BY NBC NEWS
The residents of Lahaina see hope for renewal after their homes, businesses, schools, and churches were destroyed by one of the worst disasters in American history.
In addition to several wounded and displaced people, the fire on August 8 claimed 100 lives. In addition, it claimed 2,170 acres and more than 2,000 buildings, many of which were family houses and buildings constructed centuries ago, back when Lahaina was the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
However, Lahaina has not been providing important instructions. Rather, the state—or the Maui County government—makes most of the choices about the town’s future. The county claims that there are unclear long-term plans and that reconstruction of the destroyed buildings won’t even start for another 18 to 24 months.
The city most recently opened the last of the schools and invited visitors back to regions unharmed by the flames after removing debris and allowing individuals to return inside to see their houses. To guarantee that reentry is safe, officials are collaborating with the federal authorities to keep an eye on the air, water, and soil conditions in the region.
The expected cost of rebuilding everything will be $5.5 billion, including replacing all of the destroyed buildings.
Eleven individuals were questioned by NBC News on their predictions about Lahaina’s future. Even though the survivors claim that nothing can ever fully replace what was destroyed, they still want to rebuild Lahaina to better serve their needs.
A businessman expressed to NBC News his desire for Lahaina to revert to the days of mom-and-pop shops, with a downtown designed for the locals; a minister expressed her desire for her 200-year-old church, which was destroyed in fire, to once again serve the community; and a school principal expressed his hope that his students, many of whom had lost everything, would grow up in a Lahaina that they would want to call home.
Here is how the residents of Lahaina see their old town emerging from the actual ashes one day.
Richard Bissen, the mayor of Maui, has prioritized housing, childcare, and broader paths for pedestrians.
Richard Bissen, the mayor of Maui, was raised mostly at the hotel where his mother worked, just across from the town’s well-known banyan tree. He now oversees the Lahaina recovery work from his Wailuku office.
Although it is difficult for him to see Lahaina in a new light given his deep roots, he is focusing on a few important issues, such as the restoration of trustworthy child care and housing.
The community’s most pressing needs are now being prioritized, including clearing away debris, allowing residents to reclaim their homes, and resuming the operation of public buildings and utilities.
He wants to provide incentives for local families to remain in Lahaina because he understands their suffering. One approach may be to provide inexpensive homes, perhaps with the help of contributions from charitable organizations. Additionally, he wants individuals to return to work when it’s convenient for them.
“You cannot force someone to return if they are not ready in order to truly accommodate them,” he said. “I believe that’s a choice that families make on an individual and personal basis. Some folks lost everything—their houses, their loved ones, and everything else.”
He envisions downtown as having broader streets and a higher volume of foot circulation from neighborhood pedestrians.
“It’s difficult to resist thinking about Old Lahaina,” he said. It’s really a lovely town.
The oldest church in Lahaina’s ministry concentrates on rehabilitating the chapel and gathering hall.
Anela Rosa, 64, the pastor of the oldest church in Lahaina, claims that Sundays are when the town’s natural beauty comes to life.
She stated, “I see people eating shaved ice, I see people walking, and I see people riding bikes.” As you go down the road, I observe individuals strumming ukuleles. I see contented individuals.
Some members of the Hawaiian royal family were laid to rest in Waiola Church, which had just celebrated its 200th birthday before flames destroyed its three structures. Rosa officiated Sunday services there, as well as marriages, memorial services, and festivities. It served as a meeting spot for individuals of all ages more than anything else.
Since then, she has been sharing sermons on Facebook as a way to stay in contact with her church.
She said that she was aware that Waiola would be rebuilt. But the planning seems distant as people concentrate on their pressing demands. Although she is unsure of the design, she is certain that she wants to restore at least two structures: a church and a community center.
“There’s no question in my mind that we will rebuild the church,” she said. “I believe it’s critical that we have a social hall in addition to our religious sanctuary. For get-togethers, neighborhood assemblies, birthday celebrations, festivities, and marriage ceremonies. Yes, that was really important.
