Another Lahaina family to move home in time for Christmas
Dec 14, 2024
LAHAINA, Hawaii (KHON2) -- Another Lahaina family is getting ready to step into their newly rebuilt home just in time for Christmas.
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This is the third family to move back home after losing it in the fire last year. One Lahaina family moved back home three weeks ago and a Kula man moved back into his home a week later.
Now, the Milne family is waiting for the county to check the final boxes.
"Next week we have three final inspections scheduled; plumbing, electrical, and the final inspection, but we're ready for that and it's just a matter of going through the process to check the boxes off," said Gene Milne, who has been working on rebuilding his 'ohana unit since the summer.
"We're excited to be back in a real house," Gene added.
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KHON2 first met the Milne's back in June when their unit was just a frame with no walls and by November the unit was almost complete with a goal of being able to move back in by Christmas.
"I'm just so proud he did what he said he was going to do," said Joann Milne about her husband. "It's great to be back, it's really great to be back where we left off, but it's also bittersweet because it's hard to talk about how not everyone is able to do what we're doing, and my heart goes out to them."
As of mid-December, their unit now has water, electricity, internet and a Christmas tree.
Recognizing Lahaina for its historical, cultural & ecological value
They have a canvas print of beautiful Front Street. There are also memories from the household items that survived the fire like childhood ornaments and a nativity set Joann's mother gave her.
"Gene found some pieces when he came to go through the ash," Joann explained. "He sent me pictures and I was like 'no way! Mother Mary and Baby Jesus Christ made it? It's paper mache. How did that make it? It's crazy."
She said she found the exact set on eBay and mixes the new pieces with the ones that survived the fire.
"I don't like daily reminders of what we went through, but those reminders are sweet and we're not going to ever forget what happened," Joann said.
On Sunday, they will have a party and celebrate with all the people who helped them get to where they are today, back in their simple one bedroom, one bathroom ohana unit on Malanai Street.
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Gene said he hopes to finish the main house by Christmas 2025, but they said the biggest gift is seeing all the other homes starting to rebuild nearby and knowing neighbors will be back home soon.
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