Hawaii’s governor is considering a ban on the sale of properties and land damaged by the Maui wildfires to prevent developers from taking advantage of the tragedy.
Josh Green said he has instructed his attorney general to consider a moratorium on the sale. The plan was announced after claims that victims whose homes were destroyed have been approached by developers eager to cash in on the tragedy, which has so far killed 106 people.
“I have reached out to our Attorney General to explore the possibilities of placing a moratorium on the sale of property that has been damaged or destroyed,” he said.
“In addition, I would like to warn people that it will take a very long time before any buildings or houses can be built, so you are quite ill-informed if you try to steal land from our people and build here.”
The historic city of Lahaina has been devastated by last week’s fire. 1,300 people are still missing and survivors are being sought in about 25 percent of the damaged area. About 2,200 buildings in Lahaina were destroyed.
Josh Green said he has directed his attorney general to consider a moratorium on the sale after claims victims whose homes were destroyed have been approached by predatory developers
Hawaii Governor Josh Green, left, and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, Jr., speak during a tour of wildfire damage Saturday, August 12, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii
One woman claimed that “investors and brokers (call) the families who have lost their homes and offer to buy their land.”
“How dare you do that to our community. If you are a victim and they call you, ask their company name so we can expose them,” she added.
The White House announced Wednesday that Joe and Jill Biden will visit Hawaii on Monday to meet with first responders and officials as the administration pushed back criticism of the president’s handling of the deadly wildfire.
“The President and First Lady will travel to Maui on Monday, August 21 to meet with first responders, survivors and federal, state and local officials in the wake of deadly wildfires on the island,” the White House announced.
Biden said on Tuesday he wants to visit the state at a time when he will not interfere with rescue efforts. He was criticized earlier this week for refusing to comment on the fires that have devastated the island, killing more than 100 people.
And during his speech in Milwaukee, the president seemed to forget the name Maui, referring to the island as “the island you see on television all the time.”
President Joe Biden will visit Hawaii with First Lady Jill Biden on Monday
But Biden did tell the crowd that he and the first lady want to visit the devastation.
“My wife Jill and I are going on a trip as soon as possible,” Biden told the crowd.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pushed back on Wednesday at criticism of Biden’s handling of the Maui wildfires, insisting “we are taking this incredibly seriously.”
“You will continue to hear from the president. He can’t wait to go to Maui to see for himself,” she told CNN’s This Morning.
“The president has said, you’ve heard him say publicly that the first lady and himself are going to Hawaii, if we know they’re not disruptive,” she noted.
Tuesday’s remarks were Biden’s first major comments about Hawaii’s deadliest natural disaster on record and the United States’ worst wildfire in 105 years.
Defending criticism that his government hasn’t done enough to help Maui, he said, “The Army helicopters helped suppress fire on the Big Island because there are still some fires on the Big Island — not the ones, not the ones you see all the time on television.’
The president was accused of being callous over the weekend. He was in Rehoboth Beach with the first lady and on his way to the beach with friends when asked about the rising death toll in Hawaii.
“No comment,” he replied.
But Jean-Pierre argued that Biden has faced many natural disasters during his presidency and has shown up for the people in crisis.
“Unfortunately, this president has faced many disasters in the past two years. He showed up and he’s been there,” she told CNN. “So we’ll be there for the people of Maui until they need us during this time.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to criticism of Biden’s handling of the Maui wildfires, insisting ‘we are taking this incredibly seriously’
A cadaver dog guides search and rescue personnel through a parking lot destroyed by the Lahaina fire that killed more than 100 people
Rescue teams are huddling as they try to find the 1,300 people who are still missing after the fire in Lahaina swept through the city last week. The death toll stands at more than 100
President Biden flies to posh Lake Tahoe on Friday for another summer vacation. He will remain there until next Thursday, per White House guidelines.
He will probably interrupt that trip to visit Hawaii.
The fire that swept through Lahaina nearly a week ago destroyed nearly every building in the city of 13,000 and left a mountain of rubble in the resort town. That fire is 85% under control, according to the province. Another blaze, known as the Upcountry fire, is 60% contained, officials told the Associated Press.
There is an estimated $5.6 billion in damage.
Exclusive photos from DailyMail.com show how rescue efforts are still underway, even as hopes of being found alive in the devastated city are fading.
The poignant images also show how little is left standing in the historic city of Maui, which was home to more than 12,000 people until a week ago.
Thousands of people are staying in shelters, in hotel rooms and Airbnb units, or with friends.
About 2,000 homes and businesses are still without electricity and the fire has contaminated much of the water supply.