A school leader and principal: Keeping the next generation in the community
Miguel Solis and Ryan Kirkham, the administrators of a West Maui school now populated with teachers and students who have lost everything, want to see a Lahaina developed with their children’s best interests in mind. In rebuilding the Lahaina where they will grow up, they aim to prioritize the needs of the youth, creating areas where they may utilize technology, be creative, and launch new businesses without having to move outside of the neighborhood.
Maui Preparatory Academy headmaster Kirkham said, “There’s a real movement to not re-create it, but modernize and rebuild it in a way that still honors its history.”
The dean of the school, Solis, envisions a booming economy that maintains residents, particularly Native Hawaiian families, in Lahaina by providing plenty of jobs and reasonably priced housing.
These are the individuals who bring the language, the past, and the stories with them. They call this home,” he said. “I want them to stay here. I want them to remain here. But if they don’t have employment or a place to live, it will be very tough.
The modest K–12 facility housed around 700 survivors the night of the fire, with classrooms ready for the start of classes. Dozens of families, some drenched in ash or dripping wet, were herded inside. Kirkham and Solis gave hundreds of people donated items throughout the course of the next several days.
King Kamehameha III Elementary in Lahaina was completely destroyed by fire after the smoke cleared. Despite surviving the fires, Lhainluna High, Lhain Intermediate, and Princess Nhi’ena’ena Elementary were unable to reopen owing to the quality of the air and water.
Maui Prep had 390 students instead of 275 when it eventually let them return two weeks later. Children who had been uprooted from all throughout Lahaina joined its ranks. As everyone deals with losses, Kirkham said, it’s been difficult. Right now, their main goal is to create an environment where the pupils can start to flourish once again.
We took our time going over the books. Kirkham said we only wanted to acquaint our returning kids with a little bit of normality before introducing them to the newcomers. We seem to have barely moved beyond the stage of, “Okay, do we have a roof over our heads? Are the next few months secure for us?
Concerned about having a “road to escape when there’s a fire again” in the future, the middle schooler
Since August, Francheska Vhiel Balete Misay, 12, has been living in hotels as temporary lodging. She has been so impacted by the fires that safety is now her top concern, just in case there is another one.
Because of this, the seventh-grader, who was raised in Lahaina, expressed her hope that safety will come first when her city is restored.
She told NBC News, “I want it to be the old Lahaina again, but safer.” “We have learned a lesson from the fire. The community would be stronger, we could construct it collectively, and there would be more routes for us to flee in the event of another fire.
Additionally, she sees stronger safety protocols implemented in schools, such as increased evacuation drills and better staff and student training to deal with natural catastrophes like fires.
Francheska said that when the flames started, she was in the Philippines visiting family. Her family has been considering relocating to a different state ever since they moved back to Hawaii. She stated that it would be sad to have to leave her homeland.
She said, “The day we left for the airport was the last time we were in my house.” “All we have left is what we packed in our suitcases.”
She claimed there’s no denying the flames that shaped her. She said that while she has always wanted to be a doctor or lawyer, she is now more driven than ever and hopes to one day support her community.
A Filipino immigrant expressed hope for additional multigenerational housing after their family of fifty was uprooted.
Since the fires separated and uprooted over fifty members of her direct and extended Filipino American family from their customary home base, 51-year-old Camille Serrano stated that mending has been challenging.
“I’m just going through the motions, trying to survive one day at a time,” she said.
Serrano, a native of Lahaina who immigrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1999, expressed her desire that the neighborhood will be rebuilt with more multigenerational, permanent homes accessible for Filipino families such as her own, allowing them to continue living communal lives. She clarified that in Filipino culture, spending time with loved ones and family is an essential component of both pleasure and mourning.
She said, “We want the next generation to value family and closeness just as much as we do.”
Living a short 5- to 10-minute drive from some of her siblings, Serrano expressed her desire to bring back their family customs.
