Maui fires one year reflection: Schatz pays tribute to victims, honors survivors, outlines needs of Lahaina community, calls for continued federal support

Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Maui fires on Aug. 8, US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor to pay tribute to the victims, honor survivors, outline the needs of the Lahaina community, and call for continued federal support.

“For the people of Lahaina, the past year has been a time of uncertainty and unease, unspeakable grief and heartache, tough choices and impossible decisions. A year of what ifs and what’s next,” said Schatz. “Nothing will ever fully replace the people and things they lost on that harrowing day 12 months ago. But what we can do is help them recover in a way they want and be there for them for as long as it takes. Every step of the way. That is our responsibility, and that is our promise.”

Schatz continued, “Every part of government – whether it’s federal, state, or county – has a responsibility to help survivors get back on their feet. And right now, for Congress, that means passing the president’s domestic supplemental appropriations request which includes significant investments in the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, or CDBG-DR, program. CDBG-DR has, for decades, been a lifeline for disaster survivors across the country, giving them flexible, long-term assistance to rebuild their homes and businesses and communities. This is a proven program that’s helped revive dozens of devastated communities and it has to be extended to survivors on Maui as they continue their recovery.”

The full text of Schatz’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, can be found below.

“For so many people in Lahaina, next week will mark one year since the worst day of their lives. They watched in horror as wind-whipped fires barreled into town at blistering speed and sent everything in their path up in flames. They saw the only homes and places they’d ever known fall around them. And with just minutes to escape, they gathered whatever they could and ran for their lives.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

It’s a testament to the generosity and camaraderie that typifies Hawai‘i that even amid all that panic and chaos, so many people put their loved ones, neighbors, and even total strangers before themselves. In their darkest hour, their first instinct was to help. In that moment, everyday people became eternal heroes.

The outpouring of kindness continued far beyond those first few hours. As the grim and heartbreaking reality of death and destruction set in, people did everything they could to ease the burden, even just a little bit. Everyone pitched in. Not because they were asked but because they saw their ohana needed help.

For the survivors who lost everything in an instant, no amount of help is ever truly enough. 102 people died that day. 2,200 structures – most of them homes – were decimated. More than 12,000 residents were displaced overnight. 

And so the process of recovery was never going to be quick or easy. This was always going to be a years-long effort, riddled with stubborn realities to confront and difficult challenges to overcome. And in spite of the grace and goodwill of the community…in spite of a robust federal response since the very beginning…there’s still so much unmet need and unfinished work.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

And understandably, people are worried and anxious and exhausted. They’re tired of having to uproot their families from one temporary housing unit to the next every few weeks or months. They’re tired of wondering what the future holds…and if that future will be on Maui at all as housing costs soar out of reach. They worry about their friends and neighbors grappling with depression and PTSD from the lingering trauma of the fires. They worry about their kids missing out on school and getting left behind.

One year later, people’s lives are nowhere near being back to normal. National headlines may have moved on, but life for survivors has not. They still need help.

From the very next day after the fires, following President Biden’s disaster declaration, the federal government has mobilized a sweeping recovery effort that’s delivered more than $3 billion in aid to date. Here in Congress, Senator Mazie Hirono, Representatives Jill Tokuda and Ed Case, and I have worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass disaster relief funding and get survivors the help they deserve.

And while we should be clear-eyed about the long road ahead, it’s worth, just for a moment, to reflect on the progress that’s been made. After a year of around-the-clock work from the US Army Corps of Engineers, debris removal is entering the final stretch and is expected to be completed in the coming months. Water and wastewater services have been fully restored as of 2 weeks ago. And a temporary campus for King Kamehameha III Elementary School was built from the ground up in just 95 days and opened its doors to students in April.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

That progress is real. And it’s reason for hope…that things can and will improve. And yet, there’s still so much work left to do. Housing remains the number one issue. Businesses still need help as tourism lags. And people of all ages need expanded access to mental health resources and other services.

Every part of government – whether it’s federal, state, or county – has a responsibility to help survivors get back on their feet. And right now, for Congress, that means passing the president’s domestic supplemental appropriations request which includes significant investments in the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, or CDBG-DR, program. CDBG-DR has, for decades, been a lifeline for disaster survivors across the country, giving them flexible, long-term assistance to rebuild their homes and businesses and communities. This is a proven program that’s helped revive dozens of devastated communities and it has to be extended to survivors on Maui as they continue their recovery.

For the people of Lahaina, the past year has been a year of uncertainty and unease…unspeakable grief and heartache…impossible choices and tough decisions. A year of what ifs and what’s next. Nothing will ever fully replace the people and things they lost on that harrowing day 12 months ago. But what we can do is be there for them as they recover…for as long as it takes…every step of the way. That is our responsibility, and that is our promise.