Local News

A moment in history: Family says thanks as community celebrates first rebuilt home in Lahaina

After months of hard work, communication and a whole lot of prayer, a new home passed its final inspections Friday, making it the first rebuild in the Lahaina Disaster Area.

Lahaina residents Mau and Ariel Ah Hee and their two sons were joined by family, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, contractor Derrick Montalvo and friends and supporters during a special blessing of their new three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,200-square-foot home off Komo Mai Street.

With the West Maui mountains standing tall in the background and water making its way down the Kahoma Stream nearby, the Ah Hees gave thanks to all those who helped make their dream to return home a reality that day.

"I have a long list of people to thank ... all the people who volunteered to help, all the people who donated to us and to the whole community of Lahaina -- we wouldn't be here without you," Ariel Ah Hee said. "Thank you beyond words."

The Ah Hee's home was able to be built after the County of Maui Recovery Permit Center offered expedited emergency permitting for fire-impacted residences in July.

Ah Hee said it took about six months to rebuild the family's home, with permits requiring around two months and with the support of Montalvo and Peter Lim, supervising building inspector with 4Leaf Inc.

Mau and Ariel Ah Hee, their two young sons and members of their ohana are pictured here during a blessing of their recently built home in Lahaina on Friday. County of Maui photo

The rebuilding is being done under the countyʻs emergency building permit process, which was enacted on March 11.

The emergency building permit process is administered by the Development Services Administration under the Maui County Department of Public Works. DSA contracted with 4Leaf Inc. to operate the emergency building permit process and the county's two Recovery Permit Centers, the first of which opened in Kahului on April 29. DSA led the coordination with county and state permitting agencies to organize and streamline permit requirements and procedures to enable the implementation of the emergency building permit process.

Lim said the inspection process begins from the foundation and continues through completion, and he worked closely with Montalvo to ensure the house would be built up to code to avoid any potential delays.

"I was here every day and gave him pointers as an outreach with 4Leaf to help them," he said.

"That's what we're here for -- to get people in their houses as soon as possible," he said.

Montalvo said he's been in Lahaina nonstop since last year, helping to renovate any homes damaged by the fire. He said he was grateful for those who helped him get the job done.

"I would like to thank Elle Cochran and Jock Makoto, who have supported the building process and the rebuilding of Lahaina," he said.

Ariel Ah Hee said she was surprised it happened so fast.

"I was thinking at least two to three years. The fact that we're here before Thanksgiving was wild," she said.

Bissen greeted the crowd Friday and described it as the first step in bringing Lahaina residents back home.

"I am deeply grateful that this milestone is occurring sooner than we ever anticipated," he said. "It is a testament to the spirit of resiliency that has been evident in Lahaina and the dedicated work of many, including our federal and community partners, as well as the unwavering commitment of our community. Together, we have shown that with unity and determination, we can exceed our expectations."

Kumu Kapono'ai Molitau, director of the county's Department of 'Oiwi Resources, conducted the blessing ceremony.

Molitau said that the Ah Hee 'ohana, who have roots in West Maui, are navigators and waʻa people. Mau's father, Abraham "Snake" Ah Hee, was one of the original crew members of the Hōkūleʻa, and was also present Friday.

"Those names are very important to this day," Molitau said. "We look at this home as a hoku paʻa, as a North Star, that when everybody drives by, it's a beacon of hope, the beacon of a reminder that there is new growth."

As of Friday morning, the Recovery Permit Center had issued more than 254 building permits, and more than 120 homes are being rebuilt in fire-affected areas of Lahaina and Kula. There are 264 permit applications under review.

During the blessing, Ariel Ah Hee said her biggest advice to other property owners seeking to rebuild is to have a good relationship with their contractor, electrician and plumber.

"Make sure you trust them and talk to them," she said.

Jennifer Gray Thompson, CEO of the nonprofit After the Fire USA, which supports communities recovering from wildfires, said the moment was a huge milestone for the West Maui community.

"It is critically important for the community to see visual deliverables of progress and hope," she said. "The Maui megafire is the most complicated disaster I've ever worked on, and the progress is greater than expected at this juncture. Our hearts and congratulations are with the Ah Hee family. It is a gift and responsibility to be the first light after a very dark and difficult period."

For more information about the permitting process, visit mauicounty.gov/558/Development-Services-Administration.