On August 8, 2023, to now four fires have happened in Maui, Hawaii. At least 115 people have died from these fires and about 66 people are still missing since the Maui fires. At least 2,200 buildings including thousands of acres have been burned to the ground and 86% was residential. According to the University of Hawaii’s Pacific Disaster Center the estimate to rebuild was $5.52 billion. The firefighters have been able to control the fires and it was very challenging. During the fires the tourists stayed for their own safety and were not allowed to leave until fires were under control.
History teacher, Paul Herandez has a friend that his in-laws have a vacation house that has been burned in the fire. Czarina said she also knows people in Maui Hawaii, and she confirmed that they are “all good.” Brett Lemster has talked about how his friend’s parents are over there and how they’re okay.
According to the Maui Fire Department the fires do not pose a threat. Beyond West Maui, other areas on the island (including Kahului, Wailuku, Kīhei, Wailea, Mākena, Pā’ia, Makawao and Hāna), as well as the other Hawaiian Islands of Kaua’i, O’ahu, Lānaʻi, Moloka’i, and Hawai’i Island are open for tourist. So, Maui, Hawaii and the rest of Hawaii is still allowing and suggesting tourists to come visit.
Police on Maui are still searching the last 1% of the burn area, which is the water 200 yards offshore along a distance of four miles of shore, according to Chief John Pelletier on Tuesday. In the old town of Lahaina, which was largely hit by the fires, so far no one has been discovered in the water offshore. About 11,000 requests for help had been received by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as of this week, and $14.6 million in federal residential and individual support had been given, according to officials.
About 6,000 people were residing in hotels and Airbnb’s, a place to stay according to Governor Green. West Maui is still working to recover after the disaster, and supplies are continuously being delivered to the areas hardest hit. Maui, Hawaii will recover but it will take some time. The power lines created a spark which caused the fires. As a result of this Maui County is suing Hawaiian Electric for the deadly fires that have caused at least 115 people’s death and 388 people that are missing because of the fires Hawaii’s electric utility admitted that its power lines caused a wildfire on Maui, but it attacked county firefighters for declaring the fire to be under control and leaving the area while a second wildfire broke out nearby and turned into the deadliest in the country in more than a century.
According to the County of Maui they estimate $5.5 billion damage from the fires in Lahaina and Kula. The majority of people in Maui, Hawaii said that having people visit will help them emotionally and help needed for food distribution sites, Kaunoa Senior Services and more.
