Lahaina Fire Survivors Ask State To Delay Tourism Reopening

S​ome 14,000 people signed a petition asking the state of Hawaii to delay reopening areas around Lahaina, the historic West Maui town leveled by a wildfire in August.

M​ore than 3,500 people with zip codes in or around Lahaina were among the signatures, presented Tuesday to Hawaii Gov. Josh Green.

“We are not mentally nor emotionally ready to welcome and serve our visitors. Not yet,” restaurant bartender Pa‘ele Kiakona said at a news conference, according to The Associated Press. “Our grief is still fresh and our losses too profound.”

(MORE: 1,200 Pets Reported Lost After Lahaina Wildfire)

The plea came in response to a plan to start allowing visitors back into some areas of West Maui outside of Lahaina. The first phase of reopening, which Green said would involve one or two hotels, is set to begin Sunday.

The wind-whipped wildfire two months ago damaged or destroyed more than 3,000 homes, businesses and other buildings in Lahaina. The town had about 13,000 residents before the fire. It's still closed to the public and residents are being let in only at certain times to view their ruined properties and salvage any belongings that might have survived.

T​he fire killed at least 98 people, many of them trying to escape the flames on foot or by car.

W​hile many survivors say they aren't ready for tourists yet, the governor says reopening is critical to the economy.

“It’s 8,773. That’s the number of people, 8,773, that are now unemployed as a result of the fire and these individuals need to be able to take care of their families, take care of their children," Green told Hawaii News Now.

People who signed the petition organized an emotional rally at the state capital in Honolulu.

“We have no schools, we have no daycare, we have no grocery stores," state Sen. Angus McKelvey, who represents the West Maui region, said in a speech, according to Hawaii News Now. "The hierarchy of needs has been turned on its head,"

By the time he finished, McKelvey was in tears

“I’m sorry — Imua Lahaina — long live the people of Maui,” he said.

Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.

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