Rebuilding the water system is likely to cost tens of millions of dollars and could be a limiting factor in rebuilding the town. 

The county won’t talk about its communications strategy regarding the deadly Lahaina fire, including who is making decisions on what to tell the public.

For years, a local businessman paid off officials in exchange for lucrative contracts. The system he exploited has been left largely unchanged.

Community criticism about a lack of emergency alerts, sirens and fire prevention didn’t make it into the report.

State emergency officials have said they never received the report, which could have offered guidance on how to prevent the Aug. 8 blaze.

The county is accelerating the timeline for visitors and others to return to the island’s west side following the Aug. 8 fires.

She discusses economic concerns following the August wildfires, the steep challenges in rebuilding, and why it’s important for public officials to speak directly and frequently with the media.

The state says it has no “after action review” of the earlier blaze and if Maui County ever completed its version, it was never widely disseminated.

Federal, state and county officials provided a joint update on the recovery process.

In a dirt lot across from Kahului Airport, air-conditioned field tents, a mess hall, a clinic and wrap-around services give clients a shot at recovery at Pu‘uhonua o Nene.