Maui HI - fire disaster recovery September update
I know everyone wants an update about the state of things here on Maui. Honestly, it's out of my regular sphere of travel, and we haven't been over there as looky-loos so I have no first hand knowledge. There's plenty of images online, and that's a real eye opener. I think it's still going to hit me hard when I actually see it. The outpouring of help and financial aid has been tremendous, and it seems to be improving every day in every way. I'm really proud to call Maui my home.
Since I send out newsletters twice a month, I decided to share some of that... here's some of the things that were included in the Sept 1 newsletter:
(BTW, That's the Lahaina Gateway Center pictured above - a hub for supplies to be dropped off and picked up. This newer shopping center in Lahaina was spared from the fires and it's been a convenient spot to connect those in need with generous donations. Volunteers manage the logistics that help those who are affected and still living in the area north of the burn. FEMA and insurance personnel set up shop here and in other locations.)
Recovery update... It's been almost a month since the fires, and recovery efforts continue. It's going to be a long road. Local businesses and organizations are contributing in many ways. Hawaii Business Magazine has put together a comprehensive list that they keep updating. Maui Now also keeps an update of services offered to the fire victims, including some maps of the affected areas in Lahaina and Upcountry. Communications are vital after a disaster, and these local tech entities stepped in to provide much needed internet and telecommunications services, including Starlink.
There are plans to upgrade the air siren system and use them for fires in the future, as well as for tsunami warnings, but there won't be the usual monthly alert on Sept 1 this time due to a statewide 1 day vigil.
We need your help - come and visit. Thanks for all the support and love, but Maui still needs visitors to keep the economy going. Please don't cancel your trip here if you're on the fence. There are many other parts of the island ready to welcome visitors. Some airlines are offering special rates right now. Some alternatives to booking a hotel room are: AirBnB; VRBO; Home Exchange; and more home exchange sites.
Some tiny homes will be a temporary solution to the housing crunch, with 60 or more small portable units built by Continest arriving and being installed in Kahului as a stop gap measure. While it may not be a perfect solution, they offer a secure place to house people and their belongings until something more permanent comes along, and this opens the door to more pre-fab building opportunities.
Celebrities step up - Oprah and The Rock team up and create a fund to pay cash directly to those mostly in need, The People's Fund of Maui.
It pays to keep your house well maintained and ready for fires. This is what saved a house in Lahaina that was surrounded by fires. There's some good takeaways here.
Here's a bright note: the Ku'ia Estate Chocolate factory in Lahaina survived the fire!
Another bright note - this large Buddha statue survived the fires (but this pic is from last year)
Thanks for reading my Maui blog...
Buying or selling real estate on Maui? That's what I do. Let me help YOU.
Georgie Hunter R(S) e-Pro, Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers
E-mail or call/text: 808 283-0635
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