Lahaina

Native Hawaiians aim to bring cultural sensitivity to Maui wildfire cleanup

5:12am March 20, 2024

A delicate cleanup is underway in historic Lahaina on Maui. Cultural monitors are working closely with federal officials to assure the process protects cultural and archeological artifacts.

Properties destroyed by wildfire sit behind signs advertising for a nearby Safeway that survived the fire, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii.

National

Heart of Hawaii's historic Lahaina reopens to residents and business owners

1:53am December 12, 2023

by The Associated Press

The historic town, on the Hawaiian island of Maui that burned in a deadly wildfire that killed at least 100 people, reopened Monday to residents and business owners holding day passes.

The Hawaii National Guard checks on a car passing the checkpoint on Kaniau Street on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii.

National

First of thousands of Lahaina residents return to homes destroyed by deadly wildfire

12:23am September 26, 2023

by The Associated Press

In the days after the Aug. 8 wildfire, some people were able to return to their properties to evaluate the damage. But since then, the burned area has been off-limits to all but authorized workers.

A group of volunteers with Maui Medic Healers Hui gather before heading out to help people affected by the fires in Lahaina.

Weeks after the fire, the response in Maui shifts from a sprint to a marathon

10:58am September 01, 2023

by Pien Huang

Officials and volunteers say addressing mental health needs and trauma will likely take years.

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A few tourists stand under a rainbow as the clouds clear at Haleakalā on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Though much of the island is untouched, tourism is down drastically.

On Maui, a desperate plea to tourists: Please return

1:16pm August 30, 2023

by Kirk Siegler

When the deadly wildfires ignited on Maui, tourists were turned away. Three weeks later, business owners are eager for them visit — responsibly.

Activist Kekai Keahi says Native Hawaiian trauma over losing land goes back generations to when the U.S. overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Lahaina was expensive before the fire. Some worry rebuilding will price them out

5:00am August 26, 2023

by Jennifer Ludden

Since the fire residents have gotten multiple calls from realtors offering to buy their land. Activists want a role in planning, to keep developers from pushing out those who call Lahaina home.

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The fire that devastated historic Lahaina in western Maui left a red-roofed house relatively unscathed. Its owner says he wants to open the house to the neighborhood to help the rebuilding process.

National

'Miracle house' owner hopes it will serve as a base for rebuilding Lahaina

5:00am August 24, 2023

by Bill Chappell

"There was a neighbor who sent a note to us and said, 'Oh, you won the lottery,'" Trip Millikin, whose house survived, told NPR. "And I almost wanted to throw up when I got that."

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. visits a distribution center at Lahaina Crossing. A deadly wildfire destroyed the city of Lahaina, Maui.

Massive mental health toll in Maui wildfires: 'They've lost everything'

5:34am August 21, 2023

by Eric Westervelt

Officials in Hawaii are scrambling to support the enormous and growing mental health needs of Maui residents traumatized by the deadliest wildfire in modern history

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Pastor Estrella Arquero leads Koinonia Pentecostal Church with her husband. There are at least 20 church members sleeping in the parish hall because they lost their homes in the fire.

A Filipino congregation took in its own members after their Lahaina homes burned

3:37pm August 18, 2023

by Jason DeRose

The devastating fires on Maui burned more than 2,000 homes and buildings in Lahaina. Many churches have taken in their congregants because they have nowhere to go.

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Uilani (left) and Keeamoku Kapu run the Na 'Aikane o Maui Cultural and Research Center which was burned to the ground in the wildfires so they set up this grassroots community distribution center in Lahaina. They are on the phone here taking a call from Oprah about supplies she will be delivering.

Priceless connections to Hawaii's ancient past were lost when cultural center burned

3:15pm August 18, 2023

by Jonaki Mehta

As people grapple with more than 100 people who died in the Lahaina fire on Maui, they're still trying to understand the loss of priceless artifacts and their connections to the island's ancient past.

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