The Aftermath of the Maui Wildfire

by Will Espero

The Hawaii Legislature has convened, and many issues will once again be discussed and debated in the big square building on Beretania Street.

Many of the bills from the last session are still alive for consideration, and a plethora of new bills have been introduced by your lawmakers.

Issues such as education, economic development and jobs, homelessness, affordable housing, cost of living in Hawaii, public safety and crime, transportation and mobility, healthcare, and tourism will always be on the table.

A slew of new issues and ideas will also be presented for possible legislation, and the island of Maui is certainly on all the legislators’ minds.

The Maui wildfire will be high on the list of priorities as government leaders evaluate the situation and try to make certain a calamity of this magnitude never happens again.

Prevention will be an important discussion as reports have surfaced that more could have been done by the government prior to the wildfire. One Maui County report after a previous Maui wildfire did warn officials that much work needed to be done to prevent future fires.

The actions or inaction of Maui County government officials should certainly be reviewed and investigated by our lawmakers.

Water use decisions, weed, and land management, emergency response issues, communication amongst government officials, electrical issues, and clean-up efforts are some of the items that should garner our lawmaker’s attention.

The matter of how to proceed from here and rebuild Lahaina will be, at times, very controversial and contentious in my opinion.

I suspect the cost to rebuild will be in the billions and be shared by the state government, the federal government, the county government, insurance companies, and the private sector.

Several wealthy celebrities like The Rock, Oprah Winfrey, and Jeff Bezos have already pledged to help and assist, and their charity will certainly be welcomed. In the end, government funded by our tax dollars will likely pay for the majority of the rebuild and recovery.

What, when, and how will be debated as many people have multiple points of view. Government must conduct open and transparent meetings and hearings, and the needs and wants of the local West Maui community must be taken into consideration at every step.

The voices of the residents of the homes and businesses lost must be heard and listened to. I believe a fully recovered Lahaina will take at least 20 years to complete and maybe many more years thereafter.

Funding, the economic climate, legal issues and lawsuits, and government leadership will determine the pace of things to come. Governor Green has already taken a hard, firm position on short-term rentals versus long-term rentals, and this is good as more Maui homes are needed immediately.

Second investment homes owned by locals and non-Hawaii residents can help with the lack of housing issues.

The governor and our lawmakers also seemed poised to pass a one-time $25 per visitor climate impact fee which is expected to raise $68 million per year, and some of these funds are expected to go to wildfire mitigation and Lahaina’s recovery.

Talk of raising the transient accommodations tax or hotel room tax has come up, but the tourism industry appears to be against this thought.

Unfortunately, a few residents may want to relocate and leave Lahaina or Maui, and these individuals and families must not have government red tape, government indecision, or poor leadership hamper or delay their decisions.

This is a deeply personal and private matter, and the government must do everything it can to assist in a smooth, stressless transition. Of course, this is easier said than done, but residents must know government is the helper and not the impediment or obstacle.

If someone does want to sell their residential lot or property, I hope the government can expedite the process and assist in the transaction. Protections against scammers and conmen must be in place.

For those who want to stay and rebuild, patience will be needed. Because of the magnitude of the destruction, it will take time to slowly move forward. It can and will be done, but we all know how the pace of government can be.

The good news is a landfill in Maui has been chosen for waste and debris, and the clean-up efforts are progressing forward. Some are not happy with the choice, but these are the hard decisions our government leaders must make after careful thought and community input.

Because of the deaths, devastation, and emotions involved, the recent Maui wildfire incident is a sensitive and touchy matter.

The clean-up, rebuilding, and recovery will not happen overnight, and there will be anger, indignation, disgust, and annoyance targeted at those involved in the renaissance of Lahaina. For the government officials involved during and after the fire, please understand what and who was lost during this tragic and horrific disaster.

Accountability and responsibility are important matters that must be addressed, and the public expects nothing short of truth, openness, and transparent conversations to follow.

WILL ESPERO retired from the Hawaii legislature after serving 19 years in the state House of Representatives and state Senate. He is currently a novelist, poet, and supporter of the arts. Lingering Thoughts provides a glimpse of his perspective on current events and issues.