2023-12-29 09:00:00
The heart of the historic town destroyed in a deadly wildfire is reopening to local people and business owners, marking an important emotional milestone. However, much work remains to be done to safely clear debris and rebuild
By Audrey McAvoy. Photographs by Lindsey Wasson/Associated Press
Fri 29 Dec 2023 09.00 GMT
The heart of Lahaina, the historic town on the Hawaiian island of Maui that burned in a deadly wildfire that killed at least 100 people, has reopened to local people and business owners holding day passes.
The renewed access marks an important emotional milestone for victims of the 8 August fire, but much work remains to be done to safely clear debris and rebuild.
The Rev Ai Hironaka, resident minister of the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, visits his temple and residence destroyed by the wildfire on 7 December Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/AP
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Above: The Rev Ai Hironaka, resident minister of the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, walks in the parking lot as he visits his temple and residence destroyed by the wildfire. Right: a sign for victims of the deadly wildfire hangs over the Lahaina bypass highway. Below left and right: Hironaka picks up a golf club and ashes he found in his home.
A sign for victims of a deadly wildfire hangs over the Lahaina bypass highway Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APHironaka displays one of his golf clubs Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APHironaka picks up ashes of burned records Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/AP
The renewed access marks an important emotional milestone for victims of the fire, but much work remains to be done to safely clear properties of burned debris and rebuild.
The reopened areas include Banyan Tree Park – home to a 150-year-old tree that burned in the fire but that is now sprouting new leaves – Lahaina’s public library, an elementary school and popular restaurants.
The remains of Old Lahaina Courthouse seen behind the 150-year-old banyan tree Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APNew growth on the 150-year-old banyan tree Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/AP
An oceanfront section of Front Street, where the fire ripped through a traffic jam of cars trying to escape town, reopened on Friday.
Authorities are continuing to recommend that people entering scorched areas wear protective clothing to shield them from hazards.
Hironaka looks at debris where the altar once stood in the grounds of his temple Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APHironaka in the grounds of his temple and residence Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APHironaka visits the grounds of his temple and residence Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APHironaka visits the grounds of his temple and residence Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/AP
On Sunday, the state health department released test results confirming the ash and dust left by the fire is toxic and that arsenic is the biggest concern. Arsenic is a heavy metal that adheres to wildfire dust and ash, the department said.
The tests examined ash samples collected on 7-8 November from 100 properties built from the 1900s to the 2000s. Samples also showed high levels of lead, which was used to paint houses built before 1978.
A notice declaring the Waiola church as unsafe to enter Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APA US Army Corps of Engineers sign shows what surveys and assessments have been completed at the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APA flyer noting a property has undergone hazardous material removal Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APA sign and barricades redirect traffic around a checkpoint into the burn zone Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/AP
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Clockwise from top left: A notice declaring the Waiola church as unsafe to enter; a US Army Corps of Engineers sign shows what surveys and assessments have been completed at the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission; a sign and barricades redirect traffic around a checkpoint into the burn zone; a flyer noting a property has undergone hazardous material removal
The cleanup is still in its early stages. For the past few months, the US Environmental Protection Agency has been removing batteries, propane tanks, pesticides and other hazards from the town’s more than 2,000 destroyed buildings.
Local people and business owners have been able to visit their properties after the EPA has finished clearing their lots. In some cases, residents – often wearing white full-body suits, masks and gloves – have found family heirlooms and mementoes after sifting through the charred rubble of their homes.
A destroyed car near the remains of the Masters’ Reading Room in burn zone 11A Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/AP
The US Army Corps of Engineers will begin hauling away the remaining debris and take it to a landfill after it gets permission from property owners.
Melted signs in the remains of the Wharf Cinema Center parking area in burn zone 11A Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APThe remains of the King Kamehameha III elementary school in zone 12A Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APA broken mug in the debris of the social hall of the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APThe town of Lahaina Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/APDestroyed homes and businesses Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/AP
The EPA and the state’s health department have installed 53 air monitors in Lahaina and upcountry Maui, where a separate fire burned homes in early August. The department is urging people to avoid outdoor activity when monitor levels show elevated air pollution and to close windows and doors.
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