HONOLULU — Local officials in Hawaii next month plan to open an office that will speed up Maui County’s notoriously slow processing of building permits to help the town of Lahaina to recover from last year’s deadly wildfire.
Keanu Lau Hee, the county’s deputy managing director, told a community meeting in Lahaina that a County Expedited Permitting Center will open in April. She said the county has selected a vendor to it help review applications.
“If any of you have had the pleasure of filing a permit with the county – we’re not that quick,“ she said at the meeting, which was held on Wednesday and streamed online.
Hawaii’s four counties, and Maui County in particular, are well-known for lengthy permit processing times. University of Hawaii researchers have found that in the last five years, the state’s median wait time for a construction permit to build a multifamily project was 400 days.
The Aug. 8 wildfire destroyed more than 2,000 buildings and displaced 4,500 people in Lahaina. Lau Hee said 87% of those who lost their homes were renters, and the rest were homeowners.
The new permitting center will help private developers building five separate projects with a combined total of more than 500 housing units.
Lau Hee said the county also wants to help property owners rebuild after workers finish cleaning toxic debris and utility infrastructure is in place. She said the county hopes properties will be cleared by early next year.
“Our goal is to create opportunities for you folks to start rebuilding on your properties,” she said.
About 3,800 residents are still living in hotels.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is building 169 temporary housing units for displaced residents and is renting 1,300 units from landlords. The state of Hawaii is building about 450 temporary housing units, including 270 that will be ready by July or August. The state’s temporary units are expected to be used for three to five years.
In the wake of the devastating wildfires that swept through Lahaina, Maui officials are working tirelessly to expedite the permit processing for rebuilding efforts in the area. The fires, which broke out in July, destroyed over 20 homes and caused widespread damage to the community.
The rebuilding process has been slow and challenging for many residents and business owners in Lahaina, as they navigate the complex and time-consuming permit process. However, Maui officials have recognized the urgency of the situation and are taking steps to streamline the process and help expedite the rebuilding efforts.
One of the key initiatives that officials have implemented is the creation of a dedicated task force to oversee the permit processing for Lahaina rebuilding projects. This task force is comprised of representatives from various departments, including planning, zoning, and building permits, who are working together to ensure that permits are processed quickly and efficiently.
Additionally, officials have also waived certain fees and expedited review processes for rebuilding projects in Lahaina. This will help to reduce the financial burden on residents and business owners who are already facing significant losses due to the wildfires.
Maui Mayor Michael Victorino has emphasized the importance of supporting the Lahaina community during this difficult time. “We are committed to helping our residents and business owners rebuild and recover as quickly as possible,” he stated. “By expediting the permit process and providing support where needed, we hope to make the rebuilding process as smooth and efficient as possible.”
Residents and business owners in Lahaina have expressed gratitude for the efforts of Maui officials to expedite the permit processing for rebuilding projects. Many have noted that this support is crucial in helping them to rebuild their lives and businesses in the aftermath of the wildfires.
Overall, the expedited permit processing efforts in Lahaina are a testament to the resilience and unity of the Maui community. By working together and providing support where needed, officials are helping to ensure that Lahaina can rebuild and thrive once again.
