Akina urges lawmakers nationwide to be flexible when disasters strike

Grassroot's president writes in The Wall Street Journal about how intractable regulations have delayed rebuilding in Lahaina

from Grassroot Institute

Hawaii's experience with inflexible regulations in the wake of the disastrous 2023 Maui wildfires was the topic of a commentary by Grassroot President Keli‘i Akina in this past Sunday's edition of The Wall Street Journal.

Written with California's recent wildfires also in mind, the article, headlined "Lahaina's Lessons for Los Angeles," is essentially a cautionary tale for lawmakers nationwide about how zoning and other laws can severely delay rebuilding efforts after natural disasters.

Akina credited Hawaii Gov. Josh Green for suspending several laws that were a hindrance to rebuilding after the Maui fires, though in some cases the waivers were not broad enough initially.

Akina also applauded Maui County for contracting with a private company to help with the processing of rebuilding applications, then last month finally allowing the reconstruction of structures that didn’t meet current zoning code.

Akina said these moves "certainly will make recovery easier for Maui residents after any future disasters. But Lahaina residents struggling to rebuild now are still beset by many inflexible state and county regulatory barriers."

Akina concluded: "Lawmakers across the country should take note of the structural factors slowing down Hawaii’s response [and] act now to avoid finding yourselves in the same predicament after some future tragedy."

read … "Lahaina's Lessons for Los Angeles"