Ige Wants Maui Disaster Help

Hawaii’s governor toured the Iao Stream area, which suffered severe damage during last week’s storm.

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Gov. David Ige said Thursday he will seek a disaster declaration from President Barack Obama for Maui’s Iao Stream area.

The region suffered severe storm damage last week. Ige toured the area by helicopter Thursday with Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa and other officials.

“It truly is a sobering reminder of the power of nature and to see the impact on the stream and the change of the flows that had a devastating effect on families, the state and county,” Ige said.

Initial assessments put the state and county’s damage estimate at $15 million, says the Ige administration. About 20 families were directly impacted by the storm.

“This is going to be a large project. Very expensive. It’s going to take months and months to try and secure this area, but it’s going to be worth it,” said Arakawa.

Governor David Ige presser announcing a deal with the United Public Worker union at Maui Hospitals. 12 aug 2016
Governor David Ige at a recent press conference. Cory Lum/Civil Beat

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