DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Hawaiian Electric points finger at Maui County over devastating wildfires, stock jumps 40%
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Search and recovery team members check charred buildings and cars in the aftermath of the Maui Fires in Lahaina, West Maui, Hawaii, August 17, 2023. "We were surprised and disappointed that the County of Maui rushed to court even before completing its own investigation," Hawaiian Electric CEO Shelee Kimura said in a statement Sunday. The small fire near the downed poles spread into a field near Lahaina Intermediate School. The Maui County Fire Department responded to the morning fire and declared it had been extinguished, according to the company's account of events leading up to the wildfires. Hawaiian Electric said the power had been off for hours when the crew witnessed that second fire in the field.

Persons: Shelee Kimura, Kimura Organizations: Electric, Lahaina Intermediate School, Maui County Fire Department, Hawaiian Locations: Maui, Lahaina , West Maui, Hawaii, Maui County, Lahaina

☆ Evacuation order lifted for West Maui
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency on Saturday briefly issued an evacuation order for West Maui due to brush fire. The order was in place for Anapuni Loop to West Mahipulu, the agency said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The order was subsequently lifted after firefighters stopped forward movement of the fire, the agency said in a follow-up post. Expect conditions that may make driving difficult and watch for public safety personnel operating in the area," the order said. Reporting by Jasper Ward, Editing by Nick Zieminski and Andrea RicciOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: West Mahipulu, Jasper Ward, Nick Zieminski, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Hawaii, Maui, West, Lahaina

☆ Maui business owners need tourism to survive, but say visitors should rethink how they use resources: 'It's not Disneyland'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Now, businesses say they need tourism to stay afloat and keep their workers employed. Kawakami said in the short term, though, local businesses need visitors to come back. But right now, local businesses need tourists in the short run to survive, and some told Insider that residents urging tourists to stay away were misguided. What locals say relief should look likeOn Thursday, Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii said on Twitter that South Maui resorts "NEED visitors," adding "now we have housed virtually everyone, temporarily." AdvertisementAdvertisement"It was through the efforts of local community, not the government," Nakoa said.

Persons: Garrett Marrero, Marrero, Kyle Kawakami, Kawakami, COVID, we're, Kaniela Ing, " Marrero, Sen, Brian Schatz, Josh Green of, Green, Ing, Julia Tallman, Leonard Junya Nakoa, Nakoa, Tallman, She's, she's Organizations: Service, Maui Brewing Company, Maui Brewing, —, Green New Deal Network, Hawaii, Twitter, Maui Economic Development Board, New Deal Locations: Maui, Wall, Silicon, Lahaina, West Maui, Josh Green of Hawaii

☆ Fact-Checking Vivek Ramaswamy on the Campaign Trail
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Linda Qiu | More About Linda Qiu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

First, Mr. Manuel is not an “Obama appointee” but rather participated in a leadership development program run by the Obama Foundation in 2019. Noting high winds and drought, the company requested permission to fill a private reservoir for fire control, though the reservoir was not connected to fire hydrants. The water agency asked the company whether the fire department had made the request, received no answer and said that it needed the approval of a farmer who relied on the water for his crops. The company said that it could not reach the farmer, but that the agency approved the request hours later. The executive, in another letter, also wrote that “we would never imply responsibility” on Mr. Manuel’s part.

Persons: Manuel, Obama, ”, Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy’s Organizations: Obama Foundation, Mr, Maui Land Company, The New York Times Locations: Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, The

☆ How forensic investigators use DNA, fingerprints and other methods to identify remains after a fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

“DNA has been really extremely helpful for us, with the Rapid DNA,” said Alison Galloway, professor emerita of anthropology at the University of California-Santa Cruz, who helped identify remains during the Camp Fire. “If you don’t have that … then it’s a lot more difficult.”In general, forensic experts rely on DNA, dental analysis, fingerprints, medical hardware or circumstantial evidence to try to identify remains. “We’re still diligently working trying to make sure that we can identify (remains), and that’s why that DNA is so important, because we got fingerprints from three,” he said. Galloway, the forensics professor, said one of the advantages of the Rapid DNA technology is in quickly determining whether a DNA swab is usable. Maui asks for family members to come forwardFor Rapid DNA to work, family members of the missing have to willingly submit to DNA swabs.

