An online petition calling for a postponement of West Maui’s planned reopening of tourism on Oct. 8 has garnered more than 10,000 signatures.
of petition was founded by Lahaina Strong, a community-driven grassroots organization dedicated to supporting Lahaina’s recovery and resiliency. The petition is being promoted by bkrvlogs, run by resident Blake Ramelve and a civic group. official lahaina strong The Instagram page describes the group’s efforts to “empower people, restore water, and protect land.” The Lahaina Strong Group was originally formed in response to the devastating West Maui wildfires that occurred in August 2018’s Hurricane His Lane.
The petition is scheduled to be delivered to the state Capitol at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3, according to a recent video blog post shared on both platforms.
Speakers during the event include representatives from the Lahaina Strong community, West Maui County Councilwoman Tamara Partin, and Senator Angus McKelvey (Senate District 6, West Maui, Maalaea, Waikapu, South Maui) .
Organizers said the demands presented at this press conference address the needs and well-being of the Lahaina community, as was also shared during 10 hours of testimony by West Maui residents at the Government Affairs and Ethics Conference on Wednesday, September 27th. “It’s deeply rooted,” he said. According to a news release from the Maui Council Transparency Committee.
The petition reads: “Reopening decisions must not proceed without proper consultation with Lahaina’s working-class families who were displaced by the fires…The voices of displaced people who have endured untold hardship must be fully heard. Is not” “
The group is seeking a governor and deputy prime minister. The governor will hear directly from local residents during a listening session scheduled for October 6th at 4pm at Hanaka’o Beach Park. Give survivors time to grieve. Stabilize housing and rent for affected residents. Ensure the safety and education of affected keiki. Provide a “coronavirus-level” safety net for working households and local businesses. Establishes a moratorium on foreclosures. Reduce tension with tourists. You can also market other Maui areas to tourists.
“Our communities are in pain, in deep grief, and physically and mentally exhausted. Many of our residents feel unprepared or capable of conveying the spirit of aloha to incoming tourists. The decision to reopen tourism on October 8th appears to be ill-timed for the government. The day-to-day uncertainty plaguing our communities must be prioritized before considering reopening We have to address it as a matter of fact,” said Jordan Ruidas, an organizer with Lahaina Strong.
“We urgently need long-term housing solutions and safe schooling and child care here in Lahaina. What we cannot believe is that the government has come up with a solution. “This is a hasty, ad hoc approach by the government just to make the case and rush towards reopening. It is imperative that this process is carried out thoughtfully and prioritizes the well-being of community members over the interests of the tourism industry.” Ruidas said.
West Maui legislators Sen. Angus McKelvey and Rep. Elle Cochran made similar demands over the weekend, asking the governor to waive the hard Oct. 8 date for reopening tourism to West Maui. Ta.
The letter states that the consensus among both councilors and their constituents is that the planned reopening of West Maui tourism is “too soon.” The letter also asks Governor Green to listen to the Lahaina community on reopening strategies.
“Putting the needs of the tourism industry against the needs of communities seeking healing is not the solution we seek. It is important to create solutions that do not exacerbate the problems of already vulnerable communities and ensure balance. ” Sen. McKelvey said in the letter.
West Maui City Councilwoman Tamara Paltin said she has talked to many people who are grappling with all the unknowns. “Many have already had to travel three or four times, sometimes from one end of the island to the other, with their families and all their belongings. They have received contradictory information from different officials of the same agency. You are not mentally or emotionally in a position to welcome strangers with a smile on your face and answer intrusive questions. Wailea welcomes you and Makena welcomes you. We will miss you and please help West Maui grieve,” she said in the announcement.
At a press conference last month announcing the reopening, Governor Greene said: There is no easy answer to this question, but I can say that if we support Maui’s economy and keep people employed, people will recover faster and be able to afford to continue living on Maui. ” he said.
Last week, Mayor Richard Bissen and members of the Lahaina Advisory Team announced a phased approach to reopening West Maui to tourists after the Governor’s planned reopening date. He said the goal was to introduce a phased approach starting October 8 that would clearly address housing needs.
The staggered opening will see Kahana properties reopen from Kapalua first, then Maui Kaanapali Villas from Mahinahina, and finally Hyatt Regency’s Royal Lahaina Resort. The mayor said this would be the last step to allow time to work on housing options, as the majority of evacuees have taken shelter in the area.