Hirono delivers remarks on Senate floor, marking one month since Maui wildfires

US Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) delivered remarks on the Senate floor marking one month since wildfires tore through Lahaina and Upcountry Maui. In her remarks, Senator Hirono spoke in remembrance of those who lost their lives, highlighted the Federal government’s robust response, and reiterated her commitment to fighting for the resources Maui County and the Lahaina community will need to recover from the devastation caused by the fires.

“This disaster did not simply impact a collection of numbers or statistics, it impacted a community of people, tightknit and proud—business owners, who served as stewards of family-owned shops and restaurants passed down through generations; immigrants who came to Maui in search of a better life for themselves and their families; firefighters, who raced into horrific, toxic conditions to try and save the town they loved, even as many of their own homes burned to the ground mere miles away; and so many more who called Lahaina home,” said Sen. Hirono during her remarks.

Sen. Hirono also condemned the spread of disinformation on social media, which she said was driven in part by foreign governments, that has discouraged Maui residents from accessing federal disaster assistance and sowed distrust in the federal government. 

“Mr. President, at a time of grief and loss, residents have been subjected to disinformation on social media, likely coordinated by foreign government entities, to discourage residents from reaching out to FEMA for disaster assistance and disinformation that sowed distrust in the federal government,” Sen. Hirono continued in her remarks. “It is an all-hands-on-deck effort to combat this kind of disinformation and make sure survivors can access federal support.”

Sen. Hirono emphasized a robust response of the Federal Family of Agencies—including FEMA, SBA, and dozens of others—in the days following the fire.

“Within days of the fires starting, FEMA—working with the governor, mayor, and local entities—was able to get thousands of survivors into hotel rooms, AirBNBs, and other short-term shelters. To date, more than $50 million in federal assistance to individuals has already been approved,” Sen. Hirono said. “Federal personnel have also been critical to the search and rescue efforts, coming from around the country to help search through the rubble and identify the remains of those lost.”

Senator Hirono’s full remarks are below:

M. President, tomorrow marks one-month since the devastating fires that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina on Maui and damaged several of Maui’s upcountry communities. These devastating fires and the events that followed have been harrowing for all those who call Maui home, and the many more who have visited these communities over the years.

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Initial estimates suggest the fires destroyed nearly 3,000 structures in Lahaina, almost 90% of which were residential. It also leveled roughly 700 businesses on and around Lahaina’s historic Front Street. And tragically, the fires have claimed 115 lives to date, with some 385 people still unaccounted for. These numbers are devastating and reflect the pain and anguish Hawaiʻi is feeling.

But, M. President, this disaster did not simply impact a collection of numbers or statistics, it impacted a community of people, tightknit and proud—business owners, who served as stewards of family-owned shops and restaurants passed down through generations; immigrants who came to Maui in search of a better life for themselves and their families; firefighters, who raced into horrific, toxic conditions to try and save the town they loved, even as many of their own homes burned to the ground mere miles away; and so many more who called Lahaina home.

As the one-time capital of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, Lahaina holds great cultural and historic significance for the Native Hawaiian community. For some families, their roots in Lahaina date back more than a century, with homes passed down from generation to generation. Others came from elsewhere, captivated by Lahaina’s beauty and charm. And before the fires, Lahaina was a bustling seaside town that welcomed thousands of visitors every month. But in mere moments, all of that was destroyed as 80-miles-per-hour winds, fueled by a hurricane 500 miles away, propelled the fire through the town with unimaginable speed and fury.

The devastation is difficult to put into words, as is the trauma this community is experiencing. Front Street, once vibrant with the sounds of music and revelers in the air, is now eerily quiet—the only sound to be heard is often the clanging of twisted metal in the wind. At the hotels where survivors are staying, I met parents afraid to send their children to school, not wanting them out of their sight. I met a woman who escaped the fire with just a backpack of belongings—a backpack she now takes everywhere with her, refusing to take it off her back. And I met hotel workers and others, especially a health worker who said that, weeks after the fires, some residents and workers were so traumatized, they didn’t even want to come out of their rooms. 

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At the same time, M. President, at a time of grief and loss, residents have been subjected to disinformation on social media, likely coordinated by foreign government entities, to discourage residents from reaching out to FEMA for disaster assistance and disinformation that sowed distrust in the federal government. It is an all-hands-on-deck effort to combat this kind of disinformation and make sure survivors can access federal support. As we work to ensure the survivors of this disaster have the support they need, we’re also working to understand the full cost of the devastation.

According to initial estimates, the damage to property alone from these fires is upwards of $5 billion—estimates for rebuilding Lahaina are more than double that. Rebuilding will take time, resources, and a continuity of effort. That’s why I’m so grateful for the strong response of the full family of federal agencies—more than 25 of which are on the ground on Maui with over 1,000 personnel. From FEMA and SBA, to HHS, HUD, DOD, and so many others, the federal family responded with speed to meet the immediate needs of those impacted.

Within days of the fires starting, FEMA—working with the governor, mayor, and local entities—was able to get thousands of survivors into hotel rooms, AirBNBs, and other short-term shelters. To date, more than $50 million in federal assistance to individuals has already been approved. But we know that this is just the beginning. Federal personnel have also been critical to the search and rescue efforts, coming from around the country to help search through the rubble and identify the remains of those lost.

When President Biden visited last month, he made a commitment that the federal government will be there for as long as it takes to help Lahaina recover and rebuild as the community envisions. The $4 billion in additional FEMA funding the President requested late last week is an important down payment on that promise. This funding will help ensure FEMA has the resources it needs to continue its critical disaster relief work—not just on Maui, but in other communities impacted by disasters all across our country. I hope that it will pass with strong bipartisan support, as has long been the case for disaster relief funding. But we know, as I said before, this is just the beginning.

In the decade since Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on New York and New Jersey, FEMA has spent more than $18 billion assisting impacted communities. FEMA’s long-term costs for its response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 exceeded $60 billion. Like those communities, Lahaina’s rebuilding will take time and as I said before, a continuity of effort. These fires took so much from so many, but the spirit of aloha—of love, kindness, and care for one another—continues. It is that aloha that brought our community together after this crisis, and I have faith that it will continue to see us through.

I will be here, along with my colleagues from Hawaiʻi—my other Senator, Brian Schatz is here—part of our delegation to fight for everything Hawaiʻi and Maui needs to recover and rebuild, guided by the voices and values of those who call Lahaina home.

Sen. Hirono is working to secure federal assistance to those affected by the disaster. On Aug. 9, a day after the fires in Lahaina, Sen. Hirono and the Hawaiʻi congressional delegation urged President Biden to act swiftly to make all federal resources available and approve any request for a presidential disaster declaration. Senator Hirono has also called on the US Department of Health and Human Services to take additional federal actions to support mental health, child care, and language services for survivors.