Persons: ”, Alison Galloway, Santa Cruz, Josh Green, CBS’s, Sarah Salmonese, Go Nakamura, Ken Alba, Jae C, Yuki Iwamura, Patrick T, Fallon, Bryan Anselm, Mike Blake, Matthew A, Foster, Rick Bowmer, Lauren Haley, Makalea Ahhee, Justin Sullivan, Max Whittaker, Zoltan Balogh, Robert Gauthier, Mengshin Lin, Evelio Contreras, CNN Vixay Phonxaylinkham, Lana, Phonoxaylinkham, Marco Garcia, Claire Rush, Myrna Ah Hee, Sui, Ty O'Neil, Ku'u Kauanoe, ZUMA, Matthew Thayer, John Pelletier, “ We’re, Stephen Meer, Sudhin, –, Meer, we’ve, you’ve, you’re, ” Meer, Jonathan Masaki Shiroma, what’s, …, Robert Quinn, “, Robert Quinn’s Organizations: CNN, University of California, New York Times, Getty, Reuters, Staff, US Army National Guard, Maui Police, Facility, AP Volunteers, Grace Baptist, Volunteers, Los Angeles Times, AP, Washington Post, Kahului Airport, Technologies, Kahului, AP Helicopters, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters Residents, ZUMA Passengers, Maui News, ANDE Corp, Forensic Science, Fire, FBI, Maui Emergency Management Agency Locations: Maui, California, Santa, Hawaii, Lahaina , Hawaii, Lahaina, AFP, Wahikuli, Wailuku, Kula , Hawaii, Kula, Kihei, West Maui, Grace, Napili, Honokowai, Honolulu, Maalaea, Kahului, Las Vegas, Church, Lahaina Hongwanji, Paradise , California, Galloway, Ukraine, ”, Butte County

☆ Maui wildfires: Nearly 400 remain unaccounted for in Maui after deadly wildfires, FBI-curated list shows -- a big decline from prior estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Michelle Watson Kelly Mccleary Cheri Mossburg Anna-Maja Rappard Natasha Chen | Michelle Watson | Kelly Mccleary | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Search crews and cadaver dogs have searched 100% of single-story homes in the disaster area, Maui County officials said Tuesday. Sarah Salmonese sits where her apartment once stood in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Friday, August 11. “Our primary focus in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy has been to do everything we can to support not just the people of Maui, but also Maui County. Hawaiian Electric Company serves 95% of the state’s customer base. CNN has reached out to Maui County and the Maui Police Department for comment on Krau’s claims.

Persons: who’s, “, John Pelletier, Josh Green, geolocating, Steven Merrill, Sarah Salmonese, Go Nakamura, Ken Alba, Jae C, Yuki Iwamura, Patrick T, Fallon, Bryan Anselm, Mike Blake, Matthew A, Foster, Rick Bowmer, Lauren Haley, Makalea Ahhee, Justin Sullivan, Max Whittaker, Zoltan Balogh, Robert Gauthier, Mengshin Lin, Evelio Contreras, CNN Vixay Phonxaylinkham, Lana, Phonoxaylinkham, Marco Garcia, Claire Rush, Myrna Ah Hee, Sui, Ty O'Neil, Ku'u Kauanoe, ZUMA, Matthew Thayer, John Moore, it’s, Jim Kelly, ”, Darren Pai, “ inexcusably, John Fiske, ‘, Nicholas Krau, ” Krau, Krau Organizations: CNN, FBI, ” Police, ”, Analysis, New York Times, Getty, Reuters, Staff, US Army National Guard, Maui Police, Facility, AP Volunteers, Grace Baptist, Volunteers, Los Angeles Times, AP, Washington Post, Kahului Airport, Technologies, Kahului, AP Helicopters, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters Residents, ZUMA Passengers, Maui News, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiian Electric Company, ATF, Electric, National Weather Service, Watch, State of Hawaii Organization of Police, Maui Police Department Locations: Maui, Maui County, ” Hawaii, Lahaina –, Hawaii, Lahaina , Hawaii, Lahaina, AFP, Wahikuli, Wailuku, Kula , Hawaii, Kula, Kihei, West Maui, Grace, Napili, Honokowai, Honolulu, Maalaea, Kahului, California, Las Vegas, Church, Lahaina Hongwanji, Olinda

