Statement by the US National Commitee of ICOMOS on the Maui Wildfires in Hawaii
The United States National Committee of ICOMOS is horrified at the extent of human suffering and the destruction of heritage resulting from the fires in Maui. Our hearts go out to the many people who have lost family and friends in reported numbers that continue to increase.
The heritage value of one town largely destroyed by the fire, Lahaina, is enormous. It was the Capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii for decades and contains many sites sacred to Native Hawaiians.
Our role will be to provide support based on the needs identified by the Maui community and to work with our members and colleagues to compile a comprehensive list of the resources that we could offer and bring to the table.
The ICOMOS ICORP Crisis Monitoring Working Group has offered assistance regarding heritage damage.
ICOMOS-USA Board of Trustees member Athline Clark, who resides in Hawaii, will be working with the community that is on the ground there to identify what assistance is needed.
ICOMOS-USA member William Chapman, Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, has long been engaged with the Lahaina Restoration Foundation and will be our point of contact with them.