Good evening, Hawaii. Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator, Herman Andaya, who Wednesday said he didn’t regret not sounding sirens when the Maui wildfires were approaching Lahaina, resigned today, citing health reasons. The Hawaii State Senate will convene for a special session to review judicial appointments. Read about the important stories you need to know.
Your Weather Planner
Drier, more stable air is moving into the region through Friday which will help lower local rain chances. Winds will be weaker through this weekend as the ridge to our north weakens. Beginning Sunday, increasing tropical moisture from the remnants of Fernanda will move into the state from east to west. Humidity and rainfall chances will increase for all islands beginning late Sunday through Tuesday night, especially for Maui and Hawaii Island.
Watch the latest news from across the country.
Today's Big Stories
1. Embattled Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Herman Andaya resigns
Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Herman Andaya resigned on Thursday, according to a Maui County news release. He cited health concerns.
“Given the gravity of the crisis we are facing, my team and I will be placing someone in this key position as quickly as possible and I look forward to making that announcement soon,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said.
After the wildfires on Maui killed more than 100 people, Andaya has been at the center of questions about where he was at the time of the disaster and why sirens weren’t sounded.
On Wednesday at a news conference, Andaya addressed the media for the first time and said he did not regret his decision not to activate emergency sirens at the onset of the fires.
Andaya said it is not standard protocol for his department to activate sirens for brush fires and instead used an alert system to send alerts via text, voicemail, television, and radio. However, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency’s website lists an array of uses for the sirens, which includes wildfires.
During the press conference, Andaya also responded to questions about his qualifications for his position, raised by a recent Honolulu Civil Beat article. He said he was the deputy director of the Department of Housing and Human Concerns and the mayor’s chief of staff for 11 years.
Another Honolulu Civil Beat article questioned why Andaya was on Oahu at the time of the wildfires. Later, Hawaii News Now reported he was in Waikiki attending a FEMA disaster preparedness seminar called the Pacific Partnership Meeting.
2. Andaya defends decision not to sound emergency sirens
Facing increasing criticism for his decision not to activate emergency sirens at the onset of the Maui fires, former Maui Emergency Management Agency administrator Herman Andaya said Wednesday that he does not regret the decision.
“I do not,” he said, during a media briefing on Wednesday.
Andaya said it is not standard protocol for his department to activate sirens for brush fires and it instead used the modes of communication it felt were more effective in the situation.
“The state-owned outdoor siren system is a tool that we can use and we’ve used it in the past,” Andaya said. “The system has not been used in Maui or in other jurisdictions around the state.”
According to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency's website, "the all-hazard siren system can be used for a variety of both natural and human-caused events; including tsunamis, hurricanes, dam breaches, flooding, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, terrorist threats, hazardous material incidents and more."
Andaya also responded to questions about his qualifications for his position, raised by a recent Honolulu Civil Beat article.
Andaya noted that he was the deputy director of the Department of Housing and Human Concerns and the mayor’s chief of staff for 11 years.
Andaya also cited the “very arduous” vetting process, which included interviews with experienced emergency managers, that ultimately led to his selection for the job.
3. Senate to hold special session for judicial appointments
The state Senate will convene a special session to review the judicial appointments of four nominees.
The Senate Committee on Judiciary will take up the appointments of Erika Ireland, Robert Brown and David Hayakawa to the District Court of the First Circuit and Jordon Kimura to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit on Aug. 21 at 9 a.m.
Anyone wishing to testify should use the Legislature's website to submit written testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. While submitting written testimony, testifiers will be prompted to indicate if they would also like to testify at the hearing in person or remotely via videoconference. Additional information and details are on the Legislature's website.
