Some Lahaina residents return to homes destroyed by wildfire

Sep 26, 2023

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Brock Koller (Senior Producer), Ian Kennedy (Editor)

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For the first time since the deadly wildfire that destroyed the Hawaii town of Lahaina, some residents are returning to what they used to call home. On Monday, Sept. 25, authorities opened part of the area the wildfire destroyed, allowing some residents their first look at the aftermath.

The Aug. 8 wildfire killed at least 97 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, most of which were homes. Since the fire, the area has been closed to everyone except authorized workers.

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Monday, Sept. 25, marked the first time some residents were given the chance to see what was left of their homes. Darryl Oliveira, the interim administrator for the Maui Emergency Management Agency, said he wanted to give residents an opportunity to reflect.

“I think initially, you know, people who haven’t been in here since the fire are taken aback by the amount and extent of the destruction,” Oliveira said. “Talking to one property owner, he’s like, ‘Darryl, there’s no wood, nothing is here from our home.’”

While residents were allowed to see what may have survived the flames, officials urged them not to sift through the ruins, fearing it might stir up toxic dusts. The first zone to open for supervised reentry included about two dozen plots of land in northern Lahaina.

The damage from the wildfire as a whole was so extensive that officials said it will take at least a decade to rebuild.

Tags: Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Maui, Wildfire

SOME RESIDENTS IN MAUI ARE ABLE TO FINALLY RETURN TO THEIR PROPERTIES IN LAHAINA AFTER THE TOWN WAS DESTROYED IN THE DEADLY WILDFIRES LAST MONTH.

AUTHORITIES OPENED PART OF THE AREA ON MONDAY — NEARLY SEVEN WEEKS SINCE HAWAIIAN RESIDENTS HAD TO EVACUATE AS THE FAST-MOVING FLAMES TORE THROUGH THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WITH THE UNKNOWN REALITY OF THE CONDITION OF THEIR HOMES SINKING IN

DARRYL OLIVEIRA THE INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE MAUI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY SAYS HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE RESIDENTS HAD SPACE AND PRIVACY TO REFLECT

“I think initially, you know, people are who haven’t been in here since the fire are taken aback by the amount and extent of the destruction. You know, talking to one property owner, he’s like ‘ Darryl, there’s no wood. Nothing is here from our home.’

AT LEAST 97 PEOPLE DIED IN THE WILDFIRES — AND MORE THAN 2 THOUSAND HOMES WERE DESTROYED.

OFFICIALS PREDICT IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST A DECADE TO REBUILD.