Crews will start moving ash and debris from the 2023 wildfires that ripped through Lahaina, Hawaii, on Monday, June 16. The debris currently sits in a temporary storage spot in Olowalu, and will be moved to the Central Maui Landfill.
“This is an important step in our recovery efforts and fulfills our promise to the residents of Olowalu that this debris storage would be temporary,” said Mayor Richard Bissen. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of our residents and visitors as we transfer Lahaina’s wildfire debris safely and respectfully.”
Up to 50 trucks identified by “Lahaina Wildfire Debris” decals will make multiple round-trips daily. The project is expected to take five months.
On Tuesday, June 17, Maui County will hold a meeting for the Lahaina community on fire prevention, mitigation and evacuation planning.
The Aug. 8, 2023 wildfire killed at least 100 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, most of which were homes. The wildfires caused more than $5.5 billion in damages.
A lack of adequate warning and preparation has been a focus during the recovery. Despite Hawaii’s advanced integrated outdoor siren warning system, on Maui, 80 of these sirens remained silent as the fires burned.
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency attributed the lack of activation to the fires’ rapid progression and existing ground response coordination. Since then, new warning systems have been implemented. Tuesday’s meeting will discuss evacuation plans and hazard mitigation.
This is just part of the road to healing for Maui residents. In early June, more than 50 people spoke about a plan to convert thousands of short-term rentals into long-term housing for locals. The proposal, Bill 9, plans to phase out units rented for less than 180 days, known as transient vacation rentals (TVRs), in apartment-zoned districts by 2026.
That change would see units targeted from what is called the “Minatoya list.”
Named after the Maui County official who created the legal memo giving TVRs an exemption in 2001, the Minatoya list contains the addresses of over 7,000 rental units. About 6,000 of these units are actively used as short-term rentals. The committee will reconvene on June 18 to continue discussing the proposal.
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Author: Diane Duenez
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