☆ Nearly 400 people still missing after Maui fires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Deon J. Hampton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A general view shows damage in the fire ravaged town of Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii, U.S., August 15, 2023. MAUI, Hawaii — The County of Maui on Thursday night released the names of nearly 400 people who remain officially unaccounted for, two weeks after a devastating wildfire swept through the island. The 388 names were compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and deemed validated with first and last names, county officials said. In a statement Thursday, Hawaiian Electric said its focus in the aftermath of the fires has been to support the people of Maui and Maui County. "We are very disappointed that Maui County chose this litigious path while the investigation is still unfolding," it said.

Persons: John Pelletier Organizations: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Police, Authorities, Hawaiian Electric Co, Hawaiian Electric, Electric, EPA, NBC Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, MAUI, The County, West Maui, Maui County

☆ Hawaii calls for tourists to visit Maui as unemployment claims surge after deadly wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Supplies for Lahaina fire victims are gathered and delivered by Hawaiians sailing on a large catamaran who often sail around the world together to Lahaina neighborhoods. Officials in Hawaii are encouraging tourists to visit Maui to help support the economy as unemployment claims surge on the island in the wake of deadly wildfires in the western region. But the governor and the Hawaii Tourism Authority are encouraging tourists to visit all other areas of Maui to help support a local economy that is suffering in the wake of the blaze. Sen. Brian Schatz said furloughs and layoffs are starting to pick up because people think the whole island is closed. Unemployment claims in Maui have skyrocketed from 130 shortly before the blaze to 4,449 as of last week, according to data from the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Persons: Josh Green's, Sen, Brian Schatz, furloughs Organizations: Gov, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic, Tourism Locations: Lahaina, Hawaii, Maui, West Maui

☆ Maui Officials Blame Utility for Allowing Deadly Fire to Start
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Mitch Smith | More About Mitch Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For the first time, Maui County officials publicly blamed Hawaii’s largest electric utility for the wildfires that killed at least 115 people this month, claiming in a lawsuit filed on Thursday that “intentional and malicious” mismanagement of power lines had allowed flames to spark. “Defendants knew of the extreme fire danger that the high wind gusts posed to their overhead electrical infrastructure, particularly during red flag conditions,” the lawsuit said. It said power company officials had chosen “not to de-energize their power lines,” even though they knew that power poles and power lines were falling and coming into contact with dry vegetation. The fire in Lahaina, in West Maui, became the country’s deadliest in more than a century, while smaller fires in central Maui also caused significant damage. Lawsuits filed previously by homeowners and shareholders claimed the utility had been negligent.

Persons: “ Defendants, “ Locations: Maui County, Lahaina, West Maui, Maui

At the same time, investigators acknowledged that it's possible not all of the remains of victims from the August 8th fire on Maui will ever be found. "The number of family members who are coming in to provide DNA samples is a lot lower than they've seen in other disasters," he said. Martin said he could not explain why people seemed less willing to provide DNA samples - so far 104 had been collected. The wildfires whipped by winds tore through the beachside town of Lahaina in west Maui, killing at least 115 people, according to Maui County officials. Reporting by Jonathan Allen in Lahaina, Hawaii, and Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin Lamarque, Andrew Martin, Martin, John Pelletier, Pelletier, Jonathan Allen, Brad Brooks, Michael Perry Organizations: Lahaina Civic Center, REUTERS, Maui Police, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, LAHAINA, Maui County, beachside, Lahaina , Hawaii, Longmont , Colorado

In the aftermath of the Camp fire that destroyed Paradise, Calif., in 2018, the tally of the missing reached almost 1,300. But by releasing the names of the unaccounted for, the authorities were able to slowly whittle down the list. Of the more than 1,000 still missing in the Lahaina fire, officials from the county of Maui said they did not have any estimate of how many were presumed dead. They did say they had not identified any minors in official tallies of the missing. Classes at four schools on West Maui had been canceled the morning of the fires because of high winds and power outages, according to local news reports.

