Na ‘Ohana o Lele, a coalition of community members in Lahaina on Friday called on Gov. Josh Green to ensure the Lahaina community is involved with the plan to rebuild Lahaina. In a news conference at Wahikuli Park, community members also asked that they be allowed to heal before the rebuilding process begins and ensure the public is kept informed of the process. — The Maui News / Robert Collias photo

LAHAINA — A coalition of Lahaina community members Friday called on Gov. Josh Green to ensure that “all decisions about rebuilding Lahaina” are made in the open and with the “full participation” of the Lahaina community. 

Na ‘Ohana o Lele, a coalition of community members in Lahaina, said the community needs time to grieve and that there should not be a rush to rebuild.

They are also asking that the state emergency proclamation be amended to ensure that the Sunshine Law remains in “full force,” which ensures the public’s right to know government decision-making and the discussions and information used in that process.

“The governor should ensure that all decisions about the rebuilding of Lahaina are made in the open and with the full participation of our Lahaina community,” said Tiare Lawrence, who grew up on the west side and graduated from Lahainaluna High School. “We need time to gather all of us together to engage in important conversations that will be needed.”

At a news conference at Wahikuli Beach Park, Lawrence said that Lahaina’s community leaders are from across the spectrum of citizens.

“We are a diverse Lahaina community,” Lawrence said. “Our strength is in our ability to come together, to stand together, to work together. Strong and resilient, but we need time to heal and to come together. We also need to be involved in the planning process for rebuilding our community. We ask that the governor meet our demands and work with us to create a better future for Lahaina. Come talk to us.”

In a live address later Friday night, Green expressed his desire to rebuild Lahaina according to the community’s wishes.

“We will rebuild Lahaina, it will take years of work and billions of dollars. But we are committed to this effort and together we will meet this challenge,” Green said with his wife, Jaime, at his side. “Let me be clear, Lahaina belongs to its people, and we are committed to rebuilding and restoring it the way they want it. The land in Lahaina is reserved for its people as they return and rebuild. And I have instructed the attorney general to impose enhanced criminal penalties on anyone that tries to take advantage of the victims by acquiring property in the affected areas.”

Through tears, Jaime Kanani Green went over the history of Lahaina.

“Our hearts go out to the victims of the disaster and their families as we come together to support the people of Maui,” she said. 

The governor added that he is working to ensure that Maui  “receives every resource available from the federal government, from the private sector, and from all around the world.” 

And, as government and public officials with Maui County as well as Hawaiian Electric Co. face criticism in the wake of the fires, Green restated Friday that the response is being evaluated as well. 

“I have ordered a comprehensive assessment of every detail of our response to the fires on Maui,” he said. “We will get to the bottom of exactly how the fire started, how our emergency procedures and protocols need to be strengthened and how we can improve our defenses to protect us in the future.” 

A total of 470 search and rescue personnel are on the ground in Lahaina along with 40 search and rescue dogs, according to Green. He said that more than 60 percent of the disaster area has been searched and he expects the number of fatalities to continue to increase each day. 

On Friday evening, the Maui Police Department said there are now 114 confirmed total fatalities. No additional individuals were identified Friday. 

So far, six people have been identified and their families have been notified. 

Four individuals have been identified but their families either have not been located or not been notified, police said. 

Maui County said as of Friday night that the Olinda fire remained at 1,081 acres and was 85 percent contained. 

The Kula fire also remained at 202 acres and was 85 percent contained.

The Lahaina fire was 90 percent contained and still at an estimated 2,168 acres.

Maui County said in its update that there has not been forward spread of any of the fires for several days now and that fire activity has been limited to isolated hot spots. 

The unsafe water advisory for the Lahaina water system was expanded Friday to include the area from Kaniau Road to Leialii Parkway, the county Department of Water Supply announced. The advisory remains in effect for Lahaina and Upper Kula. Until further notice, residents in these areas should only use bottled water for things like drinking, brushing teeth, ice making and food preparation. 

Supply distribution centers continue to operate, though the county-facilitated distribution site at the Lahaina Gateway Center will be closed Sunday for a staff break, the county said.  

Napili Plaza is open around the clock for food, water and other needs. Details on the schedule for next week will be announced Sunday. 

The number of survivors at six shelters around Maui has dropped significantly over recent days as the American Red Cross works to rapidly place survivors in hotel rooms. If a shelter closes in coming days, it’s because all survivors have moved into one of the hotels providing wraparound services, the county said. Open shelters are the best place for people to inquire about hotel emergency lodging.

To find a shelter, call (800) RED-CROSS (733-2767), download the free Red Cross Emergency app or text “GETEMERGENCY” to 90999.

As survivors head to more interim housing and the community mulls plans for the future, Native Hawaiian activist Kekai Keahi was adamant at the news conference at Wahikuli Beach Park Friday that the group be heard. 

“For me, myself and the people of Lahaina and Native Hawaiians, we see this as an opportunity to rebuild this place the way we see fit,” Keahi said. “And in a way that takes into account a lot of different aspects because there’s multiple people that live here, but built in a way that is right and that fits our people.”

Archie Kalepa spoke at the news conference with no affiliation to any organization. He worked for the County of Maui Ocean Safety Division for 31 years before retiring a few years back.

“I think this conference today showed unity,” Kalepa said after the formal event had ended. “It showed that under this disaster that we can still come together as one and maybe it had something to do with actually bringing us together. I don’t want that to take away from what’s behind there, but what I do want to say is that this really, really showed a form of unity.”

Kalepa continued, “What the task is now is how do we begin to really sit down at the table and be honest and open and have good discussion, calm discussion and what’s best for all. When I say all, I mean all races. Everyone that lives here whether you’re Filipino, Hawaiian, Portuguese, American — it all matters. 

“It all matters and we just have to make sure that we can keep that in mind moving forward when we make decisions, that it’s inclusive of everyone.”

* Staff Writer Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com. Robert Collias can be reached at rcollias @mauinews.com.