4. Maui residents fill philanthropic gaps while aid makes the long journey to the fire-stricken island
Volunteers on Maui have cobbled together countless improvised, urgent solutions like the insulin shipment in response to the country’s deadliest wildfire in over a century, which has killed more than 100 people and displaced thousands. Nonprofit groups struggle to deliver aid to the second-farthest state from the U.S. mainland, while mutual aid groups and local businesses help fill the cracks.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency opened its first disaster recovery center on Maui on Wednesday, the same day traffic resumed on a major road. In the initial days following the fire, officials scrambled to house thousands of displaced residents. Transportation and communications remained limited for days in impacted areas, which likely contributed to uncertainty for some residents about where to get assistance. Meanwhile, relief groups based on the U.S. mainland have contended with a major airport hamstrung by a deluge of departing tourists and arrivals toting assistance from afar.
But nonprofits and volunteers are ready to help.
Click on the link above to read the full story.
5. Hawaii is vowing to protect landowners on Maui from being pressured to sell after wildfires
Hawaii's governor vowed to protect local landowners from being “victimized” by opportunistic buyers when Maui rebuilds from deadly wildfires that incinerated a historic island community and killed more than 100 people.
Gov. Josh Green said Wednesday that he instructed the state attorney general to work toward a moratorium on land transactions in Lahaina, even as he acknowledged the move would likely face legal challenges.
“My intention from start to finish is to make sure that no one is victimized from a land grab,” Green said at a news conference. “People are right now traumatized. Please do not approach them with an offer to buy their land. Do not approach their families saying they’ll be much better off if they make a deal. Because we’re not going to allow it.”
Since flames consumed much of Lahaina just over week ago, locals have feared that a rebuilt town could become even more oriented toward wealthy visitors, according to Lahaina native Richy Palalay.
Hotels and condos “that we can’t afford to live in — that’s what we’re afraid of,” he said Saturday at a shelter for evacuees.
Your Notes for Tomorrow
Friday, August 18
- Hawaii Statehood Day
- State Employment and Unemployment report for July
- Joe Biden hosts trilateral leaders summit with Japanese PM and South Korean president
- Court hearing for suspect charged with Michigan school shooting
- Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis speak at The Gathering 2023
- GOP presidential candidates participate in 'Fair-Side Chats' at the Iowa State Fair
- What: Josh Tatofi with Special Guest Na Hoa
- Where: Blue Note Hawaii | Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, 2335 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu | 808-777-4890
- Details: Josh Tatofi performs with traditional Hawaiian music group Na Hoa presenting “Na Leo Hone O Hawaii,” The sweet and soft voices of Hawaii” in four remaining performances, 6 and 9 p.m. Aug. 17-18. Tickets.
- What: Maui Wildfires Benefit Series
- Where: Maui Arts & Cultural Center | One Cameron Way, Kahului | 808-242-7469
- Details: According to MACC, several upcoming concerts and events are now part of MACC’s Maui Wildfires Benefit Series to support the Maui community. Click on the following to learn more: Starry Night Cinemas on Aug. 18 (“Puss in Boots - The Last Wish”) and Aug. 19 (“Minions: The Rise of Gru”), both events will also be drop-off locations for the Maui Food Bank.
- What: Stephen Inglis Cuts the Dead Some Slack
- Where: Historic Palace Theater | 38 Haili St., Hilo | 808-934-7010
- Details: Grammy nominated and 2021 recipient of the Na Hoku Hanohano Ki Hoalu Legacy Award, Hawaiian slack key guitar artist Stephen Inglis takes audiences on a musical journey through the songbook of the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan and others, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18, tickets. A portion of the proceeds from the Aug. 18 performance will go toward supporting Maui residents. Second performance by the Stephen Inglis Project, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26, tickets.
- What: Friday Art Night
- Where: Hanapepe Town
- Details: Friday Art Night returns to Hanapepe, “Kauai’s Biggest Little Town,” 5-8 p.m. Whether in the mood to browse through art or other gifting goodies, satisfy a craving, or just wish to wander, you’ll enjoy your time in this friendly artsy town.
For more on these and other events, see this week's HI Out & About.
In Case You Missed It
Neal S. Blaisdell Center. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
What’s closed, open for Statehood Day 2023
Statehood Day is on Friday. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the state's 1959 admission to the United States of America. It is always celebrated on the third Friday in August.
Click the link above for a roundup of what's opened and closed for the City and County of Honolulu, Maui County, County of Kauai and the County of Hawaii.