Maui commissioner, staff walk neighborhood to assess damage
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) organized the delivery of essential goods to the homesteaders of the Villages of Leialiʻi.
Portable toilets, generators, extension cords and a roll-off were delivered following the disastrous windstorms and wildfires.
“After the fire, DHHL immediately began assessing the extent of the damage on Hawaiian Home Lands,” said Hawaiian Homes Commission Chair Kali Watson. “This was crucial to understand the immediate needs of beneficiaries and to plan for long-term recovery.”
In partnership with local and community leaders, Hawaiian Homes Maui Commissioner Randy Awo lead a team of DHHL staff through the Villages of Leialiʻi on August 10. While on the ground, the team went door-to-door to check on beneficiaries, survey their needs, distribute supplies, and assess damage to homes.
“We are here to stand with our people in this time of devastation,” said Awo. “We are here to acknowledge the challenges that are in front of us and our commitment to be ʻonipaʻa as we move forward in resilience and resurrection.”
DHHL is committed to meeting the needs of our community and will work alongside federal, state and county leaders to ensure beneficiaries are safe, sheltered and have access to necessities. The Department has allocated resources and funds to support recovery efforts. This requires both immediate crisis management funding and longer-term planning to ensure sustainable recovery.
“In the aftermath of the wildfires, DHHL is involved in rebuilding homes and infrastructure,” Watson said. “This entails not just restoring what was lost, but also considering how to build in a way that would be more resilient to future fires and storms.”
The devastating Lahaina wildfires consumed two homes in the Villages of Leialiʻi which consists of 104 residential lots.
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