According to The Hill newspaper, Hawaii Governor Josh Green said at a press conference, “All 100 people who were lost had families. We put together $175 million if they voluntarily agreed to a settlement of $1.5 million per family.”
Governor Green added that they also hope to establish a fund to help people who lost their land and businesses in the fire.
If the families accept the offer, the compensation will start in March.
In August 2023, the Maui County government sued the Hawaii Electric Company for failing to cut off power to the island despite adverse weather conditions.
Hawaii wildfires
Prior to the Hawaiian fires, it was reported that drought in the region was drying out vegetation and strong winds knocked down at least 30 power poles west of Maui as Hurricane Dora passed 800 kilometers south of Hawaii.
On August 9, footage of a downed power line igniting dry grass in the town of Lahaina, which was mostly destroyed in the fire that started on August 9, was shared.
On August 22, the FBI announced that there were between 1000 and 1100 people on the unconfirmed missing list due to the wildfire.
It is stated that traffic was blocked during the fire and some people trying to escape from the smoke and flames jumped into the ocean and disappeared.
It was announced that 115 people lost their lives in the fires, but this figure was later reduced to 100.
US President Joe Biden visited Hawaii on August 22 and pledged to help those affected by the fire.
