Ann emergency housing declaration in the state of Hawaii The policy, announced in July by Gov. Josh Greene, a Democrat, as the island rebuilds after the devastating wildfires that devastated the town of Lahaina, contradicts the wishes of Maui residents.
The declaration suspends several housing provisions, including historic preservation, environmental review, sunshine, and collective bargaining laws. This is a move to address ballooning costs and will be replaced by rules that allow rapid development and construction of new housing units.
At the Maui County Council meeting Thursday, dozens of locals said the proclamation could hamper future recovery efforts in Lahaina, Honolulu Civil Beat report.
Chief Housing Officer Nani Medeiros said the town will not make any decisions based on the declaration until the community is ready.
A task force and other government officials are conducting an assessment to identify government and private land on which new housing could be built to house Lahaina fire survivors.
“Infrastructure is the biggest challenge,” Medeiros said. As for new construction, he said, “Meetings with local residents, those who have actually experienced displacement, are key to any decision.”
Meanwhile, residents are encouraging the return of tourists to boost economic activity.
“Another way to show your support for Maui is to come here,” local disc jockey Forrest told Manao Radio. reported by NPR. “Maui’s economy is dependent on tourism, so not going now will only make matters worse.”
Despite the destruction of Lahaina, 730 square miles of Maui (about 75% of the island) was unaffected by the recent wildfires. Tourism makes up a large part of Maui’s economy.
