The Maui Fires In Photos: May 2024

The Legislature, then Maui County, took big steps toward phasing out short-term rentals to increase the housing stock for residents, 13,000 of whom were displaced by the Aug. 8 fires. Work continued on two group housing sites. The County Council ironed out most of the overall budget. And cleanup continued in Lahaina.

By The Civil Beat Staff / June 2, 2024

The Legislature passed a major bill to give Hawaii’s counties more power to regulate short-term rentals with an eye toward freeing up more housing for residents. House Finance Committee Chair Kyle Yamashita of Maui spoke with reporters after the May 1 floor session as House Speaker Scott Saiki, right, listened. (Chad Blair/Civil Beat/2024)

The day after state lawmakers passed the vacation rental bill, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, flanked by members of the grassroots group Lahaina Strong and county staff, announced a bill that would eliminate more than 7,000 short-term rentals on Maui by 2026. (Cammy Clark/Civil Beat/2024)

Lahaina Strong has held multiple rallies for dignified housing since the Aug. 8 wildfires displaced about 13,000 people. The group hopes the bill to phase out about half of the county’s short-term rentals will provide more housing opportunities for those affected by the fires and others. (Cammy Clark/Civil Beat/2024)

Maui Planning DIrector Kate Blystone said the Planning Commission meeting June 25 to discuss the short-term rentals bill will be held in the council chambers to accommodate more people. She and other officials have said the initiative will be a big deal, and many are expected to testify. (Cammy Clark/Civil Beat/2024)

Nearly 90% of the owners of units at the Kamaole Sands complex in South Maui live on the mainland. The apartments would be heavily impacted by county efforts to move them into the long-term rental market. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)

The Kamaole Sands apartments in Kihei are primarily used for short-term rentals which the county is proposing transitioning to long-term rentals in part to help house survivors of the Maui fires. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Kaanapali is one of many resorts that was still housing Aug. 8 wildfire survivors in May through FEMA’s emergency sheltering program. (Cammy Clark/Civil Beat/2024)

Temporary group housing projects for fire survivors have broken ground behind the Wahikuli neighborhood in north Lahaina. The state project is 450 units and the neighboring FEMA project is 169 units. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)

The two group housing sites sit on a combined 1,128-acre property that was intended to be a residential development called Villages of Leilalii but for various reasons that project had stalled. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)

Neither group housing project is expected to be completed before FEMA stops paying for survivors to stay in hotels through its emergency program, now set to expire June 10 thanks to another extension in May. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)

The Maui County Council came to an agreement on many items in May that are contained in the overall spending plan for the county for fiscal year 2025, which starts July 1. That included additional money for fire, police and housing that were spurred by the Aug. 8 fires. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)

Money from tourists, like those enjoying Kamaole Beach Park in Kihei in May, will continue to drive much of Maui’s economy along with income from property taxes, particularly those part-time residents who own second homes on island. But tourism was still down significantly in May since the fires. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)

Housing, both the lack thereof and the high cost, continued to dominate much of the public discussion in May at community meetings, coffee shops and elsewhere. One project mauka of Lahaina was making progress. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)

Contractors for the Army Corps of Engineers had cleared at least 500 properties by the end of May in Lahaina, including these situated between Honoapiilani Highway and Front Street. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)

Of the 2,200 or so properties destroyed by the Aug. 8 fires in Lahaina, only 21 had not taken any action regarding the removal of fire debris as of mid May. Residents can take advantage of the Corps’s free removal program or apply to do it themselves. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)

Commercial debris continued to pile up in May next to the Pioneer Mill in Lahaina. The Corps awarded a $159 million contract to Hui Huliau Technology Services in March to clean up about 140 commercial and public buildings destroyed by the fire. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat/2024)

Mario Siatris went to his fire-ravaged property on Mela Street in Lahaina to watch the Army Corps of Engineers-led debris removal process play out. (Brittany Lyte/Civil Beat/2024)

Hawaii State Teachers Association members from Lahaina took time in May to speak out about the continued mental and logistical challenges they face. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2024)

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