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The Maui EMA administrator asked if he regretted not sounding warning sirens. Listen to his answer
01:42 - Bron:CNN
CNN—
Amid fears that speculators could take blighted land, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green urged Friday that the long-running rebuilding effortHistoric Lahaina, MauiThe community will prioritize the wishes of residents over those of developers.
“Let me be clear. Lahaina belongs to its people and we are committed to rebuilding and restoring it as they want,” Green said in a video statement Friday night.
The community of West Maui, once a vibrant economic and cultural hub, has been decimated by wildfires that began sweeping the island on August 8. Many of the at least 114 people who died in the fires were from the area, which burned whole neighborhoods and irreplaceable historical monuments.
First Lady Jaime Kanani Green moved with the governor as she shared the depth of the community's loss.
"For generations, Lahaina's beauty, culture and rich history have attracted artists, musicians and visitors from around the world," he said. "Unfortunately, it took us less than a day to lose Lahaina to the deadliest wildfire our country has seen in more than a century."
The governor's assurance came hours after members of the Lahaina community gathered to urge state leaders to involve residents in rebuilding after giving them time to grieve.
"The governor's plan to rebuild the community should be based on the needs of the people, not the interests of developers," said community member Tiare Lawrence.
Thousands of residents have been displaced - with more than 1,000 others estimated to be missing as crews continue to comb through the charred ruins. About 78 percent of the area had been searched by Saturday, police saidThe Maui Police Department.
Meanwhile, the fear that foreigners are making predatory land grabs is already starting to grow. For many locals and native Hawaiians, theThe concerns have historical rootsand it can also evoke memories of generations of residents who have fled their family homes.
Satellite images taken on June 25 and August 9 show an overview of Lahaina Square and shops in Maui County, Hawaii, before and after the recent wildfires.
Satellite Image ©2023 Maxar Technologies
The land in Lahaina "is reserved for the people as they come back and rebuild," Green said, reiterating his commitment to ensure that non-residents do not use the tragedy as an opportunity to acquire land from locals.
Hawaii officials have warned residents to be wary of aggressive offers to buy their property and have asked people to report such offers to the state's consumer protection agency. Earlier this week, Greene said he asked the attorney general to work toward establishing a "moratorium" on real estate transactions.
The governor estimated that Maui is close to being dealt with$6 billion in damagemore than 2,200 buildings were destroyed and another 500 were damaged by the flames.
But before the rebuilding process can begin, crews must complete the heartbreaking task of surveying the burned area of the disaster and proceed to identify the remains of the victims so families can be notified.
The names of five additional people killed in the fire were released by Maui police on Sunday: Conchita Sagudang, 75; Danielo Sagudang, 55; Rodolfo Rocutan, 76; Jonathan Somaoang, 76; and Angelita Vasquez, 88. All were Lahaina residents,said the police.
Another 16 identified victims are not being named at this time because their families have not yet been notified, police said Sunday. The total confirmed death toll remains at 114.
The governor said he has asked the attorney general to conduct a "comprehensive review" of the disaster as island authorities increasingly examine whether more measures could have been taken to warn residents as the flames spread.
The review will include the cause of the fires, how officials responded and how to improve emergency procedures, Green said Friday.
The frustration of many residents has grown as officials shared different reasons why the island's disaster warnings went off, including that the system broke or that the sirens would send people into danger instead of away from it.
Maui Emergency Management Chief Herman Adaya,resigned on Thursday– just one day after defending the decision not to sound the alarm.
Andaya cited his health as the reason for his resignation, Maui County said. Further details about his health were not released.
Sarah Salmonese sits Friday, Aug. 11, where her apartment once stood in Lahaina, Hawaii.
Ken Alba carries a bag of ice to a food and supply distribution center set up in the parking lot of a Lahaina mall on Thursday, Aug. 17.
On August 17th, fences will be built around damaged neighborhoods in Lahaina.
Damaged homes are seen in Lahaina on Wednesday, August 16.
Hawaii's state flag flies over a sign in Lahaina that reads "tourists stay out" on Aug. 16.Holidaymakers are asked to stay at homewhile Maui recovers. Many hotels are hosting evacuees.
A woman lays flowers and prays on a hill overlooking the ruins of Lahaina on August 16.
The Lahaina neighborhood of Wahikuli Terrace will be featured on Tuesday, August 15th.
Search and rescue workers assess the damage in Lahaina on August 15.
An FBI agent watches as two additional refrigerated storage containers arrive next to the Maui Police Department's forensic facility where human remains were stored in Wailuku, Hawaii, Monday, Aug. 14.
A spoon lies in the ruins of a home destroyed by the Aug. 14 fire in Kula, Hawaii.
