Maui Wildfire Update – October 25 as of 10 a.m.
Here are the latest Maui wildfire news, updates and resources for this week.
More of West Maui will reopen to visitors on Nov. 1.
- The reopening includes Phases 2 and 3 of Mayor Bissen’s phased approach to welcoming visitors back to the island.
- The mayor described the first phase as a success, with positive interactions between visitors and the community.
- Maui continues to navigate its need to reopen and desire to shift toward a more sustainable, regenerative tourism industry while giving the community time to heal.
- West Maui remains quiet, and visitors now appear to be favoring Kihei and Wailea.
- Some residents are redefining and redistributing the aloha spirit.
Placing impacted residents in long-term housing remains a challenge.
- Media outlets continue to report that displaced residents are struggling to find places to rent amid a housing shortage and steep prices that were present before the fire. Fire survivors who lost their homes also find it difficult to make mortgage payments.
- Some Maui renters held a rally to call attention to the growing challenge of tenants in the wake of the wildfires.
- The Hawai‘i Attorney General’s office is investigating illegal rent increases and evictions on Maui.
- Officials continue to emphasize that displaced Lahaina residents will have access to housing and that every type of housing is being considered.
Maui County released its after-action report from the 2018 Lahaina fire.
- The 2018 fire scorched 2,100 acres, wiping out 21 houses, 27 cars and causing $4.3 million in damage.
- The after-action report produced by the Maui Emergency Management Agency states the county considered the response “effective.” However, residents complained about the lack of warning, barriers to evacuation and fire hydrants running dry.
- The draft report outlined several areas for improvement related to the Emergency Operations Center.
- A 2021 report from a publicly-funded commission identifies key solutions to the wildfire risk threatening Maui, but it’s unclear if Maui County acted on the findings.
Native Hawaiians push to honor the past as the community looks to the future of Lahaina.
- “There’s this growing sentiment that Native Hawaiians are actually really sick and tired of listening to stories about the banyan tree,” said Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp, a writer and researcher who specializes in Native Hawaiian history.
- The Lahaina Restoration Foundation is moving forward with plans to protect and rebuild historic structures in the area.
- A band of arborists, farmers and landscapers has set about trying to save Lahaina’s ulu, kukui nut and other culturally important trees damaged in the fire.
Local organizations highlight the challenges and opportunities in reducing wildfire risk.
- In a recent blog, UHERO argues that improved regulation coupled with additional economic incentives targeting fire risk reduction for public safety are also cost-effective and economically efficient ways to support local agriculture and food production.
- According to a 2018-19 assessment by the Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization, about 350 miles of landscape alteration statewide was needed to reduce high wildfire risk — a distance encircling Oahu about 2-1/2 times.
Community members urged the state Commission on Water Resource Management to change the way water is allocated in West Maui.
- Lahaina residents and water rights activists passionately shared their views on the future of West Maui’s water at a state water commission meeting yesterday.
- The commission ultimately took no action, but Chair Dawn Chang said she understood the “extreme frustration” that many people feel about how water resources are managed in West Maui.
- Many asked the commission to restore natural streams, lo‘i and fishponds.
Disaster area zone recovery continues.
- Three more disaster area zones reopen for residents in West Maui on Oct. 27 and 28.
- The U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency said the removal of hazardous materials is 75% complete.
- As the island looks to rebuild Lahaina, most of the contracts awarded so far haven’t faced competitive bidding. Some worry that the government contracting system is vulnerable to contractors who might exploit this disaster.
In news about support for Maui and how to help…
- November will be Kōkua for Maui Month, where people across the state can ‘Shop & Show Aloha.’
- A survey of Maui nonprofit directors reveals community impact and needs following fires.
- Two-year and four-year scholarships to the University of Hawaiʻi are now available to Lahainaluna High School seniors.
- Oak Foundation committed $4 million to Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund.
- Makana nō nā Keiki is encouraging people to help Maui keiki celebrate holidays.
Mahalo nui loa,
Your BG Team