We had wanted to go to Kauai and Maui in October of 2023 but couldn't because of the Lahaina fire the summer of 2023. So, we went to Kauai since we could move our reservations forward around 6 months so we did for Maui.
But, nothing prepared us for the loss of Lahaina which is the most historic town on Maui which goes back to the 1800s with People visiting there on ships from all over the world then. So, the loss of Lahaina really isn't replaceable for anyone who knows what Lahaina was historically to Maui and to all the Islands. In some ways it's almost like a local Washington DC was lost as far as the Islands are concerned because the cultural loss is so great.
But, nothing prepared people who owned houses for just how disastrous this would be for them. Rebuilding costs are OUT OF THIS WORLD because building materials mostly come from Mainland U.S. and shipping and general costs make this cost prohibitive. I suppose people could rebuild their own homes but since it's expensive to live there compared to California how does one finanically support oneself while rebuilding their home in Lahaina.
And even if you succeeded in rebuilding your home maybe almost no one else could rebuild and what do you have? You have a home in the middle of a fire Wasteland. That's what you would have.
So, when I was there Bezos had built low income housing maybe 100 or more units for people to live in temporarily or permanently, especially for people who had lost their homes in the fire.
So, is there really a solution for Lahaina? I'm thinking Lahaina is a bridge too far because of building costs for most of the people who lived there before and who owned businesses that will never reopen again.
So, this is likely very sad but true. Lahaina is likely gone forever now.
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