#debris removal

Debris was cleared from 148 commercial lots in Lahaina ahead of the Feb. 26, 2025, deadline. The clearing of the commercial lots follows the clearing of residential properties at the end of August 2024. In total, 1,538 residential and commercial properties have been cleared of wildfire debris.

The County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation reopened Ho‘okipa Beach Park on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024, after debris and damage from high surf was addressed. Baldwin Beach Park and Tavares Bay in Kūʻau remain closed while debris removal continues.

Starting Wednesday, Oct. 30, the County of Maui’s Disaster Recovery Community Update Meetings will be held at a new location in the cafeteria at Lahaina Intermediate School. The school is located at 871 Lahainaluna Road; the cafeteria is makai of the main parking lot.

With residential debris removal 100% complete, opening of residential areas off Lahainaluna Road is set for Friday, Oct. 4, at 6 a.m. This is Phase 4 of the Maui Emergency Management Agency zone reopening plan and marks one of the final large residential zones to be reopened.

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in partnership with federal, state, and local partners, announced that debris removal on the last single- and multi-unit residential properties in Lahaina is underway. This milestone marks a significant achievement in the Personal Property Debris Removal Program, as all residential properties will be cleared months ahead of the original January 2025 deadline—a testament to the dedication and efficiency of the teams involved.

The County of Maui has amended the process for obtaining the Consolidated Debris Removal Closeout Package for properties affected by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires in Lahaina and Kula.

The meeting will include a presentation on the status of sampling and monitoring of the Olowalu Temporary Debris Storage site, sewer infrastructure updates and an update from the Parks Department. The US Army Corps of Engineers will report on the status of debris clearing.

The standards for the County of Maui Alternative Debris Removal Program have been approved by the Maui County Council, and applications for the program are currently being accepted. The application deadline is June 15, 2024, to sign up for either the Alternative Debris Removal Program or to obtain an approved Right-of-Entry for the Government-Sponsored Consolidated Debris Removal, per adopted standards.

The meeting will feature an update from County Department of Parks and Recreation Director Pat McCall on the status of the Lahaina Aquatic Center. The US Army Corps of Engineers will provide an update on debris clearing.

The County of Maui Office of Recovery is urging wildfire property owners who opt for the Alternative Debris Removal Program to stay informed by signing up online for important notices.

The Maui Emergency Management Agency has extended hours for reentry access into the Lahaina Wildfire Disaster zone to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The extension only applies to those entering the zone with a vehicle reentry pass. 

The Central Maui Landfill will be the final disposal site for an estimated 400,000 cubic yards of toxic ash and debris left in the aftermath of the Aug. 8 wildfire that leveled Lahaina Town.

The County of Maui announces an informational workshop aimed at assisting owners whose properties were destroyed in the August wildfires, and who have not signed up for government-assisted clean-up.

The first Ambient Community Air Sampling Reports for Lahaina, issued by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, confirm good ambient air quality for the period of Jan. 13-24, 2024. 

Debris and ash removal was completed on the 100th residential property in the Lahaina Wildfire Disaster Area on Wednesday, (Feb. 14) 30 days after the work began in Lahaina, county officials said.

Starting Monday, Feb. 12, a new system will take effect to allow private property contractors to access the Lahaina Wildfire Disaster zone for rebuilding, while keeping the area safe during debris removal, officials announced.

Maui County has planned an informational workshop from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, on the Right-of-Entry process for residential and commercial property owners. It will be held at the Lahainaluna High School cafeteria, 980 Lahainaluna Road in Lahaina.

DOH has currently installed a total of 40 real-time air monitors and air samplers in Lahaina and Olowalu. DOH staff deployed four additional real-time air monitors on Jan. 18 and will continue to augment Maui’s air monitoring network as USACE debris removal work expands and continues.

Gov. Green announced a Housing Hawaiʻi’s ʻOhana plan, vowing to sign into law any legislation that will help move short-term rentals and vacant investment properties owned by non-residents into the local housing market. He also is said he would declare a moratorium on all short-term rentals in West Maui if he is unable to find enough housing for displaced families in the next six weeks.

The temporary traffic signal near Cut Mountain will allow vehicles hauling fire debris to cross the Lahaina Bypass. The crossing will only be for debris removal vehicles and is not open to the public. The signal will be manually controlled during work hours.