Maui Wildfire Update – August 28 at 3 p.m.
Aloha,
Here are the latest Maui wildfire news, updates, and resources you need to know.
The search of the Lāhainā disaster area is nearly complete.
- The number of confirmed fatalities has remained at 115 for several days, with 99% of the Lāhainā disaster area searched.
- The Maui Fire Department has contained the Olinda, Kula and Lāhainā fires but advised it may take an extended period to extinguish the blazes completely, given the large burn area and the nature of the rural terrain.
- On Saturday afternoon, a brush fire burned 5 to 7 acres in Kā‘anapali and led to the evacuation of residents at Anapuni Loop and West Mahipuna Place.
Maui County names a new interim emergency management agency director.
- Darryl Oliveira, a former Hawai‘i County Civil Defense administrator and fire chief, was named interim director of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, effective today.
- Governor Green released $30 million to help fund the state’s response to the Maui wildfires.
Hawaiian Electric responded to the lawsuit filed by the County of Maui, saying power lines were de-energized.
- On Sunday, Hawaiian Electric provided an update that acknowledged its power lines started an earlier wildfire on Maui but said its power lines in West Maui had been de-energized for more than six hours when the second deadly blaze started.
- In a statement, Hawaiian Electric said, “We believe the complaint is factually and legally irresponsible. It is inconsistent with the path that we believe we should pursue as a resilient community committed and accountable to each other as well as to Hawai‘i’s future.”
- The latest update disputes the criticism and questions over why Hawaiian Electric had not shut off the power amid high winds and wildfires. The company faces at least 11 lawsuits in the wake of the fire.
- Hawaiian Electric’s stock price jumped 47% today.
Maui begins feeling the economic effects of the sudden loss of visitors.
- U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii tweeted, “South Maui resorts (Lāhainā is West Maui) NEED visitors. Furloughs and layoffs starting because people think the whole island is closed. It is not.”
- The Los Angeles Times compiled advice from locals to visitors, including to act with empathy and compassion, support small businesses and donate or volunteer.
- According to recent reports, Maui is already feeling the financial impact of the sudden loss of tourism.
The University of Hawaiʻi’s Economic Research Organization (UHERO) is working on an analysis of the impact of the fires on Maui.
- “It will focus on everything, from the fact that we’ve lost schools … and the mental health of people who’ve been through this incredible trauma, and the environmental disaster that is in front of us right now,” Carl Bonham, UHERO’s Executive Director and Professor of Economics, explained.
- Because Maui’s economy is more dependent on tourism than any of the other Hawaiian Islands, Bonham feels that federal aid given to individuals will not be enough to offset the financial losses of the entire island.
- “I think there’s good reason for hope,” Bonham added. “I have little doubt that we will recover and we can choose that path as a community.”
Mahalo nui loa,
Your BG Team