Rafu Staff and Wire Service Reports
LAHAINA — President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden traveled to Maui on Monday, to survey damage from the wildfires that decimated areas of the western part of the island and to comfort survivors.
“You’ve shown such absolute, incredible courage, and that’s not hyperbole,” Biden said, speaking in front of the burned-out remnants of Lahaina Banyan Tree Park. “I want you to know, on behalf of the United States of America and all the nation, the American people stand with you.”
As of early Wednesday, 115 people were confirmed dead as a result of the fires, with some 850 still missing.
The Bidens viewed the devastation from a helicopter before visiting the park that is home to a beloved 150-year-old banyan tree that was badly scorched by the flames.
“Today, it’s burned, but it’s still standing. The tree survived for a reason.,” the president said. “I believe it’s a very powerful symbol of what we can and will do to get through this crisis. And for as long as it takes, we’re going to be with you — the whole country will be with you.”
Biden also met with community elders, local leaders and first responders. He said the rebuilding process will be conducted with the utmost respect for the sacred ground and local traditions.
“We’re focused on what’s next. That’s rebuilding for long-term and doing it together … to rebuild the way we want to rebuild by making sure your voices are heard, by respecting your traditions, by understanding the deep history and meaning of this sacred ground and establishing your community, not to change its character, but to re-establish it.”
Officials have said that all of the single-story residences in the burned areas have been searched, and the focus has shifted to multi-story and commercial properties. Personnel from federal agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Defense, have arrived on the island to assist with positively identifying remains of the victims.
Since signing a federal emergency declaration last week, Biden said his administration has been in contact with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, the state’s congressional delegation and local leaders. He added that there are over 450 search and rescue experts working around the clock to aid with the recovery.
“FEMA has quickly provided 55,000 meals, 75,000 liters of water, 5,000 beds, 10,000 blankets. We’re working to help remove the debris, repair roads, and restore power,” Biden explained. “Additionally, my Department of Housing and Urban Development is working with the state to make sure survivors can move from emergency shelters into temporary housing to finally have a permanent place to call home as well.”
Additionally, he said the Small Business Administration is making low-interest federal disaster loans available to local businesses, homeowners, renters and nonprofits.
More information and assistance is available at FEMA’s disaster recovery center at Maui College or at http://DisasterAssistance.gov.
Full Text of President’s Remarks
Well, hello, people of Maui. You’ve shown such absolute, incredible courage, and that’s not hyperbole. I want you to know, on behalf of the United States of America and all the nation, the American people stand with you.
Gov. Josh Green, you’ve been incredible. From the day we’ve spoken on this, you’ve been way ahead of the curve. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke; Brian Schatz, our senator; Sen. Mazie Hirono … [Rep.] Jill Tokuda; Rep. Ed Case; and Mayor Rick Bissen … I want to thank you for your leadership during this unimaginable tragedy.
To my left is the banyan tree beloved by this community for over 150 years here in the former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, that has stood for generations as a sacred spot of exceptional significance.
One of the people who took me under his wing when I first got to the Senate was Danny Inouye. He used to talk about the Kingdom of Hawaii … It was amazing to listen to him.
Today, it’s burned, but it’s still standing. The tree survived for a reason. I believe it’s a very powerful symbol of what we can and will do to get through this crisis. And for as long as it takes, we’re going to be with you — the whole country will be with you.
You know, we will be respectful of these sacred grounds and the traditions that rebuild the way the people of Maui want to build, not the way others want to build. We’re going to rebuild the way the people of Maui want to build.
But, you know, it’s going to be hard. America’s deadliest wildfire in over a century.
Jill and I have walked Front Street, what’s left of it. We’ve surveyed the damage from the air as well. The devastation is overwhelming. To date, 114 dead. Hundreds of people are unaccounted for.
