Flames have reduced much of Lāhainā, the first capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, to ash. Hot enough to melt metal, the fire consumed homes, cars, and more, releasing toxic chemicals into the environment. These toxins are now threatening ʻāina (land that feeds), wai (water), human communities, and marine ecosystems. Contamination has already occurred, but immediate remediation can mitigate the aftermath. We must do so before it permeates further into our water sources, ocean, and soil.

The Maui Bioremediation Group advocates for bioremediation to avoid the negative consequences common of industrial solutions. Moving urgently, we, respective experts in the field, under the advisory of cultural practitioners and community leaders, have collaborated to present a comprehensive remediation plan featuring the following proven models as phases to address the post-fire contamination.