The county’s chief executive and head of the Maui Office of Recovery discuss federal funding for the rebuilding of Lahaina and Upcountry.

Richard Bissen, the mayor of Maui County, and John Smith, administrator for the Maui Office of Recovery, met with Civil Beat reporters and editors via Zoom on Sept. 22 to discuss their current priorities . The focus was primarily on federal support for rebuilding communities damaged or destroyed but the August 2023 wildfires, but questions on water issues and housing also surfaced. This interview has been edited for length and clarity and with an eye toward breakout news stories.

Richard Bissen: I think what’s top of mind for us is our community-led, government-supported attitude about our recovery here on Maui. Our goal is pretty simple: to get a

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