Mayor Mitch Roth is planning to form a Hawaiʻi County Task Force for Maui County Recovery Assistance in response to the bushfires that recently swept through Lahaina Town and greater Maui County.

The objective of the task force is intended to establish a unified front of expertise, resources, and assistance to aid Maui in its recovery. It will also work hand-in-hand with local agencies, organizations, and volunteers to identify needs, coordinate efforts, and redirect resources effectively.

The task force will be comprised of a diverse range of experts and personnel from various Hawaiʻi County departments, the County Council, and partner organizations. These entities include the Office of the Mayor, Civil Defense, Planning, Housing, Police, Fire, Research & Development, Public Works, Finance, Environmental Management, IT, Corporation Counsel, and several other County agencies. Partner organizations working in the non-profit and community support service space, as well as relevant for-profit agencies that are interested in assisting, will be invited to contribute their expertise and resources.

Key responsibilities of the task force include collaborating with Maui County authorities to identify immediate and long-term recovery needs, mobilizing resources, providing emergency communications support, assisting in infrastructure and utility restoration, proposing housing/shelter solutions, aiding economic recovery, and engaging with the community.

Cyrus Johnasen, Public Information Officer and Executive Assistant to Mayor Roth will Chair the Task Force. Hawaiʻi Island organizations interested in participating in the unified effort can contact him at cyrus.johnasen@hawaiicounty.gov.

The task force coordinator will regularly update both Hawaiʻi County and Maui County officials, while public information channels such as websites, social media, and press releases will be used to keep the public informed about the recovery efforts and progress.

In a statement Mayor Roth said, “The devastation that occurred throughout Maui yesterday is more than a singular County issue. It is a Hawaiʻi issue, and we are prepared to work hand-in-hand with our partners here on Hawaiʻi Island to coordinate our resources and lend whatever meaningful support we can to assist Maui in their recovery. An incident like this could easily occur on any one of our islands, and we know that our fellow mayors, State leaders, and the Governor would do the same for us. Roth added, “Our ‘ohanas extend beyond our borders, and so does our aloha and kuleana.”