The Maui News

WAILUKU–The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with federal, state, and local partners, announced that debris removal on the last single- and multi-unit residential properties in Lahaina is currently underway.

The milestone marks “a significant achievement in the Personal Property Debris Removal Program, as all residential properties will be cleared months ahead of the original January 2025 deadline–a testament to the dedication and efficiency of the teams involved,” USACE said in a press release announcing the final property clearings.

According to USACE, out of 1,390 residential properties enrolled in the USACE debris removal program, 1,387 have already been cleared of fire and ash debris. The final three properties are currently undergoing debris removal; after which they will move onto the final stages of soil testing and erosion control before being transferred to the County of Maui for completion.

“We’re humbled by the trust the residents of Lahaina have placed in us to help restore their community,” Commander of the USACE Hawaii Wildfires Recovery Field Office Lt. Col Collin Jones said. “Achieving 100% debris removal in record time is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between USACE, our partners, and the community.”

“The completion of residential debris removal is a pivotal moment for Spinnaker Condo Owners,” Snehal Patel said, who is the president of The Spinnaker Association of Apartment Owners. “This impending milestone not only clears the way for physical reconstruction but also opens the door to restoring the spirit and resilience of our neighborhood. On behalf of all our owners, I want to thank the USACE and their partners for their diligent and expeditious work in making this possible. We are eager to begin the next chapter of rebuilding the Spinnaker property and are one step closer to bringing our owners back into their homes.”

USACE als stated that commercial debris removal operations are also progressing, with 91 out of 159 commercial properties cleared to date. The completion of these efforts remains on track for February 2024.

For more information, please contact the USACE Hawai’i Wildfires Public Affairs Office at (808) 835-4062 or hawaiifiresmedia@usace.army.mil.