Persons: ” Steven Merrill, whittle Locations: ’, Honolulu, Maui, Calif, Lahaina, West Maui

In an aerial view, burned cars and homes are seen a neighborhood that was destroyed by a wildfire on August 17, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii. A young boy walks through wildfire wreckage Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Search and recovery team members check charred buildings and cars in the aftermath of the Maui Fires in Lahaina, West Maui, Hawaii, August 17, 2023. Lahaina, Maui, Wednesday, August 16, 2023 - Homes and businesses lay in ruins after last week's devastating wildfire swept through town. A woman walks through wildfire wreckage Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Persons: Patrick T, Fallon, Fred Abad, Louise Abihai, Ellie Erickson —, Richard Zubaty, Richard Bissen, Harold, Justin Sullivan, Lynn Ouano, Faias, Jay Ouano, Rick Bowmer, Kuulei Barut, Losano, Leona Castillo, Castillo, Yuki Iwamura, haven't, Erickson, Robert Gauthier, Julie French Organizations: Kahului, AFP, Getty, NBC, Maui, Facebook, Los Angeles Times Locations: Maui, Kahului, Hawaii, Maui County, Instagram, Palm Springs, Texas, Lahaina , Hawaii, Washington, U.S, Pennsylvania, Lahaina, Lahaina , West Maui, Kihei, Australia

☆ Earth, wind and fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Earth, wind and fire The wildfire that ripped through Lahaina last week, reducing what had once been the jewel of the historic Hawaiian kingdom to rubble, was decades in the making, scientists say. Illustration of smoke rising above mountains How wind spreads fire As wind cascades over mountains, sinking air compresses, heats up and loses moisture. Over Aug. 7 to 9, gale-force wind gusts reached 67 miles per hour (108 kilometres per hour) in Maui County, according to the National Weather Service. Hot and dry air, colored in orange, moves over Hawaii throughout the timelapse. Today, over 90% of Hawaii’s native dry forests have disappeared, and non-native grasses cover roughly a quarter of the state, according to scientists.

Persons: didn’t, ”, Abby Frazier, Dora —, John Bravender, Dora, Hurricane Dora, “ Dora, Bravender, climatologist Frazier, Thomas Smith, Jennifer Balch, Mike Opgenorth, ” Smith, Matthew A, Foster, Handout Organizations: U.S . Drought Monitor, Clark University, National Weather Service, National Oceanic, Pacific Hurricane Center, North Pacific, London School of Economics, Political, University of Colorado Boulder, Pacific Fire Exchange, University of Hawaii, U.S . Army National Guard, Staff Locations: Lahaina, Lahaina —, West Maui, Lahaina simmered, Maui, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Maui County, Honolulu, Canada, India, South America, Caribbean, Lahaina , Hawaii, U.S

It was the firestorm that wildfire experts and residents on Maui had warned about for years — a blaze fueled by hurricane winds roaring through untamed grasses and into a 13,000-person coastal town with few ways in or out. Local officials had released plan after plan acknowledging that wildfire was all but certain. Cellphone sites were burned and lost power, leaving people unable to communicate or receive emergency alerts. And while fire departments and wildfire-preparedness groups have long urged people in fire-prone areas like West Maui to be ready and leave early, other advice from the authorities was far less concrete. The state of Hawaii’s own guide for how people should respond to hurricanes, tsunamis and other disasters does not include any direction on what to do in a wildfire.

Locations: Maui, Lahaina, West Maui

☆ Hawaii wildfires: Fights over water amid west Maui's charred ruins ignite new fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Bill Weir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Wailuku, Hawaii CNN —On a Hawaiian tourist brochure, fire and water are selling points for a volcanic paradise where lava flows and waterfalls mist. “There has been a great deal of water conflict on Maui for many years,” Hawaii Gov. “It’s disaster capitalism at its finest.”A rushing canal is seen on Hokuao Pelligrino's family farm in Wailuku on Maui on August 20, 2023. After watching Pellegrino and his Wailuku community litigate their streams back to life, locals around Lahaina followed suit. You restore the water and families are going back to their ancestral land.”Hokuao Pellegrino poses for a portrait on August 20, 2023.

