Erick Nava News Today

The project has been years in the making.

Eight months to the day after a wildfire swept through Lahaina town, Maui County Council members heard the anguish of residents struggling to recover from the disaster that claimed at least 101 lives and leveled their beloved historic town.

Local leaders and residents share what they believe is in store for Lahaina following the destructive Maui wildfires that scorched the town in 2023.

Angus McKelvey lays out the proposals he’ll bring to the Legislature next session after a wildfire devastated his district.

“Although we are fortunate to have several relief fleet… we’re still in our drought season. We still are averaging about 60 wildfires a month, and so this truck will be going to work pretty quickly here… It will not lay unused,” said Maui Fire Chief Brad Ventura.

After three months, many Lahaina residents are still concerned about their health KITV4s Kristen Consillio spoke with an advocate today about why air quality is still a big issue.

The Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce applied for money from the Hawaii Community Foundation but did not get approval for funding.

Mayor Richard Bissen and members of his Lahaina Advisory Team have shaped a phased approach to the reopening of West Maui to visitors following an announcement by Gov. Josh Green that West Maui will reopen on Oct. 8, 2023.

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen cautioned a crowd of more than 600 during a community meeting Friday night at the Lahaina Civic Center that it would be a “fair estimate” of 18 months to two years before those who lost homes in the deadly Aug. 8 wildfire could begin to rebuild.

The EPA has removed toxic chemicals dislodged during the Aug. 8 disaster from 50% of the ash-covered landscape.