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Biden Vows to ‘Rebuild the Way People of Maui Want It Built’

www.nytimes.com Biden Visits Hawaii: Biden Vows to ‘Rebuild the Way People of Maui Want It Built’

The president and Jill Biden, the first lady, will meet with victims of the fires, emergency workers and other state officials. The death toll has reached 114 people and is expected to climb.

Biden Visits Hawaii: Biden Vows to ‘Rebuild the Way People of Maui Want It Built’

President Biden flew over the blackened remains of Lahaina on Monday in his first visit since the deadly wildfires and declared: “The devastation is overwhelming.”

And in remarks in Lahaina near a 150-year-old banyan tree that survived the fire to become a symbol of hope, Mr. Biden repeatedly called Hawaii “the kingdom of Hawaii” as he emphasized his commitment to rebuilding.

“We’re going to rebuild the way people of Maui want it built,” he said during his visit, which was expected to last about six hours.

The president also sought to assure residents of Maui that they would be involved in the recovery process. “We will be respectful of the sacred grounds and the traditions,” he said.

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