Residents Fear Maui Wildfires Will Permanently Displace Natives
Summary from AllSides News Team
Following the wildfires across the Hawaiian islands, residents and politicians are voicing concerns that property damage could permanently displace the native islanders.
Details: A video posted on Instagram by Kāko'o Haleakalā, a group working to “protect and preserve the Land and native species” of Hawaii, condemned developers for contacting residents and offering to purchase the land in the fire-damaged areas of Lahaina on the island of Maui. Coverage from the Washington Post (Lean Left bias) stated that fires destroyed nearly 3,000 structures in the area, displacing “residents who can trace their family history here back generations” and worsening a pre-existing housing affordability crisis in Lahaina.
Key Quotes: Hawaii Governor Josh Green (D) stated, “I’ve reached out to the Attorney General to explore options to do a moratorium on any sales of properties that have been damaged or destroyed. Moreover, I would caution people that it’s going to be a very long time, before any growth, or housing can be built. And so, you would be pretty poorly informed if you try to steal land from our people and then build here.” Green added, “we’re hopeful to create a memorial for the people of the state of Hawai‘i in this site. We’ll also invest state resources to preserve and protect this land for our people; not for any development, for our people locally.”
How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum are covering the wildfires frequently, but specific reporting on housing and developers is more common from left-rated sources.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Investors Are Calling Maui Wildfire Victims to Buy Their Hawaii Land
Victims of the Maui wildfires are reportedly being contacted by investors and realtors attempting to buy their land in Hawaii amid the disaster that has destroyed parts of the island.
In an Instagram video posted on Sunday, Kāko'o Haleakalā, an organization focused on preserving lands and native species in Hawaii, warned Maui residents of the calls by investors and realtors.
The claims made on social media come as the wildfires on the Hawaiian island continue to rage, resulting in mass evacuations, injuries to residents and damaged homes and other buildings....
From the Right
Hawaii Warns Against Purchasing Land of Wildfire Victims
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a Democrat, condemned an effort by some realtors to purchase, from residents, land in Maui that has been devastated by the recent wildfires.
In a Tuesday press release, Green said he has approached state Attorney General Anne E. Lopez about establishing a moratorium on "any sales of properties that have been damaged or destroyed" in the fires.
"I would caution people that it's going to be a very long time before any growth or housing can be built," Green emphasized. "And so, you would be pretty...
From the Left
Hawaii residents fear losing Lahaina as fires make housing crisis worse
The ground is still hot here, the site of the country’s deadliest wildfire in more than a century, but this historic town is already confronting another existential crisis: a dire and immediate housing shortage and a serious threat of long-term displacement.
The blaze last Tuesday and Wednesday torched nearly 3,000 structures, officials said, and razed entire neighborhoods. It drove out residents who can trace their family history here back generations, and it immediately exacerbated an already dire housing crisis in one of America’s most expensive places.
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