HONOLULU– As Maui continues to recover from the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, Hawaii officials are trying to prevent another similar disaster as the state heads into what is expected to be a dry, fire-prone season, Gov. Josh Green said Friday in declaring Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction Preparedness Month.
The August 8, 2023 wildfire destroyed much of the city of Lahaina and killed 101 people.
Of the approximately 3,000 displaced households, about 600 still need to find longer-term housing, Green said. More than 60 people have applied for “One Ohana,” a $175 million fund named after the Hawaiian word for family, to compensate the families of murdered people, he said.
“We have now passed nine months since the tragedy, and today is day 276,” Green said. “Most people have now gone through a lot of recovery and healing. But there are still people struggling with where they are.”
Climate change has exacerbated drought conditions in Hawaii, desiccating the archipelago’s vegetation and increasing the risk of devastating fires. Wildfires were once rare in Hawaii, but their frequency has increased in recent years.
Green warned of a ‘very dry season’. Officials highlighted efforts to prepare for wildfires, including expanding a network of remote weather stations, getting approval from a state fire marshal and encouraging neighborhoods to work together to be recognized as “Firewise” communities.
State Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen described the agency’s actions, which included surveying evacuation routes and planting native, drought-resistant vegetation.
Honolulu Emergency Management Director Hiro Toiya encouraged residents to have go-bags ready for quick evacuations, with items such as essential documents and extra underwear.
“And I’m not being funny, just bring extra underwear,” he said. “That can really make a difference in terms of your quality of life in the immediate aftermath of the emergency.”
The new head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, Amos Lonokailua-Hewett, was expected to be among the officials at Friday’s news conference. But with thunderstorm warnings from the National Weather Service, “he chose to stay behind, just in case,” said James Barros, administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
