Hoʻōla Maui begins clean-up work in Lahaina

On October 27, Hoʻōla Maui crews started work in Lahaina. Having moved through the majority of the current phase of work in Upcountry, the teams have directed their focus to the Lahaina effort, in lockstep with the cultural observers and archeology teams contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Ho’ōla Maui crews gathered early on October 27 for cultural protocol before commencing work.

The day began with cultural protocol at 7:00 a.m., led by Kumu Hula Cody Pueo Pata of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA). After the cultural protocol, Hoʻōla Maui work teams moved to their assigned locations throughout the impacted zones in Lahaina town. The teams’ tasks for this phase include: marking sites with the appropriate signage; assessing trees for potential risk to people, structures and places of cultural significance; conducting testing for potentially-hazardous materials; and removing specific kinds of debris from the sites. 

Hoʻōla Maui teams’ work that day was guided by detailed maps that identify the individual properties marked ready for this next phase of site assessment work. These are properties that have been cleared by the EPA as part of the prior Hazardous Debris Removal phase of work. Hoʻōla Maui teams proceeded with the utmost care and respect, working carefully and efficiently to advance the cleanup process as their contribution to the ongoing recovery for this community.