Multiple sources, citing Grassroot Institute of Hawaii analyst Jonathan Helton, report that Lahaina’s recovery remains severely limited three years after the August 2023 wildfires. While roughly 220 homes have been rebuilt, non-residential and multifamily reconstruction has barely begun, with only 13 completed non-residential permits and fewer than 30 issued in total.
- The August 8, 2023 Lahaina wildfire killed 102 people and destroyed more than 2,200 structures
- Approximately 220 homes have been rebuilt, but commercial and multifamily recovery is described as ‘bleak’
- Only 13 non-residential permits have been completed and fewer than 30 have been issued
- Grassroot Institute policy analyst Jonathan Helton identified regulatory uncertainty — particularly the special management area permitting process — as the central obstacle to rebuilding
- Properties on certain sides of Front Street face multiple public hearings that invite opposition and cause lengthy delays (Hawaii Free Press)
- Many property owners cannot produce original building plans because structures were decades old or records were destroyed in the fires (Hawaii Free Press)
- Maui County has not waived permit fees for rebuilding, which Grassroot has recommended since the early days of recovery; fees on multi-million-dollar commercial rebuilds can be substantial (Hawaii Free Press)
- When Maui County officials praised commercial rebuilding progress at a July 1 community meeting, a review found one touted permit covered only site work at a former gas station and another was for a Taco Bell rebuild fast-tracked under a 2024 law (Hawaii Free Press)
- A Honolulu Civil Beat report noted signs of ‘wildfire fatigue,’ with community support appearing to wane and fire victims receiving less help (Alohastatedaily)
- Helton has outlined rebuilding barriers in both The Washington Post and The Maui News, citing layers of land-use, zoning, permitting, and historic preservation laws (Alohastatedaily)
Sources
- Hawaii Free Press: Ongoing roadblocks to rebuilding in Lahaina
- Alohastatedaily: Aloha State Daily | Community Voices: Grassroot still stands with Lahaina, three years…
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