools, Maui County and others. The Hawaii Supreme Court is expected to issue an opinion in the next two months that will for all practical purposes determine whether that settlement can proceed The new report adds to a body of work pointing to there being one fire started by HECO and allowed to spread by allegedly negligent landowners Reports that a live electric wire was somehow to blame emerged almost immediately. Early news stories drawn from videos posted on social media and eyewitness accounts pointed to the fallen Hawaiian Electric Co HECO offered its official narrative in a statement released 19 days after the fire It acknowledged that a downed line had started a fire early in the morning but said that fire was declared extinguished by Maui firefighters before they left the scene at around 2 p.m.  afternoon fire started in the same area at around 3 p.m The utility didn’t explain what caused that second fire noting that its power lines had been de-energized for more than six hours by then As HECO promoted the idea of two separate fires lawyers for fire victims were making the case that the afternoon fire was simply a continuation of the morning fire the global insurance industry weighed in with a similar story The defendants “were well aware of the risks of wildfire associated with continuously operating energized powerlines during dry and windy weather conditions overloading aged utility poles so as to further weaken them structurally and disregarding the excessive overgrowth of invasive highly flammable vegetation,” the insurers alleged these oversight failures all contributed to the most destructive – and deadliest – human-caused disaster in State history.” Lawyers for the fire victims circulated pictures of fallen “Pole 7A,” showing what they said was termite damage that had allegedly weakened the pole They blamed the afternoon fire on drifting embers from the morning fire Investigators from the Fire Safety Research Institute declined to rule out that conclusion. In April, Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez issued her timeline report based on the institute’s investigation While Lopez’s report didn’t intend to show what caused the fire it did show that the so-called afternoon fire flared up in the same location as the morning fire – less than an hour after the Maui Fire Department said the morning fire was extinguished.  “It was absolutely in the same area,” Steve Kerber the research institute’s executive director But Kerber said it would be the ATF’s responsibility to determine the fire’s cause Josh Green defended going forward with a settlement before Maui's report came out The parties had been ordered by Maui Circuit Judge Peter Cahill to pursue a settlement through mediation And Green noted that all the parties working on it had already done extensive research into the cause of the fire His goal was to get fire victims as much compensation as possible and as quickly as possible and the contents of the ATF report would not have significantly changed the deal they reached guilty and therefore they will pay a fortune.’ That’s not how the world works,” Green said but the resources are still finite and no one that we were working on was trying to avoid responsibility just some people said they didn’t have enough money to cover it.” Green said he anticipated that Maui County’s report would come as no surprise to many “I think you’re going to see what everyone has already expected,” Green told KHON on Monday Some of the coals reignited and then went up in into the wind because of the hurricane-force winds that were 74 to 80 miles per hour Lawyers for fire victims said the report vindicates their allegations "The ATF has confirmed that plaintiffs’ had it right all along: the fire was a single fire started by Hawaiian Electric and spread far and wide by unmaintained vegetation in a gully negligently maintained by Kamehameha Schools," Jesse Creed a liaison counsel for more than 1,000 wildfire victims "Had Hawaiian Electric and Kamehameha Schools properly maintained their electric poles and vegetation HECO noted that multiple factors beyond the fallen power line were to blame "Consistent with the previous reports published by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) and the state Attorney General the reports issued by the Maui Fire Department and the ATF also make clear that the devastation in Lahaina resulted from a combination of many factors and the actions of many parties," Kelly said Civil Beat reporters Paula Dobbyn and Marcel Honoré contributed to this story Civil Beat's coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation 2023 wildfire that devastated much of Lahaina’s iconic Front Street a grassroots coalition of generational Lahaina landowners has come together to form Front Street Recovery (FSR) FSR is committed to rebuilding the heart of Lahaina by restoring over 800 businesses and providing more than 7,000 jobs critical to supporting local families and the community Working to rebuild Lahaina’s historic Front Street is top of mind for these landowners providing job opportunities for local families as they return to live in Lahaina Town “Our mission is to restore Front Street as the beating heart of Lahaina—bringing back the jobs and sense of community that have sustained generations of families,” said Kaleo Schneider My family’s property housed shops and businesses for over 125 years Front Street Recovery is focused on creating a path forward for residents The organizationʻs priorities include restoring commercial spaces to provide jobs for Lahaina families and ensuring the community has a vibrant place to gather a generational landowner and Front Street Recovery member highlighting the importance of community collaboration “Rebuilding Front Street is about more than just structures—it’s about restoring hope and providing opportunities for the families and small businesses who are the heartbeat of Lahaina,” Freeland said we can honor Lahaina’s legacy while building a foundation for future generations to thrive.” “Lahaina is more than a place—it’s a way of life,” Schneider added “Rebuilding Front Street means giving families the opportunity to earn a living and our community a space to heal and grow We have the determination and experience to make this happen.” Organizers say the coalition is actively collaborating with consultants and policymakers to streamline the rebuilding process and create an efficient plan that respects Lahaina’s deep cultural and historical roots Front Street Recovery aims to expedite the restoration of properties ensuring that Lahaina families and businesses can move forward together For more information on how to get involved, or to donate, visit www.frontstreetrecovery.org The Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club has launched new initiatives to support Lahaina’s recovery including a sand sculpture fundraiser and a refillable mug program benefiting restoration efforts The Kāʻanapali resort recently unveiled a four-foot-tall sand sculpture in its lobby depicting the historic Lahaina Courthouse the sculpture is paired with a QR code that allows guests to donate toward rebuilding Lahaina the resort has partnered with the Lahaina Restoration Foundation and Treecovery to introduce a refillable mug program offering guests unlimited beverages during their stay These efforts are part of the resort’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Lahaina community following the 2023 Maui wildfires Maui County announced the remaining fire debris from the August 2023 wildfire has been removed from 148 commercial properties in Lahaina ahead of the Feb 25 deadline thanks to a partnership between the county Property owners can now apply for building permits as part of the next phase in the rebuilding process Residential properties were cleared at the end of August 2024 A total of 1,538 residential and commercial properties have been cleared of wildfire debris soil sampling and steps to control erosion will be implemented on the last two commercial properties to ensure environmental safety before they are transferred back to the county “The completion of debris removal from Lahaina’s commercial properties marks another critical milestone in our community’s recovery,” Mayor Richard Bissen said in a release “This milestone not only paves the way for rebuilding businesses but also restores hope for owners We remain committed to supporting our residents as we rebuild Lahaina together.”  Bissen expressed his gratitude for the expedited efforts of USACE and partners “This marks an important step in recovery that wouldn’t have been achieved without the dedication of our community partners and the public’s trust,” said USACE Recovery Field Office Commander “Completion of debris removal is a vital step towards recovery and is essential in the overall rebuilding process.” the county’s focus shifts to transporting roughly 400,000 tons of debris from the West Maui Temporary Disposal Storage site in Olowalu to the Permanent Disposal Site at the Central Maui Landfill March 17 is the date Maui County will complete the first of a two-phase plan to construct the PDS at the landfill USACE anticipates moving material to the PDS once the permanent site’s construction is completed in June estimating it will take about five months to safely haul nearly 400,000 tons of debris “We are fully committed to ensuring that the debris is moved from the temporary site to the permanent disposal site as quickly and safely as possible,” said Bissen “Our partnership with federal agencies is critical in making this happen efficiently and we will continue to push for the swift completion of this process We made a promise to the Olowalu community and we intend to keep it by prioritizing the responsible and timely relocation of the debris.”