Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in ...
[+] Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfire. AFP via Getty Images After the August 8th wildfire destroyed the town of Lahaina on Maui last year, the future was—and still is—bleak and unknown for many businesses. Many lost their entire infrastructures in the fire, and cannot begin to rebuild yet due to the on-going cleanup and various regulatory issues.
Even if they could, with insurance companies still battling it out , obtaining the finances to start something new is another huge hurdle for entrepreneurs. We’ve seen businesses that are more “mobile” have success in relocating over the past year. For example, Sail Maui, who operated out of Lahaina Harbor, was able to move its operations to Maʻalaea Harbor and resume tours in a matter of months.
Things are trickier for purely brick and mortar establishments, who need a home base on solid ground to conduct their operations. Hundreds of businesses are still in a holding pattern or have closed down completely since the fire. Given that reality, it's nice to celebrate a little success when we find it.
Last month, Koholā Brewery became one of the first businesses to successfully relocate and rise from the ashes, providing an uplifting tale in an otherwise discouraging environment. MORE FOR YOU iPhone 16 Release: Apple Confirms Special Event, On A Surprise New Date Tr.