Native Hawaiians aim to bring cultural sensitivity to Maui wildfire cleanup
A delicate cleanup is underway in historic Lahaina on Maui. Cultural monitors are working closely with federal officials to assure the process protects cultural and archeological artifacts.
LAHAINA, Hawaii — Mehana Hind stands in the center of a hotel conference room with a wide, welcoming grin.
"Aloha," she says to members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, newly arrived from the mainland to work on the cleanup of the deadly wildfires that swept Maui last summer. The fires destroyed Lahaina, the one-time capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
"My name is Mehana," she tells the group. "It's a Hawaiian name, means warmth."
Hind is a cultural liaison with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. She's here to equip federal cleanup teams to recognize and engage with Lahaina's unique cultural heritage.
"This training is going