Lauren Haley sprays water on hotspots in her Kula neighborhood on August 14.
JP Mayoga, chef at the Westin Maui Resort, is hugged by his wife, Makalea Ahhee, at the hotel near Lahaina on Sunday, August 13. About 200 employees lived in the hotel with their families.
Volunteers in Kihei, Hawaii, load water into a boat to be transported to West Maui on August 13.
People pray during a church service in Wailuku on August 13. Maui Coffee Attic has opened space for service after a fire destroyed Grace Baptist Church in Lahaina.
People line up at a checkpoint to gain access to Lahaina on Saturday, August 12.
Volunteers unload supplies scheduled to be delivered Aug. 12 at an evacuee distribution center in Napili-Honokowai, Hawaii.
The Honolulu Fire Department works in Lahaina on August 11th.
This aerial photo shows the shells of burned homes, vehicles and buildings in Lahaina on August 11.
Zoltan Balogh clears trees burnt by forest fires in Kula.
Cars will be parked on Honoapiilani Highway as residents regain access to fire-affected areas on August 11.
Volunteers in Maalaea, Hawaii watch as trucks full of food and supplies leave for Lahaina on August 10.
Debris from the wildfires is seen in Lahaina on August 10.
Volunteers stack cans at War Memorial Stadium in Kahului.
Burnt cars line up in Lahaina on August 10.
Vixay Phonxaylinkham holds his four-year-old child Lana as they wait for their flight at Kahului Airport on August 10. Phonoxaylinkham, his wife and their five children were returning to California. They had died in the fires but survived spending four hours in the ocean.
On August 10, people arrive on school buses to evacuate Maui Airport.
Construction wreckage is seen in Lahaina on August 10.
Myrna Ah Hee reacts as she waits outside an evacuation center in Wailuku on August 10. The Ah Hees were looking for her husband's brother. Their home in Lahaina was spared, but the fires destroyed many of their relatives' homes.
Puong Sui, center, talks with her daughter at the evacuation center in Kahului on August 10. Sui lost her home and belongings in Lahaina and planned to fly to Las Vegas to be reunited with her family.
On August 9, a wildfire rages in Kihei.
This satellite image shows an overview of the Lahaina fires on August 9.
People gather at Kahului Airport as they await flights on August 9.
Hawaii Army National Guard helicopters drop water to help fight a fire on August 9.
Residents move their belongings after wildfires swept through Lahaina on August 9.
Passengers try to sleep on the floor of Kahului Airport as they wait for flights on August 9.
The historic Waiola Church Hall and the nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission go up in flames Aug. 8 in Lahaina.
In pictures: Maui's deadly wildfires
On Saturday, Maui firefighters battling several wildfires brought the flames largely under control. County officials said the fires had not spread for several days and activity was limited to isolated hot spots within the existing footprint.
While the cause of the fires is still under investigation, "fire investigators have concluded that the Kula and Olinda fires have different origins," Maui County said Saturday.
Sports teams help
With the grim task of rebuilding flattened communities, some sports teams contribute to ongoing relief efforts.
Twelve Los Angeles professional sports teams have come together to donate $450,000 to the Maui Fire Department, according to a joint press release Thursday.
"Although California and Hawaii are more than 2,000 miles apart, the two states are closely connected by a strong Hawaiian community that calls Southern California home," the statement said.
The Angels and Dodgers of the MLB, Chargers and Rams of NFL, Clippers and Lakers of the NBA, Kings and Ducks of the NHL, Angel City Football Club of NWSL, LA Galaxy and LAFC of MLS and Sparks of the WNBA will donate to the American Red Cross to help "those in need." "
Elsewhere, the University of Kansas and University of Illinois men's basketball teams announced Friday that they will play in a charity game to benefit Maui wildfire relief efforts. Both teams were previously scheduled to have a clash before the fixture was changed.
Proceeds from the Oct. 29 game in Champaign, Illinois, will go to the Hawai'i Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund, which the schools say provides funding for Maui's recovery.
OfMaui is invited, regularly held in Lahaina, has been part of the men's basketball program since 1984. As a result of the fires, it is unclear whether the tournament will go ahead as planned, and tournament organizers say they are actively monitoring the situation.
"For decades, the Maui Invitational and the city of Lahaina have been very important to college basketball, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire community as they recover from such a tragic event," said Kansas head coach Bill Self. "(Illinois coach Brad Underwood) and I discussed how our private series could become an exhibition game to raise money to benefit so many affected by the recent devastating wildfires in Maui."
CNN's Andy Rose, Jacob Lev, Homero De la Fuente, Catherine Thorbecke and Cheri Mossburg contributed to this report.