We began a phased reopening of West Maui on October 8, in conjunction with the County of Maui. While some expressed concerns about the reopening occurring too soon, there were also many who were asking us to help them recover, and recovery required a gentle approach to reopening that could not be delayed. Now, the county is continuing this gradual reopening in hopes of providing the people of Maui a way to continue moving forward, and we are grateful for everyone’s collaboration.
Also in October, our community witnessed several successful events with a strong focus on education and community support for Hawai‘i’s families. Education is always a critical component of making communities better. My administration is committed to fostering and improving education for our keiki and communities, and are pleased that we were able to reopen the schools on Maui and pay tribute to some of our outstanding educators who support our students.
In addition to the dedicated teachers in our local schools, there are also those who have been working tirelessly to provide relief via programs to those impacted by the Maui wildfires. And while Maui’s recovery remains a priority, we are also making strides in other areas to make our communities safer through innovative programs such as the Gun Buyback initiative. I am grateful to see how we can all work together in multiple ways to make Hawai‘i a better, safer place for everyone.
We appreciate that at the heart of these successful events are the individuals of our community who are dedicated to working together across organizations, government agencies, and volunteers who continue to embrace our shared kuleana. Together, let’s continue to forge a path toward a safer, and healthier Hawai‘i.
Mahalo,
