Last week Tuesday, homeowner Thomas Liu and the Upcountry community gathered to commemorate the first home to be rebuilt after the August 2023 wildfire with a blessing, according to a Maui County release.

What You Need To Know

  • “It’s not a time to celebrate any individual milestone, but rather a symbol of signs of the beginning of a devastated community’s long-awaited recovery,” Liu said to neighbors, contractors, volunteers and friends who gathered for the blessing

  • Liu encouraged other property owners seeking to rebuild to be persistent and patient

  • In Kula, 26 properties were impacted by the 2023 wildfires

  • As of last week, the Recovery Permit Center had issued four building permits in Kula and another nine are being reviewed, per the release

Final inspections for the two-bedroom, 860-square-foot cottage were completed the week prior, and Liu, 83, will be moving out of a rental and into the cottage while work continues to rebuild the main house on his Kulalani Drive property.

During the blessing, which was conducted by Kumu Kaponoʻai Molitau, director of the County Office of ʻŌiwi Resources, Liu said his rebuild isn’t a reflection of any one person. Instead, it represents the efforts of the Upcountry community coming together.

“It’s not a time to celebrate any individual milestone, but rather a symbol of signs of the beginning of a devastated community’s long-awaited recovery,” Liu said to neighbors, contractors, volunteers and friends who gathered for the blessing.

“August 8, 2023, until today — it's been 15 months. We went through hell together. I only survived because of the love, generosity, kindness, support of family, friends, strangers and federal and local government,” Liu said.

Liu encouraged other property owners seeking to rebuild to be persistent and patient. “There are so many different things. You’ve got to be able to organize,” he said.

“This is another significant sign of progress in our recovery,” said Mayor Richard Bissen at the blessing. “The spirit of resiliency of our Upcountry residents is evident today with yet another completed home following the tragic fires last year. With the help of many hands, including our federal and community partners, residents are proving that dedication and commitment can lead to accomplishment that exceeds our expectations.” 

According to the release, Liu was one of the first property owners to go through the debris removal process conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through FEMA. His applications for building permits were submitted before Maui County opened its Recovery Permit Center under its emergency building permit process. The building permit was issued in June, the same month construction began and final inspections were completed through the Recovery Permit Center.

The blessing for Liu’s cottage follows a blessing held earlier for the first rebuilt home in the Lahaina Disaster Area belonging to longtime Lahaina residents Mau and Ariel Ah Hee and their two young sons.

In Kula, 26 properties were impacted by the 2023 wildfires. As of last week, the Recovery Permit Center had issued four building permits in Kula and another nine are being reviewed, per the release.

Rebuilding is being done under Maui County’s emergency building permit process enacted on March 11, 2024, through Ordinance 5629.