Persons: Josh Green, Green, ” Hokuao Pellegrino, “, ”, Evelio Contreras, Eha, Pellegrino, ’ ”, they’ll, Glenn Tremble, couldn’t, ” Pellegrino, Taro, Joe Biden’s Organizations: Hawaii CNN, ”, Maui Land Company, New York Times, CNN, West Maui Land Company Locations: Wailuku, Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, ” Hawaii, Venice, Hawaiian Kingdom, West Maui, Maui County

☆ Biden heading to Maui to meet with wildfire survivors
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/8] U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden board a plane as they depart for Maui from Reno, Nevada, U.S., August 21, 2023. "It’s going to be an emotional day for everyone," White House spokesperson Olivia Dalton told reporters on Air Force One. Biden, who is seeking reelection in 2024, has been criticized by some Republicans and others for his initial response to the Maui fires. Biden said on Aug. 10 he would expand federal aid to Hawaii and promised help to anyone who needed it. Biden himself said he did not want to travel to Maui until he was assured he would not interfere with emergency response efforts.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Joe Biden's, Biden, Olivia Dalton, Dalton, Deanna Criswell, Richard Bissen, Bob Fenton, Criswell, Steve Holland, Jarrett Renshaw, Colleen Jenkins, Michael Perry, Jonathan Oatis, Heather Timmons, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, FORCE, Air Force, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Facebook, Monday, FEMA, Southwest, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Maui, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Maui, Reno , Nevada, U.S, Tahoe, Lahaina, Hawaii, Delaware, Maui County, Southern California

☆ Biden Visits Hawaii Biden Heads to Maui to See Wildfire Devastation
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Peter Baker | Zolan Kanno-Youngs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Terri Thomas’s family has been waiting for days. “It’s tragic — this hopeless feeling,” said Ms. Thomas’s niece, Terra Thomas, who lives in North Carolina. Spotty-to-nonexistent phone reception, especially in the immediate aftermath, made it hard for survivors to contact loved ones. Chief John Pelletier of the Maui Police Department urged people searching for loved ones to take a DNA test that could help identify their remains. Once the couple was able to inform loved ones they were safe, the social media attention proved helpful.

Persons: Terri Thomas’s, Thomas, Thomas’s, “, ”, Terra Thomas, Jill Tokuda, “ It’s, Noelle Manriquez, John Pelletier of, Pelletier, ” Terra Thomas, Terri Thomas, Harry, Toni Troupe, Toni, Max Whittaker, ” Emily Cochrane Organizations: Democrat, Maui Police Department, ”, The New York Times, huskies, Credit, Facebook Locations: Lahaina, Hawaii, North Carolina, Maui, Congress, West Maui, State, Napili, Honokowai, Ohio, Midwest, Bali

Hours before the wildfire became an inferno that wiped out the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina, officials at the West Maui Land Company reached out to the state with an urgent request. The company, a real estate developer that supplies water to areas southeast of Lahaina, took note of the dangerous combination of high winds and drought-parched grasses Maui was facing. It asked for permission to fill up one of its private reservoirs in case firefighters needed it. In the interim, a brush fire that had been contained that morning flared up once again and swept through Lahaina, burning everything in its path. It is unlikely that filling up the private reservoir would have changed the course of the Lahaina wildfire, state officials say, and winds were so high that day that helicopter crews would have been unable to reach it.

Organizations: Maui Land Company Locations: Lahaina, Maui

☆ As Maui rebuilds, residents reckon with tourism's role in their recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Maui Economic Development Board says tourism is "irrefutably" the economic engine of Maui, which saw 1.4 million visitors in just the first half of 2023. About 70% of every dollar generated in Maui can be attributed to tourism, according to the board. Yet as the island looks to rebuild, residents like Keahi wonder what role tourism should play in the long road ahead to recovery. "So if they're saying Maui is closed, then there are no tourists coming in, and then we lose our jobs." "We just wanted to stay out of the way," Bailey said, adding that he understands the local residents "need time."

