Maui residents are rebuilding Lahaina for locals, not tourists: ‘In Hawaii, we take care of one another’

The Guardian US News
by Frances Nguyen
April 19, 2026
8 views
2 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Lahaina residents are rebuilding their town for locals, prioritizing community needs over tourism after multiple disasters.

How This Affects You

This initiative means Lahaina's recovery will focus on housing and services for residents, potentially limiting tourist-oriented development in the area.

AI Summary

Lahaina residents are determined to rebuild their town for locals, prioritizing community needs over tourism after facing multiple disasters. This decision follows the deadly 2023 fires, recent severe flooding in March 2026, and ICE raids that have impacted the community. The residents aim to reconstruct Lahaina to serve their community, reflecting the Hawaiian value of mutual care. This initiative seeks to ensure the town's recovery benefits those who live there, rather than external interests. The recent storms brought the worst flooding Hawaii has seen in 20 years, further complicating recovery efforts in the fire-damaged landscape.

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Real estate investors are buying up long-term care facilities. Residents can suffer
Finance

Real estate investors are buying up long-term care facilities. Residents can suffer

Real estate investment trusts are landlords for thousands of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals. Some select the managers and keep close watch but deny blame for bad care.

NPRApr 19
US health regulators to speed up Medicare device coverage - Reuters
Health

US health regulators to speed up Medicare device coverage - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxQN3U4QXpDNjZtMDN5b2ZGUlN4dzFtT1M1ZnRNOFdjUEE0UzJkOUJySTFhTE5VZzVqdlZXbXZmQklPOEk3eGJpYWV4UXA2RF81bTdUb1ozNG9CSmFqa3Q2SW96X2NIOVNsZkVfU3VpSllsekliZ3dQVUZFMXhrUlpwUWgxaEZtSGtlelc3djJURkZnSkNseUxpdjJNdWs4ekJOSGxyb2YzcmpDWmty?oc=5" target="_blank">US health regulators to speed up Medicare device coverage</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersApr 23
Real estate investors are buying up long-term care facilities. Residents can suffer - NPR
Corporate

Real estate investors are buying up long-term care facilities. Residents can suffer - NPR

NPRApr 19
Federal Judge Calls RFK Jr. an “Unsafe” Leader in Order Protecting Trans Youth Health Care
Civil Rights

Federal Judge Calls RFK Jr. an “Unsafe” Leader in Order Protecting Trans Youth Health Care

In a scathing ruling describing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as an “unserious” and “unsafe” leader, a federal judge in Oregon issued an order that will protect doctors and hospitals, and the transgender kids they treat, from the federal crackdown on gender-affirming care. On Saturday, US District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai […]

Mother JonesApr 21
Judge rejects Trump lawsuit to block Hawaii from filing climate lawsuit
Politics

Judge rejects Trump lawsuit to block Hawaii from filing climate lawsuit

A federal judge this week rejected the Trump administration’s pre-emptive lawsuit from last year to block the state of Hawaii from suing fossil fuel companies over climate impact concerns. Hawaii Senior U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor dismissed the administration’s lawsuit with prejudice in a Wednesday ruling.  Federal officials filed the U.S. complaint on April 30,…

The HillApr 17
Texas Medical Board Sanctions Three Doctors for Delayed Care That Led to the Deaths of Two Pregnant Women
Health

Texas Medical Board Sanctions Three Doctors for Delayed Care That Led to the Deaths of Two Pregnant Women

The post Texas Medical Board Sanctions Three Doctors for Delayed Care That Led to the Deaths of Two Pregnant Women appeared first on ProPublica .

ProPublicaApr 17
Read Next
Exclusive: US EEOC Chair violated ethics rules halting LGBTQ cases, complaint alleges - Reuters
Civil Rights

Exclusive: US EEOC Chair violated ethics rules halting LGBTQ cases, complaint alleges - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixAFBVV95cUxOR1pFeFRXbUd4Skg5VzliWHotZ3hKU0E2MDFBbDdpWlRnY2FKeHFkRmc1TElHdV8xODhYQnpBdk81NS1hdTF6bllRUUFPY1ZlRUl3LW9nT0EtRVUyUkoxTzcyNkNJVHg0NGZCM2cwSTBnbGljNzIzc0pweTJVY3ctS29YN0l0bDRkTDFyVEZ5UUFqek5INXlJdVdIM1VFRjM1R1kyaERCcTRMVHNYNDU2UUZzRmUzcE9GcWl5UGZqZEsxaHZ1?oc=5" target="_blank">Exclusive: US EEOC Chair violated ethics rules halting LGBTQ cases, complaint alleges</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources