Hawaii wildfires: First group of residents return to Lahaina
Hawaii fire: The fire in Lahaina destroyed homes and took the lives of 97 people. (Tamir Kalifa for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
HONOLULU — Residents who lost their homes in the wildfires that destroyed the Hawaiian town of Lahaina were allowed to return to their homes on Monday after nearly two months of waiting.
Residents were allowed to return in phases, Hawaii News Now reported. Residents returned to properties in Zone 1C, according to the news outlet.
The total number of residents allowed back into the fire-ravaged was about 100, and approximately 24 residences were included in an area along Kaniau Road, Hawaii News Now reported.
“They’re very appreciative to get in here, something they’ve all been waiting anxiously for,” Darryl Oliveira, interim administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, told reporters on Monday. “People who haven’t been here since the fire are taken aback by the amount of and extent of the destruction.”
The death toll from the fire remains at 97. On Monday, officials identified another person who died, KITV reported.
Officials said that Matsuykui Osato, 83, of Lahaina died in the fire.
The names of 83 people who died in the fire have been released publicly, according to the television station, KITV reported. Authorities said there are six other people who have been positively identified, but their families have not been notified.
Oliveira said returning to destroyed properties will be difficult for families, Hawaii News Now reported.
“Talking to the staff, they had a couple of emotional moments, especially for someone older showing up with a family member that has some mobility challenges and just being concerned that they want to get their insurance representative on to their properties,” Oliveira said. “I think that’s the common type of scenario ... just people who are struggling and want to get some closure, not just that emotional closure, but maybe even financial closure with their insurance.
“They want to go in. There’s going to be dust. How much dust is too much dust, we do not know,” said Pang. “I would tell them read what happened after 9/11. They thought there would not be long-term side effects, but the cancers show way later for people who worked that day.”
Oliveira said that officials will be able to help people who have lost their homes, KHON-TV reported.
“They might have a memento or a certain thing of importance on ground, so we’ll put volunteers there, and proper equipment to look and help the families,” Oliveira told reporters. ‘I cannot stress the dangers out there, there’s a lot of debris on the private parcels that will be cleaned later.
“We want people to see their properties, bring them closure, and have that moment to grieve and bring closure.”
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Hawaii fire: An attendee reacts during a Sunday church service held at Lahaina's Grace Baptist Church. (YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: A burnt-out car lies in the driveway of a charred house in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: A burnt out car and a sign reading "No Way Through" stand in the driveway of charred apartment complex in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina. (YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: Tempers flared as residents waited in long lines as they are not allowed to pass a checkpoint to return to their homes in Lahaina. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag)
Hawaii fire A resident found some dishes among the rubble of a house that survived the wildfire. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Hawaii fire Crews are searching areas for flareups, items, and missing people following the wildfires in Hawaii swept through the area. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: Maui residents John Rey Serrano and Lexie Lara look from a road above Lahaina Town in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: Davilynn Severson holds a page of a yearbook as she looks for belongings through the ashes of their family's home in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: Maui resident John Rey Serrano reacts while looking from a road above Lahaina Town in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: Hano Ganer looks through the ashes of his family's home on Malolo Place in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: Trixy Nuesca-Ganer looks through the ashes of their family's home in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: A woman cradles her cat after finding him in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii. (MOSES SLOVATIZKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: Burnt books are seen by the public library in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii. (MOSES SLOVATIZKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: A burned cars sits among destroyed buildings in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii. (PAULA RAMON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: A destroyed building is pictured in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii. (PAULA RAMON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: Burned cars, destroyed buildings and homes are pictured in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii (PAULA RAMON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: Destroyed buildings and homes are pictured in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii. (PAULA RAMON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: Residents walk among their destroyed home in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii. (PAULA RAMON/AFP via Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: Zoltan Balogh clears away trees that were burned by wildfire in Kula, Hawaii. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: In an aerial view, cars back up for miles on the Honoapiilani highway as residents are allowed back into areas affected by the recent wildfire on Friday. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Hawaii fire: Burned houses and buildings are pictured in the aftermath of a wildfire, is seen in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii. (YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images)
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