Persons: Hawaii's, Kapali Keahi, Keahi, Rafael Villanueva, Villanueva, that's, " Villanueva, Josh Green, Julie Sumibtay, Sumibtay, Tom Bailey, Bailey Organizations: Maui Economic Development Board, Tourism Expert, Las Vegas Convention, Visitors Authority, Las, Las Vegas, Hawaii Gov Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Nahale St, Long, America, Las, West Maui, It's, Kihei, Sacramento, California, Kaanapali, Oahu

Josh Green insisted Friday that the years-long undertaking of rebuilding Maui’s historic Lahaina community will prioritize residents’ desires over those of property developers. The western Maui community – once a lively economic and cultural hub – has been decimated by the wildfires that began tearing through the island on August 8. Sarah Salmonese sits where her apartment once stood in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Friday, August 11. Matthew Thayer/The Maui News/AP In pictures: The deadly Maui wildfires Prev NextSports teams pitch in to helpWith the stark task ahead of rebuilding leveled communities, some sports teams are contributing to ongoing relief efforts. Proceeds from the game on October 29 in Champaign, Illinois, will be donated to the Hawai’i Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund, which provides financial resources towards Maui’s recovery, according to the schools.

Persons: Josh Green, ” Green, Jaime Kanani Green, ”, “, they’ve, Tiare Lawrence, Green, he’s, Herman Andaya, Andaya, Sarah Salmonese, Go Nakamura, Ken Alba, Jae C, Yuki Iwamura, Patrick T, Fallon, Bryan Anselm, Mike Blake, Matthew A, Foster, Rick Bowmer, Lauren Haley, Makalea Ahhee, Justin Sullivan, Max Whittaker, Zoltan Balogh, Robert Gauthier, Mengshin Lin, Evelio Contreras, CNN Vixay Phonxaylinkham, Lana, Phonoxaylinkham, Marco Garcia, Claire Rush, Myrna Ah Hee, Sui, Ty O'Neil, Ku'u Kauanoe, ZUMA, Matthew Thayer, WNBA’s Sparks, Bill Self, Brad Underwood Organizations: CNN, Hawaii Gov, Maui’s Emergency Management Agency, New York Times, Getty, Reuters, Staff, US Army National Guard, Maui Police, Facility, AP Volunteers, Grace Baptist, Volunteers, Los Angeles Times, AP, Washington Post, Kahului Airport, Technologies, Kahului, AP Helicopters, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters Residents, ZUMA Passengers, Maui News, Angeles, Angels, Dodgers, NFL’s Chargers, Rams, NBA’s Clippers, Lakers, NHL’s, Ducks, Angel City Football Club, LA Galaxy, University of Kansas, University of Illinois ’, Hawai’i, Strong, Maui Invitational Locations: Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, –, Maui County, Lahaina , Hawaii, AFP, Wahikuli, Wailuku, Kula , Hawaii, Kula, Kihei, West Maui, Grace, Napili, Honokowai, Honolulu, Maalaea, Kahului, California, Las Vegas, Church, Lahaina Hongwanji, “ Despite California, Southern California, NHL’s Kings, Champaign , Illinois, Kansas, Illinois

☆ Maui children face grief, destruction as schools start up after wildfire
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Sharon Bernstein | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] A view of burned debris after wildfires devastated the historic town of Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S., August 10, 2023. Getting kids back in school poses numerous challenges: hundreds have already enrolled in schools in areas outside the burn zone. To help students, parents and staff, the Hawaii State Department of Education is offering in-person and telehealth counseling services, according to the department's website. SCHOOLS REOPEN OUTSIDE BURN ZONEThe state has been encouraging families from Lahaina to enroll their children at schools outside of the burn zone where they may be staying temporarily. Children whose families already lived outside Lahaina but attend schools there on special permits should also enroll elsewhere, the Hawaii State Department of Education said on its website.