“Sunday brunch was a simple family get-together and cookout that we used to enjoy. My mom’s home, which is also my house, would be the location if it weren’t at the beach, the woman said. “We just do that after mass, and all the grandchildren come and love to do karaoke in the style of a typical Filipino.”
It has been difficult, she added, since her loved ones are dispersed over the island and they are all presently facing housing instability.
She sobbed as she continued, “We are very close.” “I’m a very straightforward guy. All I want to do is check how things were before.
Preservationists repairing buildings from the Hawaiian Kingdom era are optimistic about constructing upon the coral and lava rock foundations left by the previous monarch
There are traces of King Kamehameha III’s tolerance for a wide variety of architectural styles all across Lahaina. For instance, the Baldwin House, the oldest home on the island of Maui, wasn’t only constructed of wood. Stone was used on its walls; coral and lava rock were used in their creation. Because of the king’s architectural vision, some of these buildings from the Hawaiian Kingdom, which existed from 1795 until 1893, may be rebuilt.
It is the nonprofit Lahaina Restoration Foundation’s goal to preserve and maintain Lahaina’s history and cultural legacy, and Kimberly Flook, deputy executive director, expressed her hope that many of the significant historical buildings would be saved.
“The bones of certain structures from every period are still visible. Thus, they are able to be restored, according to Flook. “That doesn’t mean we didn’t lose the five to seven hundred other wooden buildings without stone elements that we probably lost, but it does mean that we can continue to interpret these time periods for almost every [historical era represented] in the town.”
The Lahaina Customs and Courthouse, which was once the hub of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and the Masters Reading Room, which functioned as a kind of gentleman’s club retreat during the Missionary Era, are two examples of ancient buildings that have survived.
According to Flook, restoring the buildings would probably require a significant financial and time commitment, necessitating the assistance of construction companies, architects, and engineers with experience in historic restoration projects. With the exception of certain places that could be modified to take climate change into consideration, she said, the buildings will probably be reconstructed using the same materials that have been used historically. This implies that in addition to more recent materials authorized for repair, most of the structures will still have older components, including shingled roofs, coral and lava rock, lime mortar, and wooden floors and stairwells.
However, Flook said that in the end, she’s willing to back the course that Native Hawaiian leaders believe is most effective in preserving the Hawaiian narrative.
“It’s crucial to emphasize the Hawaiian culture, or what we refer to as the ‘host culture.'” More so than before,” she said.
An entrepreneur: Going back to a mom-and-pop Front Street
Rick Nava, 64, is a community leader, business owner, and immigrant from the Philippines who has lived in Lahaina for the majority of his life. He tends to gaze back rather than ahead when imagining what the renovated town would look like.
The Hawaii Small Business Development Center reports that 600 Maui firms have closed after the August 8 fires.
He believes Lahaina will be rebuilt with the local community in mind, much like the one he grew up in. He imagines the town full of Hawaiians once again and Front Street lined with mom-and-pop shops.
He said, “At the moment, the majority of the stores there are geared toward tourists.” “For the last several years, we’ve only visited Front Street when a friend of ours is in Lahaina.There is horrible parking and a fee associated with parking. Simply put, being there isn’t convenient.
In August, Nava was fleeing a burning Lahaina when he saw flames begin to lick his roof. He has been living on the other side of the island for the last several months due to the fire that destroyed his house, which he has called home since he was ten years old. He said that the only way to go ahead is to get people back into town.
As a member of the mayor’s advisory committee, which was formed after the fires, he has proposed concepts such as bringing back to Lahaina those who were forced to flee to shelters after losing their homes.
Housing is a top concern for us. Everything else will take a backseat, he said. “We must get people back.”
The Tourism Authority is advocating for more agrotourism so that travelers may give back while they are there.
According to the Hawai’i Tourism Authority, things may become greener and kinder in the future.
