There are signs of recovery one year after the deadly fires on the island of Maui, Hawaii. But there is a long road ahead for many who call the town of Lahaina home.
Reportedly, 102 people were killed in the fast moving firestorm. It was the deadliest fire in the U.S. in over a century. What used to be piles of smoking rubble and ash has now been largely cleared by contractors and the Army Corp of Engineers. This is leaving behind smooth lots where homes and businesses once stood.
With their town razed to the ground, thousands of survivors continue to struggle to find secure housing in a market saturated with short-term vacation rentals.
“Housing remains the number one issue.” Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii said. “Businesses still need help as tourism lags and people of all ages need expanded access to mental health resources and other health care. Every part of the government, whether it’s federal, state or county, has a responsibility to help the survivors get back on their feet.”
“Building housing is going to be critical in the second year.” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, D, said. “We’re changing the laws around short-term rentals, hoping to bring as many as 7,000 short-term rentals back to the market for local families on Maui.”
Lahaina was a cultural and economic hub in the islands and its loss is still sorely felt. Despite the difficulties faced by the survivors, there is hope for a stable life after the disaster. A $4 billion global settlement was reached just days before the anniversary, offering a path forward for the thousands of plaintiffs affected by the wildfires.
Next to the hollowed out skeleton of the old Lahaina courthouse there is new growth. The massive 151-year old sacred banyan tree, the oldest banyan in the state, is covered in green shoots.
“For the people of Lahaina,” Schatz said. “The past year has been a year of uncertainty and unease. Unspeakable grief and heartache, impossible choices, a year of what ifs and what’s next. Nothing will ever fully replace the people and the things that were lost on that harrowing day about a year ago. But what we can do is be there for them as they recover. For as long as it takes every step of the way. That is our responsibility and that is our promise.”