Persons: Mike Landes, King Kamehameha, Landes, Courtney Walter, King Kamehameha III, Nahi'ena'ena, They've, Sharon Bernstein, Jonathan Allen, Liliana Salgado, Donna Bryson, Sonali Paul Organizations: Hawai'i Department of Land, Natural Resources, REUTERS Acquire, King Kamehameha III Elementary School, Lahainaluna, Landes, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii State Department of Education, Reuters, Maui High School, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Hawaii's, Kihei, Landes, Maui's Upcountry, Lahainaluna, West Maui, Sacramento

☆ Hawaiian Electric takes expert help but says goal not to restructure
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Homes damaged by fire are seen in Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii, U.S., August 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge Garcia Acquire Licensing RightsAug 18 (Reuters) - Hawaiian Electric Industries (HE.N) is seeking expert advice amid growing scrutiny over its role in the Maui wildfires, but the largest power supplier in the US island state said on Friday that the goal was not to restructure the company. The company did not clearly outline the purpose for which it was seeking expert advice. "Like any company in this situation would do, and as we do in the normal course of business, we are seeking advice from various experts," it said in a filing. It did not include around 2,600 homes and businesses that were destroyed, which represent less than 1% of its customers.

Persons: Jorge Garcia, Arshreet Singh, Arunima Kumar, Arun Koyyur Organizations: REUTERS, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Moody's Investors Service, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Honolulu, California, West Maui, Bengaluru

CNN —A state agency delayed a water management company’s request to make more water available to fight the devastating wildfires in Maui earlier this month, according to letters obtained by CNN. The agency told Tremble that his company first had to ask about impacts on downstream users, according to the letter. Tremble told CNN by that time, his company’s water system manager left the area to evacuate his family and other staff couldn’t be reached. In a follow-up letter, Tremble thanked the chairperson for the prompt response. “This deployment does not suggest that First Deputy Manuel did anything wrong.”The agency declined to comment on whether quicker approval of West Maui Land Company’s request would have helped firefighters.

Persons: Glenn Tremble, Tremble, couldn’t, ” Tremble, “, ”, Josh Green, Kaleo Manuel –, –, Manuel, Manuel couldn’t Organizations: CNN, Maui Land Company, Water Resource Management, Honolulu Star, Honolulu Civil, Department of Land, Resources, Department Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina ., Lahaina, Honolulu, West Maui

☆ Maui’s Emergency Management Chief Resigns After Questions About Fire Response
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Victoria Kim | More About Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The head of Maui’s emergency management agency resigned Thursday, county officials said, after facing mounting questions about his agency’s decision not to sound the sirens on the island as last week’s deadly wildfires bore down on the historic town of Lahaina. The chief, Herman Andaya, submitted his resignation citing health reasons, county officials said, “effective immediately.” A day earlier at a news conference, Mr. Andaya defended the decision not to activate the sirens, saying the outdoor alarms are used primarily for tsunamis and would not have helped because people are trained to seek higher ground when they hear the siren. Asked whether he regretted the decision a week after the disaster, Mr. Andaya responded: “I do not.”None of the 80 warning sirens placed around Maui were activated in last week’s fires, leading residents to question why they weren’t sounded as a fast-moving blaze overtook West Maui and killed more than 100 people. Many survivors said they received little or no warning, with downed power lines and cell towers preventing some electronic alerts from reaching residents.

Persons: Herman Andaya, “, Andaya Locations: Lahaina, Maui, West Maui

☆ Maui emergency chief resigns after defending decision to not activate sirens during wildfire
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this image taken from video, Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Herman Andaya speaks during a news conference in Wailuku, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The head of Maui County's emergency management agency resigned on Thursday, a day after he defended his decision to not activate sirens during catastrophic wildfires that have taken more than 100 lives. Maui Emergency Management Agency administrator Herman Andaya cited health reasons for his resignation, which took immediate effect. The inferno is the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century and the worst disaster in Hawaii state history. State and local emergency management officials face growing scrutiny over whether they did enough to alert the public as the wildfires spread.

Persons: Herman Andaya, Andaya, Richard Bissen, Bissen, Anne Lopez, Lopez, Josh Green, Green Organizations: Maui Emergency Management, Maui Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii Gov Locations: Maui, Wailuku, Hawaii, West Maui, Maui County, Lahaina, U.S

Search resuls for: "West Maui"

25 mentions found