Recent wildfires spreading through Hawaii’s Maui island have decimated homes and businesses, claiming the lives of 96 people -- and counting. As teams work their way through the burnt remains of beautiful, historic Lāhainā Town, lifetime residents are concerned that this devastating event will pave the way for the displacement of more native residents.
On Aug. 13, a tweet from Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) activist went viral, warning the residents of Lāhainā that they might be receiving calls from realtors inquiring about purchasing their damaged property on the cheap. "If you are from Lāhainā & are receiving phone calls from realtors asking to purchase your property following the fire," writes Keoni DeFranco, "please record their name, company & home address for us & post it."
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If you are from Lāhainā & are receiving phone calls from realtors asking to purchase your property following the fire, please record their name, company & home address for us & post it.
— Keoni #ProtectPololūValley🔺 (@Keoni_DiFranco) August 13, 2023
Over the years, wealthy second-home buyers looking for a vacation getaway have created a housing shortage in the state of Hawaii -- one that has made it particularly hard for the Kānaka Maoli to afford the housing built on their home land.
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Meanwhile, the state of Hawaii itself was relying on that incoming revenue from tourist-heavy towns like Lāhainā to help boost the economy post-pandemic. Instead, what has now become the deadliest fire in the U.S.'s modern history is estimated to cost upwards of $10 billion in damages.
Concerns that the state is hurting also have locals worried that still more land will be sold for profit. The Hawaiian islands have long been a source of wealth for outside investors -- often to the detriment of the environment and its people. But it's the preservation of a wounded but strong community, locals say, that should be a priority right now.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told reporters that he doesn't want the area to become too expensive for locals after it's rebuilt.
“We want Lahaina to be a part of Hawaii forever,” Green said. “We don’t want it to be another example of people being priced out of paradise.”
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