Highlighted News Stories from September 2023.

Displaced West Maui residents find temporary homes in hotels.

After losing their Lahaina home in the August 8 fire, the Green family spent nine days at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa before moving to Haiku. With limited belongings and hopes of FEMA assistance, they’re now renting on a month-to-month basis. The Hyatt has provided support, but Katyana Green still struggles with FEMA’s response, while the Family Assistance Center at the hotel assists affected families. Governor Josh Green assures housing help for the 6,000 displaced individuals, regardless of the timeline. The center offers various services, including medical care, legal assistance, and emotional support. Anita Ahuja, director of the victim/witness program, encourages everyone, including undocumented individuals, to seek help there. Doctors, like Dr. Kimmie Ouchi, are providing medical services at the center, as some prefer to receive care locally in West Maui. Displaced hotel employees, like Kekoa Mowat, are contributing to the relief efforts. Kekoa Mowat highlights the community’s interconnectedness and resilience, acknowledging the challenges ahead, including housing and financial concerns. He emphasizes the natural disaster’s unpredictability and the need for unity rather than blame.

HECO takes responsibility for the first Lahaina fire, but not the second.

A lawsuit by Maui County blames HECO’s equipment for causing the deadly fire that destroyed over 2,000 structures and killed at least 115 people. HECO contends that their lines were off for over six hours before the more devastating second fire broke out. The company’s detailed account followed Maui County’s legal action, prompting Hawaiian Electric President and CEO Shelee Kimura to assert their responsibility. The first fire, likely caused by fallen power lines in high winds, was contained by 9 a.m., according to the Maui Fire Department. HECO claimed that the fire was extinguished, and crews left by 2 p.m. Later in the afternoon, emergency crews saw no signs of fire, but around 3 p.m., they reported a small fire near Lahainaluna Road. HECO stated that power had been off for over six hours when the second fire erupted. The second fire, more destructive, destroyed much of Lahaina. Residents filed lawsuits blaming HECO for not cutting off power, and the company’s stock suffered. Hawaiian Electric serves over 12,000 customers in West Maui, with extensive equipment damage from the high winds and fire. Maui County’s lawsuit alleges that HECO should have foreseen the risk posed by their equipment, especially after the National Weather Service’s fire warning. HECO maintains that the cause of the second fire remains undetermined as federal investigators continue their inquiry. Kimura emphasized the need to learn from the tragedy as climate challenges intensify globally.

Note: Parts of this post were written using ChatGPT, with details gathered from Maui News.