Parts of Lahaina open for reentry as town seeks closure after deadly wildfires
Residents of Lahaina are officially allowed to return to their homes for the first time since deadly wildfires swept across the island town in August.
The first zone was opened for reentry on Monday, clearing residents and business owners who apply for vehicle passes to drive back into town. The Maui Emergency Management Agency will provide up to four passes for each residence: two for the owner and two for the resident, according to a news release.
Those who return will be provided personal protective equipment, as well as "water, shade, washing stations, portable toilets, medical and mental health care, Maui Bus transportation from local hotel shelters and language assistance."
"Most important is getting that closure," Darryl Oliveira, interim administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, said at a news conference last week. "For many of them that left in the midst of the fire, this is going to be the first opportunity to go back and really see what's left."
Authorities cautioned that the area is still covered in ash and debris, and residents could encounter roadside hazards, including burned vehicles. As part of their PPE kits, residents will receive a respirator to prevent breathing in particles from the ash.
Officials also advised against digging through the dirt because of metal and concrete remnants.
"Again, our goal is to just support what needs to be done when people get closure and helping them to grieve and get through this process before we move into the next process, which is actually the debris removal," Oliveira said. "So we'll work with the community, just asking for everyone's patience, understanding, and really the cooperation."
Kesa Stoddart, 46, said revisiting the wreckage of her Lahaina home was emotional. "These are places where several generations have grown up, and it's extremely sad for everybody. I don't think everyone's fully prepared for what that feels like to walk around your property and have it be just a big pile of ashes."
Stoddart was able to reenter her home Aug. 26, thanks to the disaster response organization Samaritan's Purse. Her 76-year-old parents lost their home to the blaze, along with fruit trees. "People lived off 30-inch fruit trees and gardens," she said. "It takes years to get a fruit bearing tree again, and that, for my parents, was the hardest thing."
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The fire burned across 2,170 acres, or 3.4 square miles, according to the County of Maui. The blaze left at least 97 dead, a number revised down from an initial death toll of 115 on Sept. 15, The Associated Press reported.
A wildfire emergency proclamation signed by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green earlier this month will allow tourists to return to most of West Maui starting Oct. 8. The proclamation underscores the difficult balance between prioritizing recovery and the island's economy. Authorities initially advised tourists not to travel to the fire-ravaged island to prioritize residents but later announced the island would reopen to visitors sooner in an effort to revive Maui's tourism-dependent economy.
Some Lahaina residents say it's too soon to reopen. A petition demanding Green and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen delay the date has collected more than 7,200 signatures. "We firmly believe that before any reopening takes place, it is imperative to consult with and prioritize the needs of these working-class Lāhainā residents," it says.
Stoddart, who was forced to move with her two children four times in the span of four weeks, said local government agencies could be doing a better job reassuring residents they won't be displaced.
"You're going to get some negative feelings when nobody knows where they're going to live next week," she said. "Expecting people to smile and say 'Aloha and how are you' is kind of hard to do when you might have to pack your stuff when you get home from work and have to move again the next day."
Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at cmayesosterman@usatoday.com. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.