(AP) — Most of the Hawaiʻi Island residents whose homes were destroyed or damaged during a 2018 Kilauea volcano eruption want to sell their properties to the county. Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports the first phase of the county’s Voluntary Housing Buyout Program saw 284 applicants. Officials identified 294 eligible residences.  The county will pay the 2017 value of the property up to $230,000. Kilauea recovery officer Doug Le says no one has received a payout yet and the process for each applicant should take about six months.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grants are funding the program.

© copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved