HONOLULU — One year after fast-moving wildfires destroyed the town of Lahaina, Maui, there are visible signs of progress to rebuild.
Lots have been mostly cleared of debris. The water and wastewater systems have been rebuilt. Permits for residents to start rebuilding have been approved. Even its iconic, 151-year-old Banyan tree seems to have survived.
Why it matters: But the wildfires that killed more than 100 people on Aug. 8, 2023, exacerbated a housing crisis and have forced local residents and leaders to confront bigger questions about how to rebuild on Maui.