Maui Wildfire Update – September 21 as of 12 p.m.
Aloha,
Here are the latest Maui wildfire news, updates, and resources you need to know.
Residents will begin reentry to Lahaina on Monday.
- Maui County announced residents of Kaniau Road in Zone 1C — the first area to be cleared for reentry next week – will be allowed to return to their property.
- Once the county announces a zone for reentry, property owners and tenants can apply in person to verify their ownership or occupancy and pick up their vehicle passes, which are required to access a reopened zone.
- Seventeen primary zones and 83 sub-zones have been established for the 2,170 acres in the 5-mile Lahaina impact area.
- Some residents say returning to Lahaina would help bring closure, while others say it’s too painful.
Gov. Green shared updates on housing, tourism and ongoing aid to Maui’s recovery in a press conference this morning.
- “We’re going to err on the side of protecting our people over tourism,” Green said. Officials emphasized that reopening West Maui is necessary and that tourism will return slowly.
- A total of 7,996 people are currently housed across 40 hotel properties. The governor said that while there’s an effort not to move people from hotels, evacuees will eventually need to move to “bridge housing” –– details of which are still being determined.
- 15,931 people registered for federal assistance with FEMA. The agency is also providing at least 18 months of rental assistance.
- The state will construct a replacement for King Kamehameha III Elementary School. More details will be shared in a press conference on Sept. 26.
- He has formed a Joint Housing Task Force to manage the details of the transition to longer-term housing solutions.
UHERO offers vital analysis of the impact of the Maui wildfires and the path to recovery.
- The University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization’s (UHERO) reports and insights inform policy and the community’s approach to pressing issues.
- If you missed it, UHERO’s recent report, “After the Maui Wildfires: The Road Ahead,” is available. While it covers a wide breadth of topics, one of the most challenging and immediate impacts is the mental health of survivors and the need to ensure government transparency in the recovery.
- Stay tuned for the organization’s Q3 forecast tomorrow.
Here are more ways you can continue to support Maui.
- Shop these six Maui farms for chocolate, pineapples, wine and more. Maui farmers are experiencing losses from the fires and vital sales to now-closed West Maui restaurants.
- MauiNuiStrong.info offers information about where to donate or volunteer.
Mahalo nui loa,
Your BG Team