The Maui Fires In Photos: December 2023

Families were growing weary of shuttling from hotel to hotel four months after the fire, while officials looked for more ways to provide financial relief to Lahaina residents. The governor weighed a moratorium on short-term rentals and some fire survivors began to plan for a future outside of Hawaii.

By The Civil Beat Staff / December 31, 2023

In early December, the Maui County Council agreed to pass a tax initiative recommended by Mayor Richard Bissen that would eliminate property taxes for short-term rental property owners who agreed to convert their rentals to long-term spaces for Maui fire victims. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023)

By the end of 2023, thousands of Maui fire victims were still shuffling between hotel rooms and other short-term housing. Maui County officials and Gov. Josh Green want to force short-term rental owners to take the displaced residents in and rent to them long term. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023)

Some Maui rental property owners say they stand to lose thousands of dollars on commitments already made to people who have reserved their properties months in advance. Like this woman, they don’t want to be “considered heartless” because they need the money and in many cases can’t afford to rent to fire victims. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023)

A new temporary King Kamehameha III Elementary School was going up in West Maui on property owned by controversial developer Paul Cheng, who is hoping to put in a housing project near by. The school was destroyed in the Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)

Maui residents continued to question whether it was safe to bury tons of debris from the Lahaina and Upcountry fires in the Olowalu landfill. County officials held community meetings to go over plans to keep the waste from leaking out. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023)

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, center, who has been reluctant to speak directly with media about the county’s fire response and questions about what the county is doing after the fires, attended a number of community meetings. He has appointed a committee of local residents to help advise him on recovery issues. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023)

Hundreds of Maui residents have been turning out for community meetings in the months after the fires. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2023)

Gov. Josh Green appointed Tyson Miyake as the new House member from Maui. He replaces Troy Hashimoto who was named the senator to replace Gil Keith-Agaran, who resigned to be more involved in his law practice. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)

Civil Beat took a road trip through Northern California to see what residents in communities that had survived devastating wildfires similar to the one in Lahaina could offer in the way of advice. Construction vehicles seem to outnumber passenger cars in quiet downtown Greenville, which is still in the early phases of rebuilding after the 2021 Dixie Fire.(Jessica Terrell/Civil Beat/2023)

Jane Braxton Little moved to Greenville five decades ago and has played an active role in community rebuilding efforts. She hopes more young families will be drawn to the area the way she was so many years ago. (Jessica Terrell/Civil Beat/2023)

A large eagle sculpture is the only thing left standing of the Greenville Rancheria’s clinic and tribal headquarters. (Jessica Terrell/Civil Beat/2023)

Shelby Leung shows staff of the Roundhouse Council renderings for the nonprofit’s new building. (Jessica Terrell/Civil Beat 2023)

Ron Proctor dresses for his duties as Santa Claus in what has become a very special year. Proctor has played Santa for more than 25 years but he lost his Lahaina home and belongings, including the hand-made Santa suit his daughter made, in the Aug. 8 fire. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)

Ron Proctor has the starring role on the Alii Nui Sunset Sail Santa Cruise out of Maalaea Harbor. This is “the most important year of all,” he says.(Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)

Proctor hugs Alii Nui crew member Chloe Marino after their Sunset Sail Sail Cruise. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)

Proctor reads a book to the keiki on the cruise. One of the most difficult parts of the job is wearing a traditional velvet and fur Santa suit in tropical weather. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)

The crew of the Alii Nui Sunset Sail Santa Santa Claus grabs a snack while elf Robin Brown takes the wrapped presents to the deck of the Alii Nui. The sunset cruise during the holidays becomes the Santa Cruise. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)

Ron Proctor talks with a Civil Beat reporter at his temporary residence at the Royal Lahaina Resort. “I tell people you don’t pay me to be Santa, you pay me to wear this beard on Maui in July and August when I’m trying to play golf and I’m trying to putt and sweat is literally dripping out of my beard. It’s like having a cat on your face.” (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)

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