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HONOLULU — Hawaii lawmakers on Wednesday opened a brand new session of the state Legislature vowing to handle evident issues laid naked by the lethal wildfire that destroyed the historic city of Lahaina in August: the risk posed by wildfires and the dearth of inexpensive housing.
Lahaina continues to be in ruins because the cleanup proceeds slowly and methodically practically six months after the blaze killed 100 individuals. 1000’s of displaced residents proceed to dwell in resort rooms paid for by the Federal Emergency Administration Company as a result of they can not discover locations to lease — even with FEMA rental subsidies. West Maui’s tight housing market, which is closely populated by costly trip leases, is one cause.
Lawmakers mentioned options to those issues are badly wanted for Maui however would additionally assist communities throughout the state.
Hearth mitigation would a high Senate precedence, Senate President Ron Kouchi, a Democrat, mentioned.
“And as we go ahead, we need to be certain that it doesn’t occur on every other island,” Kouchi mentioned concerning the Lahaina fireplace in speech on the Senate flooring.
Home Speaker Scott Saiki, a Democrat, spoke of “centering Hawaii” by placing the wants and well-being of Maui’s and Lahaina’s individuals first.
Proposals to prioritize water use for inexpensive housing can be a method to do that, Saiki informed reporters. He additionally desires the Legislature to take motion to restrict trip leases, which a College of Hawaii evaluation mentioned accounts for 15% of Maui’s housing provide and 40% of Lahaina’s.
“It’s actually, actually vital for the state authorities, for the Legislature to tackle short-term leases head-on, as a result of I don’t know if the counties are actually ready to do this,” Saiki mentioned. “A few them have tried over time and haven’t been too profitable.”
The Home’s bipartisan wildfire invoice bundle contains laws that might give the counties specific authority to part out short-term leases, mentioned Rep. Nadine Nakamura, the Home majority chief.
Sen. Troy Hashimoto, a Democrat who represents central Maui on the opposite facet of the West Maui Mountains from Lahaina, mentioned the Legislature must work on the place residents will dwell after FEMA housing support ends in February 2025.
“We have to remain laser-focused on that, getting the assets in that space. And we have to present progress,” Hashimoto mentioned.
Protesters from the group Lahaina Robust, who’ve been tenting out in entrance of Lahaina’s beachfront lodges on Kaanapali Seaside to demand housing, held a march in Honolulu and a rally on the Capitol to remind lawmakers of their wants.
“There are nonetheless over 5,000 Lahaina fireplace victims displaced and sheltering in lodges,” mentioned Jordan Ruidas, one of many organizers who flew over to Oahu for the demonstration. “The idea of dwelling stays a distant dream.”
Ruidas mentioned Lahaina Robust desires the county to revoke exemptions it has given to 2,500 vacation-rental properties in West Maui that do not have permits to be rented for lower than 30 days at a time. The group can be asking for protections towards lease will increase and evictions and for mortgage funds for houses misplaced within the fireplace to be deferred.
Hashimoto mentioned lawmakers know Lahaina Robust desires secure housing for the individuals of Lahaina.
“We’re listening, and we all know that that’s the problem,” Hashimoto mentioned.
Sen. Pleasure San Buenaventura, the chairperson of the Senate’s well being committee, mentioned psychological well being care can be one other precedence due to the catastrophe. Final 12 months lawmakers did not improve funding for behavioral well being care however she hopes they’ll this 12 months.
“The longer the victims stay unstable, the upper the stressors, the upper the potential for suicides and the upper the psychological well being issues are going to be,” she mentioned.
Democrats have overwhelming majorities on the Legislature, controlling 45 out of 51 seats within the Home and 23 out of 25 seats within the Senate.
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