KAHULUI, Hawaii — Maui County is considering three sites – two in West Maui and one in Central Maui – as permanent disposal sites for Lahaina wildfire ash and debris.

What You Need To Know

  • Officials are asking residents to participate in a survey to help guide the selection for the final site via an online survey that will close on Feb. 15

  • Individuals who need assistance to take the survey can stop by the Lahaina Disaster Resource Center in the Lahaina Civic Center and speak to county staff, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays

  • The survey is also available at the Kakoo Maui Resource Hub in Maui Mall operated by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

  • Eight initial locations were narrowed down to three

The Wahikuli area in Lahaina, Crater Village in Lahaina and Central Maui Landfill in Puunene are currently undergoing evaluations, according to a Maui County news release.

Mayor Richard Bissen has committed to not using Olowalu as a permanent disposal site. Though being temporarily stored there, once the permanent site has been selected and any needed construction completed, ash and debris will be transported to the new permanent site.

Officials are asking residents to participate in a survey to help guide the selection for the final site via an online survey that will close on Feb. 15. Results will be shared on Feb. 21. The target selection date for the permanent disposal site is March 1.

Individuals who need assistance to take the survey can stop by the Lahaina Disaster Resource Center in the Lahaina Civic Center and speak to county staff. They will be available 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Tuesdays through Thursdays. The survey is also available at the Kakoo Maui Resource Hub in Maui Mall operated by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.

In the release, officials said eight initial locations were narrowed down to three based on the following criteria:

  • Time to acquire land
  • Proximity to Lahaina (traffic congestion, public safety)
  • Access into and out of site (alternative access, turn movements)
  • Constructability
  • Surface water management
  • Adjacent property impacts
  • Distance to drinking water
  • Distance to residential areas, schools and hospitals
  • Natural and environmental concerns

The public’s initial concerns such as historic preservation, cultural sensitivity, distance to the coastline and wind direction were also considered.

A market research firm in Hawaii, Anthology Research, will conduct random samplings of the survey by phone and email. All responses are kept strictly confidential with not identifying information shared.

“The selection of a final debris site impacts all of us, and the County of Maui is committed to a safe, thorough and swift decision,” said Mayor Bissen in the release. “Mahalo to the community, as well as to our county, state and federal partners, along with our consultants, who have spent countless hours assessing locations for permanent debris storage. This decision will mark a key milestone in getting Lahaina owners back to their properties.”

Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.