Lahaina reopens to residents, business owners after deadly wildfire
The center of Lahaina, a historic town in Maui, Hawaii, began reopening to residents and business owners Monday, more than three months since a deadly wildfire ripped through island and killed at least 100 people.
Areas that reopened this week included the Banyan Tree Park, where the 150-year-old banyan tree burned in the August wildfires takes up more than an acre of land on the town’s historic Front Street, The Associated Press reported. The tree began showing signs of recovery in September, with a few sprouts growing.
Lahaina’s public library, an elementary school and some restaurants also reopened.
Cleanup efforts are still in the beginning phases, AP reported, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works to remove batteries, propane tanks, pesticides and more from the 2,000-plus destroyed buildings in Lahaina.
The Hawaii Department of Health published results Sunday showing increased levels of toxic substances including arsenic, lead and copper recovered in the wildfire’s ash. The testing took ash samples collected Nov. 7-8 from 100 properties in Lahaina, the Health Department said.
Some residents and business owners have been able to visit their properties following the EPA’s cleanup, with residents often wearing full-body suits, masks and gloves to sift through the debris, AP reported.
Once property owners give permission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will start hauling the remaining debris to a landfill.
The USACE said it is also helping construct a temporary elementary school in Lahaina, with construction slated to finish in February, before it’s handed over to the Department of Education for furnishing and telecommunication equipment installation. The USACE is also leading the design of some temporary housing sites for those displaced.
West Maui fully reopened to tourism at the beginning of November, with the exception of Lahaina. The Maui County mayor’s office at the time said the decision came after discussions with local businesses, residents and the American Red Cross, NewsNation reported. NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.
State tourism officials told NewsNation last month that they hope the reopening will help bring financial stability to the island following the wide-scale devastation of the wildfire.
August’s wildfire killed at least 100 people, making it the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century.
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