The state Commission on Water Resource Management held a marathon meeting on Maui Tuesday, lasting nearly nine hours. Members received testimony and updated the public on the Lahaina Aquifer Sector Area including wells in the fire-impacted area, water resources at Kauaʻula and Interim Instream Flow Standards (IIFS) for area waterways.
The largely Native Hawaiian audience told the commission that restoring stream flows not only is important to bring back aquatic life and support cultural practices, but to protect homes from wildfires.
To help people like Vierra, Native Hawaiian Matt Jachowski has used his skills as a software developer to create the website Maui Hale Match, which he hopes will make it easier for displaced fire survivors to connect with homeowners and landlords that have available units they can afford. But his data shows the affordability gap is huge.
Some of the more than 200 calls with 911 dispatchers on Aug. 8 show the terror and panic as residents tried to find out what was happening, asked for help escaping the flames or got trapped in their cars.