Maui County announced the remaining fire debris from the August 2023 wildfire has been removed from 148 commercial properties in Lahaina ahead of the Feb. 25 deadline thanks to a partnership between the county, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and federal, state and local contractors and agencies.
Property owners can now apply for building permits as part of the next phase in the rebuilding process.
Residential properties were cleared at the end of August 2024. A total of 1,538 residential and commercial properties have been cleared of wildfire debris.
Before the end of the month, soil sampling and steps to control erosion will be implemented on the last two commercial properties to ensure environmental safety before they are transferred back to the county.
“The completion of debris removal from Lahaina’s commercial properties marks another critical milestone in our community’s recovery,” Mayor Richard Bissen said in a release. “This milestone not only paves the way for rebuilding businesses but also restores hope for owners, workers and families who depend on them. We remain committed to supporting our residents as we rebuild Lahaina together.”
Bissen expressed his gratitude for the expedited efforts of USACE and partners.
“This marks an important step in recovery that wouldn’t have been achieved without the dedication of our community partners and the public’s trust,” said USACE Recovery Field Office Commander, Lt. Col. Joseph Kendall. “Completion of debris removal is a vital step towards recovery and is essential in the overall rebuilding process.”
With debris removal complete, the county’s focus shifts to transporting roughly 400,000 tons of debris from the West Maui Temporary Disposal Storage site in Olowalu to the Permanent Disposal Site at the Central Maui Landfill.
March 17 is the date Maui County will complete the first of a two-phase plan to construct the PDS at the landfill. Based on this date, USACE anticipates moving material to the PDS once the permanent site’s construction is completed in June, estimating it will take about five months to safely haul nearly 400,000 tons of debris.
“We are fully committed to ensuring that the debris is moved from the temporary site to the permanent disposal site as quickly and safely as possible,” said Bissen. “Our partnership with federal agencies is critical in making this happen efficiently, and we will continue to push for the swift completion of this process. We made a promise to the Olowalu community, and we intend to keep it by prioritizing the responsible and timely relocation of the debris.”
