On Monday, President Joe Biden arrived in Maui to offer a heartfelt condolence to the survivors of the deadly Hawaiian wildfires. However, many Maui residents greeted him with strong obscenities, showing him exactly how they felt about the government support he has shown them so far.
Hawaii is not happy with Joe pic.twitter.com/Sp3SARvuML
— Ben Whedon (@whedonwins) August 22, 2023
After touring the devastation, he promised the people of Maui that the federal government would help for “as long as it takes.” He praised the island’s “remarkable resilience” in the face of tragedy.
Biden, accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden and members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation, expressed sorrow for lives lost and spoke of understanding for the hard road of rebuilding that lies ahead of displaced survivors.
Standing near a severely burned 150-year-old banyan tree, the president noted that the tree survived despite the brunt of the flames. He said it was a powerful symbol of what can be done to move through this crisis.
The President and First Lady took an aerial tour of the wreckage and saw block after block of destroyed homes, shops, and other structures destroyed in the inferno. They listened to emergency responders’ briefings on the ongoing response and offered a blessing of his visit by island elders.
The White House has announced that Biden appointed Bob Fenton, a regional leader at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as the chief federal response coordinator for the Maui wildfire to oversee the long-term recovery. It is estimated that it will take years to rebuild devastated Lahaina, with nearly every building being wiped out in the fire.
Dozens of island residents gathered to watch the President’s motorcade travel through the town, some greeting him enthusiastically and others expressing a symbolic gesture of dissent (also known as the middle finger). Others held up signs asking Biden “to listen to the people of Lahaina” and to provide more aid.
The President and First Lady also met with first responders, members of the community, and local officials to learn more about the fire’s aftermath. Biden spoke of faith in times like these and praised the first responders’ heroism in the face of danger.
According to Senator Brian Schatz, about 85 percent of the affected area has been searched. However, almost 2,000 people remain without power, 10,000 are without phone or internet, and hundreds are still unaccounted for.
He noted that search efforts are ongoing but also that relief efforts are needed to help affected individuals who may not have access to documentation that could help them to enroll in emergency assistance.
The government has distributed more than $8.5 million in aid to 8,000 families. Biden promised that the government would rebuild the way the people of Maui wish and give as much consideration as possible to sacred lands, cultures, and traditions.
The community showed significant disdain for Biden and the lack of real action taken up to this point. The island community is determined to remain resilient even in the face of such tragedy.