Gov. Josh Green (D-HI) shared his optimism regarding the Hawaiian island Maui’s recuperation following the various wildfires.
As of Friday, the death toll was 114, but no new identities were released. Few victims have been identified as authorities struggle to confirm their identities. Maui Police have searched 78% of the area.
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“Lahaina will rise again,” Green said Friday. “It will be a symbol of our resilience, our values, and our sacred bonds of Ohana. When it is rebuilt, it will be a living memorial to the loved ones we have lost.”
Green was emotional as he addressed the crowd in Honolulu. He promised the search for more victims would continue.
“The numbers of lives we’ve lost has climbed to over 100, and we expect it to increase each day as we continue our search,” Green said, acknowledging the long road ahead for recovery. “This process is agonizing for families waiting for word from their loved ones and heartbreaking for those sifting through the debris.”
Last week, there were four total fires, and one, in the Puʻukoliʻi Kaʻanapal area, was extinguished. Since then, one of the fires has been designated as two separate fires, the Kula and Olinda fires, which are both 85% contained, respectively. The Pulehu Kihei fire is 100% contained, and the fire in Lahaina is 90% contained. Altogether, the fires have burned through 2,168 acres in Maui.
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These have become the deadliest fires in the past 100 years.
Maui is expected to receive rainfall Sunday following the cyclone Fernanda. This storm and its resulting winds added to the wildfire spread.
