MAUI, Hawaii (KMPH) — Maui fire victims are taking to social media, calling out investors and real estate agencies for offering to buy their land after wildfires burned their homes.
Many Hawaii natives, including Tiare Lawrence, who has advocated for Maui islanders during the devastation, say they are furious with companies trying to take native land.
I am so frustrated with investors and realtors calling the families who lost their home, offering to buy their land," she said. "How dare you do that to our community right now.
Lawrence says she has heard from multiple families who agents have contacted in the last week.
"Shame on you, shame on you!" she said. "If you are a Maui realtor contributing to that... karma is going to come and get you."
She is now encouraging islanders to gather as much information as possible about companies reaching out.
"I need you guys to do me a favor and get their name and their business name, and we're going to put them on blast," said Lawrence.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green addressed this particular issue in a news conference Monday.
"I've actually reached out to our attorney general to explore our options to do a moratorium on any sales of properties that have been damaged or destroyed," he said. "Moreover, I would caution people that it's going to be a very long time before any growth or housing can be built, and so you will be pretty poorly informed if you try to steal that from our people and then build here."
Lawrence has created an Instagram page for people to donate directly to families impacted by the fires.
If you are a victim, trust that we are going to rebuild Lahaina," she said. "I know it's hard, and it may feel a lot easier to move to the continent, but we cannot keep displacing our people. We need to make sure you guys can go back home.
She encourages locals not to sell their properties during this difficult time.
"You guys got to stay, especially you multi-generational families," said Lawrence. "Don't move away. We've already been displaced so much. Do not let this push you away to moving away. We're going to move back home and rebuild."
The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Division of Financial Institutions announced Tuesday there is now relief available for homeowners impacted by the wildfires.
According to the Office of Gov. Josh Green, borrowers with a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae mortgage loan will receive an automatic 90-day forbearance, meaning that no payment will be due for at least 90 days.
This forbearance is automatic; no contact with mortgage servicers is necessary.
For more information about relief available for homeowners, click HERE.