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RESIDENTS and tourists of a popular resort town have continued to flee elsewhere months after the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. ravaged the area.
On August 8, over 2,100 acres of land in Maui, Hawaii were turned to ash by raging wildfires leaving over a 100 people dead.
At the time, local officials described the fires as racing as fast as a mile a minute through the city of Lahaina, forcing residents and tourists to flee.
Some described the aftermath as a war zone.
Thousands of homes and buildings were burned to the ground, displacing thousands – many of whom still have nowhere to go.
Tamara Paltin, a representative of West Maui on the Maui County Council recently claimed that she believes dozens of people move away every month.
“Every day a local family moves away,” Paltin reportedly said at a council meeting, according to the Honolulu Civil Beat.
While she did not detail specific numbers, Paltin revealed she was aware of locals who had moved to Nevada, North Carolina, Florida, or elsewhere in Hawaii.
“Every time I turn around someone I know has moved,” Paltin said.
Within Maui County, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement has reportedly estimated that around 1,500 have moved away following the wildfires.
Similarly, the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organizations estimated that the county’s number of households fell by 1,000 in February.
Among those leaving the resort town is Ron Proctor, also known as Santa Claus in West Maui.
Proctor had long played Santa Claus during Christmas time at local shopping centers and resorts, and donned the red suit once again this past December.
However, his usual suit had been burned in the wildfires, forcing him to come up with a new wardrobe.
At the same time, Proctor had been living in the War Memorial gymnasium in Wailuku before moving to a hotel room provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
While forced into these unexpected living quarters, Protector told the Honolulu Civil Beat that he began drinking frequently and became depressed.
Every time I turn around someone I know has moved
Tamara Paltin
He was offered a year-long lease for a studio apartment in March, however Proctor revealed he turned it down as the offer was nothing like the life he had after moving from California 12 years prior.
“What I came here for isn’t here anymore,” he said.
Ultimately, Proctor decided to move back to the Golden State.
As many still flee, Hawaii officials appear to be opening the door for tourists and residents to return.
Last week, the Hawaii Department of Health announced that the coastal waters off Lahaina no longer pose a significant risk to human health, according to the Associated Press.
This means that the waters are safe to surf and swim in, after months of warnings following the wildfires.
Some areas are still reportedly limited, due to ongoing cleanup.
