The hall of historic Waiola Church and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street in Lahaina, Maui County, Hawaii, August 8, 2023. /CFP
U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday declared the Hawaii wildfires a "major disaster," unblocking federal funds for the hard-hit island of Maui after the flames claimed at least 36 lives and razed a historic town.
"Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Hawaii and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires," a White House statement said.