The last truckload of Lahaina wildfire debris left TDS en route to PDS. PC: Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and County of Maui.
The remaining truckloads of wildfire debris have been transported from temporary debris storage at Olowalu to permanent disposal at the Central Maui Landfill.
This milestone marks the transition of the debris mission into the recovery phase. FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, the County of Maui, Hawaii, and local partners sincerely thank the people of Maui for their patience and support during the debris removal phase.
The last truckload of Lahaina wildfire debris left TDS en route to PDS. PC: Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and County of Maui.
“Our mission has been clear from day one: protect the health of the community and environment while moving debris safely and respectfully,” said Lt. Col. Adrian Biggerstaff, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District commander. “This milestone demonstrates what is possible when local, state, federal and community partners work together with urgency and caution.”
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Mayor Richard Bissen said: “This milestone has profound significance for our community. The ruins of Lahaina represent more than just lost physical remains, they also carry the memory and spirit of a place and its people. With this transfer completed, the ruins now sit in an undisturbed conservation area, as promised. As we begin the final stages of restoring the Olowaru site, our focus remains on caring for our 'āina,” Deliver on our commitments and move forward with the same respect and diligence that has guided this effort from the beginning.”
The last truckload of Lahaina wildfire debris left TDS en route to PDS. PC: Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and County of Maui.
As part of the remediation work, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its contractor Environmental Chemical Corporation will begin removing the liner, leachate system and other temporary infrastructure at the TDS site.
For approximately 10 weeks, residents will continue to see trucks delivering repair materials and debris; however, the blue and white “Maui Wildfire Debris” identification stickers on the trucks will be removed or covered.
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Restoration work will include restoring the TDS site to its original condition wherever possible, as well as repairing roads and installing drainage and safety features. USACE and ECC will also remove temporary infrastructure installed along portions of the transportation route.
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A TDS recovery tracker has been added to the Maui Recovers website to monitor the progress of site recovery efforts; please visit www.mauirecovers.org/debris-containment to view it.
The last truckload of Lahaina wildfire debris left TDS en route to PDS. PC: Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and County of Maui.
The Olowalu TDS site was completed in early 2024 and will serve as a temporary storage site to safely accommodate Lahaina wildfire debris while the PDS is developed. It was designed with extensive environmental protection measures, including geotextile layers, welded liners, leachate collection systems and groundwater monitoring wells.
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USACE and ECC will conduct soil and groundwater testing to confirm that the protection system is functioning as designed and that no contamination reaches the surrounding environment.
TDS facilities received approximately 400,000 tons of ash, soil and fire-related materials from approximately 1,390 residential and 149 commercial properties in Lahaina. To reduce dust, wildfire debris is covered with clean soil while stored at the TDS site.
Transportation of debris to the PDS begins in June 2025. On average, approximately 50 local trucks make four trips per day during the day.
For more information about Lahaina Wildfire Debris Transfer and TDS recovery, visit www.mauirecovers.org/debristransfer.