I remember when I got the call — my first wife and daughter. I was a young senator, and I got a call in Washington. I hadn’t been sworn in yet … I was hiring staff in the Capitol in Teddy Kennedy’s office. And I got a phone call saying — from my fire department, and a young first responder kind of panicked and said, “You’ve got to come home. There’s been an accident.”
I said, “What happened?”
He said, “Your wife — she’s dead. Come home. Come home.”
A tractor-trailer had broadsided her and killed her in a car accident along with my little daughter. And I remember all the way down from Washington home wondering what a lot of people here are wondering: What about my two boys? How are they? They were in the car. I never got a read on that. Were they going to be all right or badly injured? Were they going to make it? Had they made it? It wasn’t until I walked into the emergency room, and I saw that they were there.
The difference between knowing somebody is gone and worrying whether they’re available to come back are two different things.
I remember one of the people who helped me the most was Danny Inouye. He helped bring me back. So I know the feeling that — as many of the people in this town, this community, that hollow feeling you have in your chest like you’re being sucked into a black hole, wondering, “Will I ever get by this?”
You know, it’s one thing to know, but it’s quite another thing to have to wait, to wonder whether your family members are going to be okay.
Imagine being a parent wondering where your child is … You know, press reports of grandfathers crying for lost neighbors while trying to be strong for the ones who survived. Of a woman distributing clothing to survivors who says she didn’t lose her home, but she lost her hometown.
But I also want all of you to know the country grieves with you, stands with you, and we’ll do everything possible to help you recover, rebuild, and respect culture and traditions when the rebuilding takes place.
My administration has been in constant contact with the governor and congressional delegation and local leaders. As soon as I got the governor’s request, I signed the major disaster declaration that mobilized the whole-of-government response, which means whatever you need, you’re going to get.
For example, the Coast Guard and Navy immediately supported maritime search and rescue operations, while the Army helped fire suppression.
Here’s what we’ve been doing since. First, we focused on search and rescue, which is still going on. Right now, there are over 450 search and rescue experts working around the clock.
Second, I’ve identified FEMA’s Administrator [Deanne] Criswell to lean forward, as she always has done, to help survivors get immediate aid. FEMA has quickly provided 55,000 meals, 75,000 liters of water, 5,000 beds, 10,000 blankets. We’re working to help remove the debris, repair roads, and restore power.
Additionally, my Department of Housing and Urban Development is working with the state to make sure survivors can move from emergency shelters into temporary housing to finally have a permanent place to call home as well.
The Small Business Administration is making low-interest federal disaster loans available to Hawaiian businesses — many of them you see here — burned to the ground; homeowners and renters; and nonprofits.
If you need help, you can visit FEMA’s disaster recovery center at Maui College or go to DisasterAssistance.gov.
Today, I’m appointing Bob Fenton … as our chief federal response coordinator for Maui to lead our long-term recovery work. He’s one of the nation’s most experienced disaster response and recovery experts in America, and I’m directing him to make sure the community has everything the federal government can offer to heal and to rebuild as fast as possible.
And we’re focused on what’s next. That’s rebuilding for long-term and doing it together … to rebuild the way we want to rebuild by making sure your voices are heard, by respecting your traditions, by understanding the deep history and meaning of this sacred ground and establishing your community, not to change its character, but to reestablish it.
We’re also going to bring the capabilities to help you rebuild so your critical infrastructure is more resilient in the future. All this matters.
Let me close with this. From stories of grief, we’ve seen so many stories of hope and heroism, of the aloha spirit. Every emergency responder put their lives on the line to save others.
Everyday heroes, neighbors helping neighbors, Native Hawaiian leaders offering solace and strength.
And this banyan tree. One called it the diamond in the rough of hope. Another referred to — “Fire cannot reach its roots” is what he said. “Fire cannot reach its roots.”
That’s Maui. That’s America. And to the people of Hawaii, we’re with you for as long as it takes, I promise you.
May God bless all those we’ve lost. May God find those who we haven’t determined yet. And may God bless you all. And may God protect our troops.