‘Sobering’ report issued on Hawaii natural disaster resilience spending needs

By Andrew Gomes for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser

A panel advising Gov. Josh Green is urging the state Legislature to appropriate almost $2 billion over the next five years to help reduce and respond to future natural disaster damage in Hawaii.

The suggested spending is tied to about a dozen recommendations made in a report produced by the advisory group, which Green created in May, nine months after the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfire disaster caused an estimated $5 billion in damage.

Recommendations in the 58-page report by the Climate Advisory Team include helping homeowners strengthen their residences against hurricanes, enhancing natural protections from storm surges and inland flooding, expanding Firewise community programs, creating a permanent Hawai‘i Resilience Office and establishing a "properly funded" Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Click here to read the full story in the January 9 Honolulu Star-Advertiser