Nā ʻOhana o Lele Calls on Governor Green to Meet Three Demands for Lāhainā Recovery

Lāhainā, Maui. August 18, 2023 – Nā ʻOhana o Lele, a coalition of community members in Lāhainā, today called on Governor Josh Green to meet three demands for the recovery of the community.

The demands are:

Give our Lāhainā community time to grieve. The fire occurred only 10 days ago, and many people are still in shock and mourning. The governor should not rush to rebuild the community without first giving people time to heal, especially without including the community itself in the planning.

Put the community first in any planning process for rebuilding Lāhainā. The governor should work with the community to develop a plan that meets the needs of the people. Fast-tracked development cannot come at the cost of community control.

Amend the Emergency Proclamation to ensure that Chapter 92 Sunshine Law remains in full force. This law guarantees the public’s right to know about government decision-making and the discussions and information used in that process. The governor should ensure that all decisions about the rebuilding of Lāhainā are made in the open and with full participation of the Lāhainā community.

“Our diverse Lāhainā community stands together, strong and resilient,” said Keʻeaumoku Kapu, a spokesperson for Nā ʻOhana o Lele. “But we need time to heal and to come together. We also need to be involved in the planning process for rebuilding our community. We ask that the governor meet our demands and work with us to create a better future for Lāhainā. Come talk to us.”

Nā ʻOhana o Lele is a coalition of community members who have been taking action on many fronts to care for their beloved ʻohana, friends, and community. The coalition includes residents who have the support of a wide array of individuals, organizations, and institutions.

For more, follow @kakoo_haleakala & @lahaina_ohana_venmo. #KeepLahainaInLahainaHands #MauiStrong #LahainaStrong #MauiOla