At a Glance
- Thousands of people are still living in hotels six months after the devastating fire.
- The cost of rebuilding has been estimated at $5.5 billion.
- The disaster exacerbated already-troubling housing problems in Hawaii.
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Six months after a devastating fire tore through the community of Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii, thousands of residents remain displaced and local police are still investigating what happened as they work to improve their response to future emergencies.
On August 8, a blaze fueled by hurricane-driven winds, dry conditions and tinder-dry grasses resulted in the death of 100 people. More than 2,000 buildings were destroyed and 12,000 people were displaced from their homes.
Here’s what the situation in Lahaina looks like six months later:
Legislative Response And Recovery Efforts
With Hawaii’s legislature convening for the first time since the fire, the priority is clear: preventing future wildfires and aiding Maui’s long road to recovery. An estimated $5.5 billion is needed to rebuild Lahaina.
Governor Josh Green has proposed a substantial budget for the cleanup and reconstruction of Maui. Green has asked state lawmakers for a $425 million budget allocation to assist a number of agencies and groups with their recovery efforts. A working group was established in the state legislature, tasked with proposing new solutions and preventative measures for wildfires across the state.
Maui’s Housing Crisis And Economic Woes
The Lahaina fire exacerbated Hawaii’s existing housing and economic challenges. Thousands of displaced residents now face the harsh reality of insufficient housing and a prohibitively high cost of rebuilding, forcing many locals to leave. Maui has a high percentage of vacation rentals, further complicating the housing situation.
The state is also grappling with a spike in unemployment and a loss of tourism revenue as Lahaina remains closed to the general public. When the burn zone reopened to residents and property owners, returning locals were advised not to sift through the rubble for fear of stirring up toxic dust. Last month, crews began removing that debris, wrapping it in industrial plastic before moving it to a nearby storage site where it will be kept temporarily.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority is urging tourists to visit West Maui as a way of supporting the tourism industry on the island.
How Maui Is Moving Forward
As Maui continues rebuilding, the focus is on avoiding disasters like this in the future. Maui Police recently issued an preliminary “after-action report” detailing 32 recommendations related to wins and losses during the August fires. The report calls for better equipment and a change to emergency protocols for responding agencies, among other recommendations.
In January, the last known victim of the fire was finally identified. And, still today, the official cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Over the past six months, the path to recovery has been marked by challenges. However, many government officials, advocates and locals are using the disaster as a catalyst for change.
In many ways, the tragedy prompted a reevaluation of the way Hawaii prepares for and responds to wildfires. With continued effort between agencies and the public, the hope is to emerge from the long recovery with a stronger sense of community and a clearer vision for a sustainable future.
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Based in New York, Weather.com reporter Tim Harris is a digital journalist with a broad reporting portfolio that spans environmental science, lifestyle topics and breaking news.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives.
