By Yiming Fu, Report for America Corps Member
Carol Ah Puck moved into the La‘ikū temporary housing project in Lahaina in late July.
She moved six times prior, from hotel to hotel. She’s glad to have a kitchen and a bed to sleep in.
“Here, we know we’re set. We can stay here until our home is rebuilt. We can just breathe.”
The La‘ikū temporary housing project along Lahainaluna Road provides fully furnished two-bedroom homes for fire survivors. The first four units are up, with the next four expected by Friday. In total, 16 two-bedroom fully furnished homes will be built on the two acres of land.
Twenty families are rebuilding their homes in the impacted zones, around 40 rebuilding permits have been approved and about 130 are in the queue to be approved. Last August, a wildfire burned down the West Maui town of Lahaina, killing 102 and displacing around 12,000 people.
Ah Puck heard about the temporary housing project and signed up within a week or two. This is a stable place to stay for now. She’s excited because she’s processing a rebuilding permit and has secured a builder who is able to build back her dream home on her land.
“You have to look at things positively. So I say ok, I’m going to build my dream home. It’s going to have a pool, and air conditioning in all the rooms.”
Before the fire, Ah Puck provided childcare for kids aged zero to six. She hopes to rebuild a room so she can continue her business and watch the kids.
“I know things will not go back to normal, but we can only hope and pray for the best for everyone.”
Kuhio Lewis, the CEO of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, said state and county governments collaborated efficiently with philanthropy groups to build La‘ikū. Lewis said housing inventory is key to bring back Hawaii’s Kanaka Maoli who have left the island.
Gov. Josh Green said thousands of units will be built next year, with more units coming throughout August and September. He wants to rebuild faster than places where similar tragedies have occurred.
“First year was about survival, the second year will be about rebuilding,” Green said.
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