Survivors and churchgoers pray during a church service held by Pastor Brown of Lahaina's Grace Baptist Church, in Wailuku, central Maui. Photo: YUKI IWAMURA/AFP[/caption]
"These islands, they go through tsunamis, hurricanes; we are often having to be very self reliant because we are isolated.
"Now that said, I feel like we're all kind of wondering why was there no help send from O'ahu?
"Pearl Harbor is a 20-minute flight away, right? Why are the limited resources of police on this island left alone? Why are we taking supplies on the boat instead of the helicopter?"
Governor Green however, said he's working with Hawaii's many hotels to provide free housing to Lahaina's population.
He said the federal government is sending its full support and that in the coming months and years Lahaina will be restored.
"We have over 500 hotel rooms, which will be available to people who have been victims of this terrible fire.
"We will also have additional hotel rooms for first responders, so they'll be able to respond and retreat to a hotel room safely."
The BBC reports the fire is still burning and is about 85 percent contained, according to Maui County officials.
How the fire started remains unconfirmed, though it was fuelled by winds from nearby Hurricane Dora and drought conditions.
A class-action lawsuit was filed at the weekend against Hawaii's largest electricity provider, Hawaii Electric, which alleges the company's downed power lines contributed to the wildfires.
Tongan family devastated by loss
Four members of a Tongan family have been identified among those killed in the fires.
Hawaii News Now reports the family were found in a burnt-out car near their home.
The victims are husband and wife Mauifonua and Faaoso Tone, along with their daughter Salote, and grandson Tony.
A statement issued by the family said "the magnitude of our grief is indescribable".
Source:rnz.com NEWS
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY HAWAIIAN WILDFIRE
By Nigel-Francis MADO |
August 15, 2023
Survivors and churchgoers pray during a church service held by Pastor Brown of Lahaina's Grace Baptist Church, in Wailuku, central Maui. Photo: YUKI IWAMURA/AFP[/caption]
"These islands, they go through tsunamis, hurricanes; we are often having to be very self reliant because we are isolated.
"Now that said, I feel like we're all kind of wondering why was there no help send from O'ahu?
"Pearl Harbor is a 20-minute flight away, right? Why are the limited resources of police on this island left alone? Why are we taking supplies on the boat instead of the helicopter?"
Governor Green however, said he's working with Hawaii's many hotels to provide free housing to Lahaina's population.
He said the federal government is sending its full support and that in the coming months and years Lahaina will be restored.
"We have over 500 hotel rooms, which will be available to people who have been victims of this terrible fire.
"We will also have additional hotel rooms for first responders, so they'll be able to respond and retreat to a hotel room safely."
The BBC reports the fire is still burning and is about 85 percent contained, according to Maui County officials.
How the fire started remains unconfirmed, though it was fuelled by winds from nearby Hurricane Dora and drought conditions.
A class-action lawsuit was filed at the weekend against Hawaii's largest electricity provider, Hawaii Electric, which alleges the company's downed power lines contributed to the wildfires.
Tongan family devastated by loss
Four members of a Tongan family have been identified among those killed in the fires.
Hawaii News Now reports the family were found in a burnt-out car near their home.
The victims are husband and wife Mauifonua and Faaoso Tone, along with their daughter Salote, and grandson Tony.
A statement issued by the family said "the magnitude of our grief is indescribable".
Source:rnz.com Related News
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