First Maui fire congressional hearing to focus on electric provider, power grid

The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina during the wildfire (Matthew Thayer/The Maui News via AP)

Hawaii’s top public utility officials and the president of Hawaiian Electric are expected to testify in a congressional hearing about the power grid’s role in August’s deadly wildfire that razed the historic town of Lahaina.

On Thursday, members of a US House Energy and Commerce subcommittee will probe officials on how the fire started, and whether or not the electrical grid in Lahaina was safe and properly maintained.