Hawaii Gov. Josh Green is warning developers from the mainland United States and all over the world not to purchase up land in the wake of catastrophic wildfires which have destroyed the historic town of Lahaina.
Green said in a video statement Tuesday said the Hawaii state government is considering acquiring land in Lahaina “to guard it for our local people so it isn’t stolen by people on the mainland” U.S.
The wildfires have devastated Lahaina, a town in Maui of about 13,000 people. No less than 106 people had died in the blaze as of Tuesday and 1000’s more are homeless. The inferno destroyed greater than 2,700 structures at an estimated value of $5.6 billion, in keeping with the governor.
The blaze is the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in greater than century and the worst natural disaster in Hawaii state history.
Green said last week that Lahaina may have to be completely rebuilt, a process that can take years. Within the meantime, residents are frightened that outside developers will swoop in to purchase up the useful land once the reconstruction process starts.
A general view shows damage in the fireplace ravaged town of Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii, U.S., August 15, 2023.
Mike Blake | Reuters
Lahaina carries deep historical significance for Hawaii’s native culture. The town was the capital of Hawaii in the early nineteenth century when the islands were an independent kingdom. The seat of presidency moved to Honolulu in 1850, several many years before the U.S. annexed the islands in 1898.
“We can be ensuring that we do all that we will to forestall that land from falling into hands of individuals from the skin. It’s tough to do in some cases,” Green said. “You’ll be able to make certain I is not going to be allowing anyone to construct or rezone or do anything of that kind in the event that they’ve taken advantage of anyone here.”
Green said Monday that he has asked the state attorney general to explore options for putting a moratorium on sales of properties which have been damaged or destroyed throughout the wildfires.
Governor of Hawaii Josh Green speaks during a press conference in regards to the destruction of historic Lahaina and the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui in Wailuku, Hawaii on August 12, 2023.
Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images
The governor said in his Tuesday video that he also ordered the attorney general to embed lawyers at response centers to supply free legal advice to Lahaina residents to be sure they usually are not taken advantage of by individuals who make offers to purchase their land in the wake of the blaze.
Maui is one of the vital popular tourist destinations in the state, with nearly 3 million visitors spending about $5.7 billion on the island in 2022. But residents of the island struggled with a high cost of living and a housing shortage long before the wildfires struck.
Inventory for single-family home sales in Maui was down nearly 40% in July in comparison with the identical period in 2019, in keeping with data from the Realtors Association of Maui. The median price for a single family home in Lahaina was $1.3 million in July before the wildfires, in keeping with the information.
Hawaii has the very best cost of living in the U.S. The state had the fourth highest homelessness rate in the nation in 2022, in keeping with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Green said Wednesday greater than 1,000 hotel rooms and 435 donated units can be found to temporarily house people as Lahaina rebuilds. Airbnb.org can even provide free, temporary stays for not less than 1,000 people, in keeping with the corporate.
President Joe Biden declared a serious disaster in Hawaii last week, which unlocked emergency assistance for the island. The help includes grants for temporary housing and residential repair and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Airbnb.org will provide free, temporary stays for not less than 1,000 people displaced by the wildfires. Individually, greater than 1,000 hotel rooms were available for those displaced as of Wednesday.