"Sell the Ashen Land" Speculators Run Rampant in Hawaii, "Disgusting"

Real Estate Agents Flock to Residents Pressuring Sales
Residents "Tears Haven't Even Dried... Disgusting Behavior"
Hawaii Authorities "Exploring Measures to Suspend Property Sales"

Real estate speculators are running rampant on Maui Island in the U.S. state of Hawaii, where nearly 100 people have died in wildfires, fueling residents' anger.

On the 10th (local time), the western coastal town of Lahaina on Maui Island, Hawaii, has turned into ashes. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to U.S. NBC News and others on the 15th (local time), real estate speculators have been approaching Maui wildfire survivors, urging them to sell their land or homes.

Maui resident Tiare Lawrence told NBC in an interview, "Homeowners are receiving contacts from real estate speculators wanting to buy their land," adding, "It's disgusting."

She continued, "Lahaina is not for sale," and said, "Please do not try to take advantage of those going through the worst time of their lives."

Rich Cultural Heritage... Development Pressure Even Before the Fire

On the 13th (local time), a sign reading "No Entry for Tourists" was installed in Lahaina on Maui Island, Hawaii, USA, which was ravaged by wildfires. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Lahaina on Maui Island was once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom and is a tourist destination rich in cultural heritage. Because of this, residents were reportedly under development pressure even before the fire.

Angie Leon, a Maui resident, emphasized in an interview with foreign media, "The people of Lahaina will want restoration to be done in a way that revives the local history."

According to foreign media, some Lahaina residents have expressed concerns that large external development forces might take advantage of the fire to buy the charred land cheaply and develop the area into a commercial district like Waikiki Beach. Currently, Waikiki, the tourism hub of Hawaii, is dominated by large corporations' high-end brands.

Hawaii Governor: "Cannot Tolerate Taking Land Before Residents Even Have a Chance to Rebuild"

Residents touring the Lahaina area on Maui Island, Hawaii, which was affected by the fire. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Hawaiian authorities have urged residents to be cautious about such speculative activities and announced plans to implement measures to prevent them.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green stated, "Those claiming to be real estate agents with bad intentions are contacting residents affected by the fire, urging them to sell their damaged homes," adding, "I have asked the state attorney general to explore ways to suspend the sale of damaged properties."

He also emphasized again through social media, "Taking land from our residents before they have a chance to grieve and rebuild is not hope, and we will not tolerate it."

Death Toll Exceeds 100 After Fire... Robberies Also on the Rise

On the 15th (local time), a large wildfire swept through Lahaina on Maui Island, Hawaii, USA, leaving a car charred black and abandoned. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Warnings have also been issued about scammers and robbers.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned on its website that scammers may impersonate safety inspectors or public officials, offering cleaning or repairs and then demanding cash payments. They also noted the possibility of scammers impersonating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to extort money under the pretext of application fees.

Additionally, as security in Lahaina has weakened, there have been repeated incidents of robbers armed with guns raiding businesses, and supplies meant for residents are being stolen by armed robbers, causing further hardship for wildfire victims.

Meanwhile, the death toll since the fire broke out on the 8th has reached at least 99. Governor Green said, "The number of deaths could double over the next 10 days."

John Pelletier, chief of the Maui Police Department, said, "We have deployed 20 cadaver-detection police dogs to search 25% of the fire-affected area in western Lahaina," adding, "We expect to complete 85-90% of the search by this weekend."

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that about $5.5 billion (approximately 7.3 trillion won) will be needed for the reconstruction of Lahaina.