The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s public relations officer, Ilihia Gionson, said in October that government representatives would work to create more agrotourism opportunities—where guests may experience the local agricultural practices while earning money for the farmer or company owner.
According to Gionson, this may include doing things like supporting the upkeep or restoration of customary Hawaiian fish ponds, where guests can eat the fish later in the day.
“How can we help that farmer create an experience that will help the farm become more profitable, help that farmer hire more workers, and help that farmer grow more food?” he said.
According to Gionson, tourism plays a big role in the local economy, supporting around 40% of employment on Maui via tourist spending. $3.5 billion was spent by 1.5 million tourists on the island in the first half of 2023. He acknowledged, however, that there have been complaints about visitors in a Lahaina that is still struggling to find homes and meet its basic requirements.
“There’s no denying that tourism plays a significant role in Maui life today. It is up to the residents of Lahaina to decide whether or not that holds true for that area going forward, according to Gionson. They are still in the process of mourning. They’re still getting better. The most crucial aspect of reconstructing anything is helping and encouraging the people of Lahaina before anybody gets into any technicalities.
A state representative: is seeking to rebuild trust in local governance
Elle Cochran, a representative for Lahaina in the Hawaii House of Representatives, returned to her townhouse the day after the fires and hasn’t gone back. She claims to have seen precisely what her Native Hawaiian community needs and will be assisting in the coordination of relief operations in the coming weeks.
She said, “A lot of people have just lost faith in government right now.” “I represent the state and myself as one of them.”
She claims that in her capacity as a representative and a native Hawaiian, she is attempting to revive some of that religion. She wants Lahaina locals to take ownership of their own recovery in order to achieve this. She urged them to heal at their own speed, free from the weight of having to serve visitors, and go back to work soon.
“Are our employees prepared to return and assist guests? Put on a joyful expression and act like Mr. and Mrs. Aloha. Not at all, she said.
She advised a gradual opening that takes into account the requirements and preparedness of the population. She emphasized that more communication and attention to local concerns should be the goals for everyone, from the state to the county.
Before deciding to reopen West Maui on October 8, the governor did not confer with the local officials, according to Cochran. Cochran wrote to Gov. Josh Green and the state senator from Lahaina, requesting a postponement of the opening, but she claims she received no reply.
In response to NBC News’ inquiries about Green’s interactions with residents during the calamity, Green’s administration shifted attention to the governor’s news appearances after the flames.
Cochran said, “He just pretended like it never happened and said nothing.”
For the people she serves, she wants to see her city restored with a fresh emphasis on farming, becoming stronger and more sustainable. In her vision, family enterprises will be at the forefront, with tiny farms, native plants, and ulu trees adorning the mountains below Lahaina.
A local mother with a one-year-old: only want to provide a lovely Christmas for the local children
For 29-year-old Caitlyn Kuskowski, raising her child in the Lahaina mother community is an experience unlike any other. She said that since the flames destroyed her house and caused her to move back in with her parents in Michigan, all she has been doing is attempting to restore some normality for her 1-year-old son and the children who lost much more.
She described the neighborhood as being really close-knit and that everyone was always willing to lend a hand.
She launched a program to provide Christmas presents to displaced Lahaina children because she wants that feeling of community to continue even if they are now separated by an ocean.
Three hundred families have already been paired with sponsors via her Facebook page, “Adopt a Lahaina Keiki,” who will purchase presents from their lists for Christmas. Whether the families are staying in a motel, a shelter, or a relative’s house, Kuskowski is organizing the delivery of those presents to them.
She said, “Seeing how basic these kids’ wish lists are is really humbling.” “Because they have had such severe effects in the last several months. Many clothing items, notebooks, a small camera, and other items from their previous possessions.
She claims she wants to preserve Lahaina’s spirit for her son and future children who will grow up there, even though she is aware that many people on the mainland are in worse situations than she is.
“These kids are young for a brief period of time,” she said. “I pray that they can stay in a community that values aloha and encourages a life of simplicity and thankfulness.”
