Nov 17 Watch 8:27 Maui faces water rights questions as island continues wildfire recovery By William Brangham, Maea Lenei Buhre, Sam Lane The deadly wildfires that tore through Maui destroyed thousands of structures and killed 100 people. But as William Brangham reports, they also reignited a long-simmering concern among Native Hawaiians over who controls one of their most precious natural resources, water. Continue watching
Nov 12 A wildfire in Hawaii has burned native rainforest on Oahu, raising ecological concerns By Audrey McAvoy, Associated Press A wildfire burning in a remote Hawaii rainforest is underscoring a new reality for the normally lush island state just a few months after a devastating blaze on a neighboring island leveled an entire town and killed at least 99… Continue reading
Oct 24 West Maui to reopen to tourism on Nov. 1 after fire By Audrey McAvoy, Associated Press The community has had an impassioned debate about when to welcome travelers back to the disaster-stricken region. Some residents drafted a petition opposing the return of tourists, saying the community wasn't ready. Continue reading
Sep 28 WATCH: House committee holds hearing on Maui fires and electrical grids By Rebecca Boone, Associated Press Hawaii’s top public utility officials and the president of Hawaiian Electric testified in the hearing about the role the electrical grid played in last month’s deadly Maui wildfire. Continue reading
Sep 27 Investigators use these clues to solve mystery of how small fire grew into deadly Maui inferno By Michael Biesecker, Jennifer McDermott, Bernard Condon, Associated Press Melted remains of an old car tire. Two burned trees. A stump of an abandoned utility pole. These are among the pieces of evidence investigators are examining as they seek to solve the mystery of last month’s Maui wildfire. Continue reading
Sep 22 Hawaii economists say Lahaina locals could be priced out of rebuilt town without zoning changes By Andrew Selsky, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Associated Press Economists in Hawaii warn that residents who survived the wildfire that destroyed much of the Maui community of Lahaina might not be able to afford to live there after it is rebuilt unless officials alter the zoning laws and make… Continue reading
Sep 22 Lahaina residents brace for what they'll find as they return to devastated burn zone By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Associated Press Lahaina residents are bracing for what they'll find when they return to the ruins of their homes after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century killed at least 97 people and destroyed thousands of buildings. Continue reading
Sep 08 The number of missing persons following devastating Maui wildfires has dropped to 66, governor says By Audrey McAvoy, Associated Press The tally of the missing is now significantly lower than a week earlier, when authorities said 385 remained unaccounted for. Continue reading
Sep 01 Unsolicited land offers under investigation as Hawaii tries to keep Lahaina in local hands By Audrey McAvoy, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Associated Press Gov. Josh Green prohibited such offers by signing an emergency proclamation on Aug. 19 aimed at preventing land in the historic coastal community from flowing into the hands of outside buyers. Continue reading
Aug 30 Crews in Maui wrap up search for victims in deadly Hawaiin wildfire, with unknown number still missing By Audrey McAvoy, Associated Press Officials suggested that responders likely have already recovered any remains that are recognizable as such, and they are shifting the response to focus on removing hazardous waste and making the area safe for residents to begin returning. Continue reading