Lahaina residents face long road to recovery 2 years after Maui's devastating wildfires: "We're in it for the long haul"

Two years after the deadliest American wildfire in more than a century reduced much of the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina to ash, the community in Maui continues its slow journey toward recovery .

The August 2023 fires killed more than 100 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. While damaged structures have been cleared, large swaths of the town remain empty. Only about 50 homes have been rebuilt since the disaster.

As rebuilding continues, Mayor Richard Bissen said the county is working to move faster and expediting permits.

Bissen, who was born and raised in Lahaina and served as Maui 's top elected official during the fires, faced sharp criticism over the island's emergency response but refused to resign.

"Early in this, I found myself getting sle