Lahaina is seen from the air on Aug. 10 near the border of the fire that destroyed most of the town but spared the area near the post office and Lahaina Civic Center. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Lahaina residents impacted by the recent wildfire called for a third-party investigation and asked for help with finances and paperwork as they try to get back on their feet after losing homes and businesses.

“We need help in Lahaina,” an impassioned Christine Borge, who left her Wainee Street home with only her dog, told the Maui County Council on Tuesday. “So far, all we got was $700 and we don’t know who to call or anything.”

She said her employees have lost homes and are struggling to fill out the required paperwork.

“Four out of five of us lost our homes, it was burned to the ground,” she said of her workers. “We are only told stand in this line, sign here.”

Borge and other residents testified Tuesday before the council, which is preparing to develop a recovery and resiliency plan in response to the tragic wildfires earlier this month. Close to 50 people testified online or in person at Council Chambers. A common theme was the call to have the West Maui community decide their future. There were also requests to have council meetings on the Lahaina fire held in West Maui and to have council members go out to the west side to see more of the damage and relief efforts.

Residents also shared their struggles and expressed frustrations. Another impassioned testifier, Aimoku Chee, said he would like to see an investigation on the fire and the response conducted by a third party that’s not associated with the government.

“We want accountability. Lahaina wants accountability,” Chee said.

He cited issues that included reviewing the possible role of Hawaiian Electric in the fires — residents have filed multiple lawsuits saying the company’s equipment was high risk, though the company has countered that no cause has been determined — as well as the police response to people evacuating.

“People in Lahaina are angry,” he said. “We don’t trust the government on what has happened.”

Naki Pokipala said her family had to evacuate to Napili and is thankful that they are safe, but “many of our loved ones are not.”

“People are still grieving. They are in shock,” Pokipala said.

She also said residents may not know how to fill out paperwork, and when they have to fill out a form online, they may not have internet access.

Pokipala said she spent the first night at a shelter and they wanted “to get out to our people.” She said that some sheltered residents could not get food and medicine for two days.

She suggested the creation of a vetted group, so that if another emergency happens, there are people available beyond first responders who can go out during an emergency to help residents.

“We will not wait for Red Cross to get our people, we will get our own,” she said.

Borge also expressed concerns about the economic impacts of the fires, taking issue with some who went on social media in the early days of the fire to say the island was closed to tourists.

“Some of us, thousands of us work in the hotel industry,” she said. “You are not speaking for us.”

Government officials had initially asked visitors to pause their travels to Maui, but later emphasized that while West Maui is closed due to the fire, the rest of the island is open.

“Tourists, come, we love you,” the 61-year-old Borge said. “You have gave us money through your donations. We are not saying don’t come–come. You will be helping us the lower people, the grains of sand on Maui is what we are.”

Some testifiers offered their help, including those involved with recovery and rebuilding efforts in Paradise, Calif., where the Camp Fire claimed at least 85 lives and destroyed more than 18,000 structures.

Paul Cheng, who is developing the Pulelehua project on 304 acres on the slopes below Kapalua Airport, also wanted to help. With the county administration’s assistance, he said he is “totally willing to give up the market-rate units” so they can be affordable units. He also offered a spot for a temporary school. Cheng said now is not the time to “talk about money.”

“Now is the time to talk about housing that people desperately need,” Cheng said.

Cheng reported that work is about 30 percent done for the grading and retaining walls for the first 240 units. Cheng said if the council and county want it, he could also add more units that are allowed under zoning.

Testifiers and some council members said the community should also be allowed to grieve before discussions are held on the next steps.

Council Member Tamara Paltin, whose residency seat is West Maui, said that the council could post for a meeting in West Maui in the next week or so, but pointed out that in addition to residents losing homes and/or loved ones, some “still struggle to connect with the outside world,” as they don’t have electricity or internet. She suggested the council first start out with listening sessions.

Council Chairwoman Alice Lee said it is important that community members come up with their priorities first. Then it will be up to the council committees to work on solutions.

“If we wait too long, the problem is the decisions are going to be made without us. Look at all the proclamations that came down,” Lee said.

“That’s my fear,” she said.

If priorities are determined, “at least we have the information. We can fight for the community.”

The council referred the issue to its Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee. Lee said that this is still the early stage of discussion.

“We are taking this as slow as we possibly can” and involving as many “as we can,” Lee said.

She acknowledged that communications may not be fully restored yet, but said “we need to hear from everybody.”

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