Maui Wildfires Latest: Lahaina Reopens to Residents (2024)

FAQs

Is Lahaina being rebuilt today? ›

The county says rebuilding the burned structures won't even begin for another 18-24 months, and big-picture plans are hazy. After clearing debris and letting people back in to see their homes, the city has most recently opened the remaining schools and welcomed tourists back to areas unaffected by the fires.

Lahaina fire: 100% contained. Estimated 2,170 acres.

County of Maui completes re-opening of all 83 Lahaina Wildfire zones ahead of schedule. The re-opening of all zones in the Lahaina Wildfire Disaster Area was completed today, following a second day of residents returning to their properties in areas along Front Street.

The heart of Lahaina, the historic town on the Hawaiian island of Maui that burned in a deadly wildfire that killed at least 100 people, reopened Monday to residents and business owners holding day passes. The renewed access marks an important emotional milestone for victims of the Aug.

This week, Senator Angus McKelvey of West Maui gave a blunt public outlook about the on-going August 2023 Maui wildfire recovery efforts when he said that “it's going to take like 10 or 20 years with the way things are going for Lahaina to come back online.”

While it's true that most of West Maui has reopened, that does NOT include the devastated town of Lahaina or its immediate surroundings. Visitors are neither needed nor welcome there and it is not a tourist attraction.

Neither Kaanapali Beach nor the Kaanapali resort area, located just north of Lahaina Town, were harmed by the wildfires of August 2023. Fortunately, the world-famous resort area was untouched and is completely open to visitors. Browse our selection of Kaanapali accommodations to stay right on Kaanapali Beach.

On Maui, the historic town of Lahaina was destroyed, with 1,700 buildings burned. At least 55 people have been killed in the fires, but Gov. Josh Green has said the number of dead was likely to rise. In Hawaii over the past three decades, many sugar plantations, pineapple farms and ranches shuttered.

Lahaina is a lovely tourist destination during the day; however, locals and tourists alike are often concerned about its safety at night. According to recent crime statistics, the crime rate in Lahaina is lower than the islandwide average, particularly when it comes to violent offenses.

With the exception of Lahaina, – Maui is open and there is plenty to see and experience, however, we urge visitors to be especially respectful and mindful in the following ways: Visit with aloha, compassion and empathy. Support local businesses.

Is Maui back to normal? ›

Maui is Open. Burn Zone of Lahaina is Closed. West Maui Reopened Oct 8th, 2023. Whether you like it or not, tourism is the main engine of our economy here on Maui.

Old Lahaina is a popular area for shopping and restaurants like Old Lahaina Luau and is a good area for hotels if you are looking to take in the local ambiance. Nearby hotels include Maui Garden Oasis where visitors will find amenities like a fitness center and kitchenettes in their rooms.

In Lahaina, the main cause of destructive fires was a strong high-pressure system north of Hawaii that intensified easterly trade winds, researchers said. When those winds encountered tall mountains in West Maui, they sped up as they moved downhill, reaching hurricane force in Lahaina.

Following rumors that a tourist kicked through and destroyed the heart-shaped rock, it was officially reported in January 2020 that an entire half of the beloved structure—located on the northern coastline of West Maui—had succumbed to the ocean waves that were continuously crashing down on it.

Māui brings fire to the world

Mahuika lived in a cave in a burning mountain at the end of the Earth. She gave Māui one of her burning fingernails to relight the fires, but Māui extinguished fingernail after fingernail until Mahuika became angry and sent fire to pursue Māui.

Why is the Kaanapali erosion so bad? Kaanapali Beach sees chronic and seasonal erosion, but experts say sea level rise and strong summer swells were catalysts for this event.

Penguin Bank probably submerged within the last several hundred thousand years. With continued subsidence at the present-day rates, Haleakalā and West Maui will become separate islands in about 15,000 years.

The Royal Lahaina Resort received updates to its lobby, lounge, pool area, restaurant, guestrooms, and beachside cottages during the pandemic shutdown. BlackSand Capital, a Honolulu-based real estate investment firm, officially completed the purchase of the Royal Lahaina Resort Dec. 9.