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‘State of our county is heartbroken’

Bissen delivers State of the County address

By MATTHEW THAYER 7 min read

"I am here to report the state of our county is heartbroken," Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said Friday night to begin a State of the County Address that required several pauses to gather his emotions.

Much of the 50-minute speech delivered in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater was spent paying tribute to the victims of last August's devastating wildfires and the first responders and community members who answered the call to help.

"While our lives changed forever on that tragic day, our most difficult days cannot be compared to the profound loss endured by the families and loved ones of those whose lives were lost," Bissen said. "We are heartbroken by the over 12,000 people who lost everything-our mothers, our fathers, sisters, brothers, our kupuna, and our keiki. Our people and our historic Lahaina will never be the same. But with this heartbreak, comes healing. Out of this tragedy, we will rise together, stronger, more resilient and committed as a community united in not only our rebuilding, but our growth."

Casting back to his first State of the County Address last year, Bissen said the emphasis 12 months ago was on navigating, "the challenging terrain that the pandemic had paved."

"We eagerly anticipated our future with renewed optimism, and looked forward to embarking into a time of new growth and prosperity," Bissen said.

While listing some of the pre-fire accomplishments of his administration, Bissen started with the addition of Holomua Kakou Drop-In Centers in Molokai, Hana and Lanai, calling them a commitment to inclusive government. He also cited breaking ground on long-awaited Kahana Well, the opening of Kulanihako'i High School, the removal of 330 tons of scrap metal litter from remote communities, including 1,000 abandoned vehicles, and securing a federal $25 million grant to move forward on Kihei's critically needed north-south collector road.

"Only seven months into our new administration, August 8th 2023, became a day none of us will forget. Everything changed that day, and overnight. Life as we knew it was no more. It was a day that challenged our fortitude and shook our foundation in the face of unimaginable devastation and disbelief. The only thing that was certain is that we would not stop until our people and our island were made whole once again."

Bissen said Maui's social safety net was stretched to the limit, but did not yield.

"My heartfelt mahalo palena 'ole to all of our emergency responders for their bravery and steadfast focus on their mission as Maui took on three major fires that simultaneously threatened Kihei, severely damaged Kula and destroyed Lahaina-stretching our fire and police departments to their limits," he said.

"Countless heroic acts took place during the wildfires, resulting in many lives being saved. The bravery of police officers Kameryn Pupunu and Calvin Dawn--who saved 15 people trapped in a coffee shop during the wildfire. Firefighter Tanner Mosher, who took quick action to clear an escape path and retrieve a vehicle, rescuing seven of his fellow firefighters. The actions they took that day were selfless as they put themselves in harm's way to secure the safety of others."

Bissen thanked the county's emergency dispatchers who took 4,500 calls that tragic day and were recently honored nationally with the Outstanding Call Center Award at the 2024 annual 911 Honor Awards in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

He said 76 county employees lost homes in the fires, but they continued to work to support the county's operations and recovery efforts. He thanked the six members of an advisory team of Lahaina residents enlisted to give the community a voice in the town's recovery and rebuild.

He also paid tribute to many businesses, organizations and non-profits, including: Hawaii Community Foundation and the Maui Strong Fund, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Maui United Way, Mahi Pono, Maui High School, University of Hawaii Maui College, Common Ground Collective, IMUA Family Services, Ka Hale A Ke Ola, Maui Economic Opportunity and the Maui Food Bank.

Major assistance, he said, was also provided by agencies, organizations and individuals who do not hail from Maui County.

"In the early response phase, there was an overwhelming sense of urgency in all our efforts," Bissen said. "Just as our community sprang into action, help from our government partners began flowing in. At the height of the response, we had over 1,000 personnel on island supporting our county team. It has been truly humbling and inspiring to receive help from men and women from so many federal agencies, state departments and the counties of Hawaii Island, Kauai and Honolulu who all sent personnel to address multiple capacities. Consulates from around the world and delegations from Native American tribes reached out with offers of help as well."

The U.S. Coast Guard received a nod for braving high winds, rough seas and dangerous conditions to conduct rescue operations as Lahaina burned.

"In the first hours, when the magnitude of the disaster was still unfolding, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued and recovered many people from the ocean," Bissen said. "Despite vessels exploding in the water, thick and toxic smoke choking the air, the Coast Guard relentlessly searched the offshore waters for any survivors. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Coast Guard and to all first responders who put their lives on the line to save others."

The address was held on a rainy night, but the precipitation did not account for all the wet eyes in the Castle Theater during the Remembrance of August Wildfire Victims video that was played on the theater's large screen prior to the address. The remembrance included photos of nearly all the 101 identified victims. Most were candid pictures showing the people smiling and having fun. More tears were shed not long after when Lahainaluna graduate Keali'i Reichel sat with his guitar at the front of the stage and sang his school's stirring alma mater.

Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee introduced Bissen, saying, "These are not normal times," before pledging her support.

"We must stand with our mayor for he is our navigator," Lee said.

Bissen said the way forward starts with housing for displaced residents and restoring critical infrastructure. He announced rent stabilization legislation to come, as well as action on reigning in short term rentals. He said the county plans to purchase the Haggai Institute in Kihei and reserve 25 percent of its units for island teachers.

"Housing remains at the forefront of our efforts, and we cannot look away from the glaring reality that losing even one more family is one too many," he said.

"We have completed clearing all 26 Kula properties that were impacted by the wildfire, and we are already working to review and approve submitted permit applications for those Kula landowners. We know that the majority of Lahaina survivors desire to remain in West Maui in interim housing while we rebuild Lahaina. With combined efforts from the county, state and FEMA, several key housing projects are moving forward, anticipating the addition of 2,000 units."

Bissen spoke about introducing Resolution 24-57 to the Maui County Council seeking to authorize eminent domain to acquire a lot adjacent to the Central Maui Landfill to permanently store Lahaina's fire debris.

"Ongoing disaster response efforts, such as debris clearing and containment, while preparing and planning for near and long-term projects that will bring roadways, water, sewer, utilities and telecommunications to impacted areas, have required a massive undertaking," Bissen said. "In parallel, we must also ensure that county operations continue uninterrupted for all districts on Maui, Molokai and Lanai."

There was one bit of news from Bissen that sounded more like the good old days of past state of the county addresses. Despite the tragic events, he said the county has managed to retain its excellent bond ratings, which translates to lower interest rates for county projects and better use of taxpayer dollars.

"The county's financial management and condition after the fires was reviewed extensively by Standard and Poor's and Moody's rating agencies and they provided the reassuring news that the financial outlook for the County of Maui is stable," Bissen said.

After his address, Bissen picked up his ukulele and invited his family on stage to join him in singing Hawaii Aloha with the audience.

* Staff Writer Matthew Thayer can be reached at mthayer@mauinews.com.

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