The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in collaboration with federal, state and local partners, announced that debris removal is underway on the last single-family and multi-family homes in Lahaina. This milestone represents a significant achievement in the private property debris removal program, as all homes will be cleared months ahead of the original January 2025 deadline – a testament to the dedication and efficiency of the teams involved.

Of the 1,390 residential properties participating in the USACE debris removal program, 1,387 have already been cleared of fire and ash debris. The final three properties are currently being cleared of debris and will then go through the final steps of soil testing and erosion control before being turned over to the County of Maui for completion.

USACE Hawaii Wildfires Recovery Field Office Commander Lt. Col Collin Jones emphasized the collaboration behind this accomplishment: “We are proud of the trust the residents of Lahaina have placed in us to rebuild their community. Complete debris removal in record time is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between USACE, our partners and the community.”

Snehal Patel, President of the Spinnaker Association of Apartment Owners, expressed gratitude for the progress of debris removal on the last apartment building: “The completion of debris removal is a pivotal moment for Spinnaker condo owners. This upcoming milestone not only clears the way for physical reconstruction, but also opens the door to restoring the spirit and resilience of our neighborhood. On behalf of all of our owners, I want to thank the USACE and its partners for their diligent and expeditious work in making this possible. We can’t wait to begin the next chapter of rebuilding the Spinnaker property and are one step closer to getting our owners back in their homes.”

Commercial rubble removal is also progressing. So far, 91 of 159 commercial properties have been cleared. Completion of this work is planned for February 2024.

Another notable achievement is the completion of the initial debris removal at King Kamehameha III Elementary School. This site presented a particular challenge due to its complexity and the presence of significant archaeological artifacts. Coordinated efforts between the County of Maui, State of Hawaii, and federal agencies were essential to completing the debris removal process safely and respectfully. Final steps, including soil testing and gravel placement for erosion control, are currently underway.

As USACE celebrates this milestone, property owners are reminded to visit MauiRecovers.org and download their debris removal documents from the County of Maui. These documents are essential for property owners to proceed with the application for a building permit, an important step in the rebuilding process.