Nine months after a deadly wildfire destroyed Lahaina, Hawaii, Governor Josh Green reported that the number of people living in hotels and other temporary housing had been reduced by 80%. The fire, one of three on Maui that day, killed at least 102 people and left over 3,000 households without permanent shelter, with 1,596 people still transitioning to long-term housing. Green, a former emergency room doctor, described the devastation of visiting the morgue to see the lost lives and emphasized the need to move forward and rebuild.
In the aftermath of the wildfire, Green and his team focused on finding or creating housing, rebuilding Lahaina, providing financial assistance to survivors, and improving emergency preparedness. Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire, and Green acknowledged some “human failure” in the state’s response. He emphasized taking things one step at a time, with housing being the top priority. The state has broken ground on over 500 single-family homes and passed legislation to convert short-term rentals into long-term housing to address the overall housing shortage.
To address the housing crisis, Green signed a bill giving counties the power to convert short-term rentals into long-term housing and regulate vacation rentals. Maui, where much of the devastation occurred, has 7,000 short-term rentals, with plans to convert 2,200 into long-term rentals. Green also commissioned an investigation into the events before, during, and after the fire to identify areas for improvement. The report highlighted communication breakdowns, lack of equipment, and delays in grasping the severity of the situation as factors that may have hindered the response.
Despite the challenges faced during the wildfire, Green stressed the importance of learning from the experience and implementing improved prevention and response measures. He cited the need for advanced technology, better warning systems, and the hiring of a fire marshal to oversee operations. Green expressed confidence that these changes will enhance the state’s readiness for future disasters. He commended Mayor Richard Bissen for his efforts to help the community recover and stated that the state is committed to ensuring that all displaced individuals are in long-term housing by the wildfire’s first anniversary.
