Hawaii fire: Joe Biden promises further federal aid to rebuild Maui after devastation

President Joe Biden promised further federal aid to help rebuild Maui, Hawaii, after devastating fires.

Following a visit to the site of the fires alongside first lady Jill Biden, Gov. Josh Green (D-HI), his wife, and other Hawaiian lawmakers, the president met with first responders and gave an address. In it, he expressed his sympathies for the people of Maui and promised extensive assistance to help rebuild.

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“The country grieves with you, stands with you, and will do everything possible to help you recover,” Biden said.

The president drew on his own experience of loss to express his sympathy, recalling the death of his first wife and daughter in 1972. He said a Hawaiian lawmaker played a key role in helping him grieve and recover from the loss.

Throughout the speech, Biden repeatedly stressed that rebuilding efforts would be closely coordinated with the wishes of native Hawaiians. He referred to the Banyan tree nearby as a symbol of hope in the rebuilding efforts.

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The speech took place at Lahaina, a historic town of roughly 13,000 that had been destroyed in the fires. So far, over 100 people have been identified as killed by the fires.

Some had suggested before the speech that Biden would use the occasion to declare a climate emergency, but such suspicions didn’t come to fruition.