By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Hawai?i, to provide relief for disaster damages, losses, and suffering, and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people, I, Sylvia Luke, Acting Governor of the State of Hawai?i, hereby determine, designate and proclaim as follows:

WHEREAS, on August 8, 2023, the first Proclamation Relating to Wildfires was issued declaring a state of emergency to exist in the counties of Maui and Hawai?i;

WHEREAS, on August 9, 2023, after wildfires spread considerably and burned a number of structures in and around L?hain?, the Second Proclamation Relating to Wildfires was issued, extending the emergency declaration to the entire State;

WHEREAS, since August 9, 2023, thirteen additional proclamations relating to wildfires have been issued, including the most recent Fifteenth Proclamation Relating to Wildfires issued on July 15th, 2024;

WHEREAS, these fires burned thousands of acres, cut off communications, and forced closure of roads and schools, and evacuations in the Kohala Ranch and Kula areas;

WHEREAS, the fires caused significant loss of life and property in Maui County, thousands of people are without adequate housing, and the town of L?hain? has been destroyed;

WHEREAS, on October 30, 2023, a wildfire ignited in the Mililani Mauka area of Oahu which required considerable county, state, and federal resources to combat;

WHEREAS, on July 10, 2024, a new wildfire ignited in upcountry Maui in the vicinity of Crater Road that has burnt approximately 500 acres, requiring additional government resources to protect public health and safety, property, and natural resources;

WHEREAS, on July 11, 2024, two wildfires ignited in west Kauai, requiring additional government resources to protect public health and safety, property, and natural resources;

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