Lahaina’s Lessons For Kona Low Recovery
By Jonathan Helton
Published on April 14, 2026.
Recent Kona low storms caused as much as $2 billion in damage to thousands of homes, businesses, and farms across the state. The author suggests that Maui County's experience in rebuilding after the Lahaina fires could be instructive as to how officials across Hawaii could facilitate quick rebuilding and recovery. The most important lesson is that the rebuilding process should be clear and predictable, as inflexible rules and approval delays discourage applicants from applying for permits to rebuild. To help this, county officials should dedicate staff or hire temporary contractors to expedite building permit reviews and waive all permit fees related to rebuilding, which can add thousands of dollars to rebuilding costs. They should also ensure that their zoning codes allow destroyed or damaged nonconforming structures and uses to be restored after a natural disaster.
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